Isaiah 2:4

2:4 He will judge disputes between nations;

he will settle cases for many peoples.

They will beat their swords into plowshares, ¹ 

and their spears into pruning hooks. ² 

Nations will not take up the sword against other nations,

and they will no longer train for war.

Isaiah 34:6

34:6 The Lord’s sword is dripping with blood,

it is covered ³  with fat;

it drips ⁴  with the blood of young rams and goats

and is covered ⁵  with the fat of rams’ kidneys.

For the Lord is holding a sacrifice ⁶  in Bozrah, ⁷ 

a bloody ⁸  slaughter in the land of Edom.

[2:4]  ¹ sn Instead of referring to the large plow as a whole, the plowshare is simply the metal tip which actually breaks the earth and cuts the furrow.

[2:4]  ² sn This implement was used to prune the vines, i.e., to cut off extra leaves and young shoots (H. Wildberger, Isaiah, 1:93; M. Klingbeil, NIDOTTE 1:1117-18). It was a short knife with a curved hook at the end sharpened on the inside like a sickle. Breaking weapons and fashioning agricultural implements indicates a transition from fear and stress to peace and security.

[34:6]  ³ tn The verb is a rare Hotpaal passive form. See GKC 150 §54.h.

[34:6]  ⁴ tn The words “it drips” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[34:6]  ⁵ tn The words “and is covered” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[34:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “for there is a sacrifice to the Lord.”

[34:6]  ⁷ sn The Lord’s judgment of Edom is compared to a bloody sacrificial scene.

[34:6]  ⁸ tn Heb “great” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).