Isaiah 2

Hebrew
וְהָלְכוּ עַמִּים רַבִּים וְאָמְרוּ לְכוּ וְנַעֲלֶה אֶל־הַר־יְהוָה אֶל־בֵּית אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב וְיֹרֵנוּ מִדְּרָכָיו וְנֵלְכָה בְּאֹרְחֹתָיו כִּי מִצִּיּוֹן תֵּצֵא תוֹרָה וּדְבַר־יְהוָה מִירוּשָׁלִָם

Transliteration
w'And - וְ (prefix)Prefix ו = and.häl'khûThey will walk - הָלְכוּ häl'khûRoot: הָלַךְ (halakh), to walk, go—used for pilgrimage toward Zion. aMiymPeoples - עַמִּים aMiymRoot: עַם (am), people—refers to nations. raBiymMany - רַבִּים raBiymRoot: רַב (rav), many, great—indicating multitudes. w'And - וְ (prefix)Prefix ו = and.äm'rûThey will say - אָמַר ämarûRoot: אָמַר (amar), to say—used for declaring prophetic invitation. l'khûGo! - לְכוּ l'khûRoot: הָלַךְ (halakh), to go—imperative form: 'Come, let's go!' w'And - וְ (prefix)Prefix ו = and.naálehWe will go up - נַעֲלֶה naálehRoot: עָלָה (alah), to ascend—movement toward sacred space. elTo - אֶל elPreposition אֶל = to, toward.harMountain - הַר harRoot: הַר (har), mountain—symbolic of sacred space or governance. y'hwähOf Yahweh - יְהוָה y'hwähSacred name of God—'He who is.' Root: הָיָה (hayah). elTo - אֶל elPreposition אֶל = to, toward.BëytHouse - בֵּית BeitRoot: בַּיִת (bayit), house, dwelling—often temple. élohëyOf the God - אֱלֹהֵי élohëyRoot: אֱלוֹהַּ (eloah), God—plural construct: 'God of...' yaáqovOf Jacob - יַעֲקֹב yaáqovRoot: עָקֵב (aqev), heel—symbolic name for Israel. w'And - וְ (prefix)Prefix ו = and.yorënûHe will teach us - יוֹרֵנוּ yorënûRoot: יָרָה (yarah), to teach—emphasizes divine instruction. miD'räkhäywFrom His ways - מִדְּרָכָיו miD'räkhäywPrefix מִן = from. Root: דֶּרֶךְ (derekh), way, path. Suffix יָו = his—divine pathways. w'And - וְ (prefix)Prefix ו = and.nël'khähWe will walk - נֵלְכָה nël'khähRoot: הָלַךְ (halakh), to walk, go—covenant pathwalking. B'or'chotäywIn His paths - בְּאֹרְחֹתָיו B'or'chotäywPrefix ב = in. Root: אֹרַח (orach), path—plural suffix יָו = his paths. KiyFor - כִּי KiyBecause, for—introduces cause. miTZiYônFrom Zion - מִצִּיּוֹן miTZiYônPrefix מִן = from. Root: צִּיּוֹן (Zion), covenant center. TëtzëShall go out - תֵּצֵא TëtzëRoot: יָצָא (yatza), to go out, proceed. tôrähLaw - תּוֹרָה tôrähInstruction, law—divine teaching (Torah). ûAnd - וְ (prefix)Prefix ו = and.d'varThe word - דָּבָר d'varWord, decree—divine communication. y'hwähOf Yahweh - יְהוָה y'hwähSacred name of God—'He who is.' miyrûshäläimFrom Jerusalem - מִירוּשָׁלִַם miyrûshäläimPrefix מִן = from. Root: יְרוּשָׁלִַם (Jerusalem)—city of peace and divine governance.

Strong's Concordance
And many
רַבִּ֗ים (rab·bîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

peoples
עַמִּ֣ים (‘am·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

will come
וְֽהָלְכ֞וּ (wə·hā·lə·ḵū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

and say,
וְאָמְרוּ֙ (wə·’ā·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Come,
לְכ֣וּ ׀ (lə·ḵū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

let us go up
וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה (wə·na·‘ă·leh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the mountain
הַר־ (har-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

of the LORD,
יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the house
בֵּית֙ (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of the God
אֱלֹהֵ֣י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of Jacob.
יַעֲקֹ֔ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

He will teach us
וְיֹרֵ֙נוּ֙ (wə·yō·rê·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common plural
Strong's 3384: To flow as water, to lay, throw, to point out, to teach

His ways
מִדְּרָכָ֔יו (mid·də·rā·ḵāw)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

so that we may walk
וְנֵלְכָ֖ה (wə·nê·lə·ḵāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

in His paths.”
בְּאֹרְחֹתָ֑יו (bə·’ō·rə·ḥō·ṯāw)
Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 734: A well-trodden road, a caravan

For
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the law
תוֹרָ֔ה (ṯō·w·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

will go forth
תֵּצֵ֣א (tê·ṣê)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

from Zion,
מִצִּיּוֹן֙ (miṣ·ṣî·yō·wn)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6726: Zion -- a mountain in Jerusalem, also a name for Jerusalem

and the word
וּדְבַר־ (ū·ḏə·ḇar-)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

from Jerusalem.
מִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (mî·rū·šā·lim)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

BSB - And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

ESV - And many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

NIV - Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

NASB - And many peoples will come and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; so that He may teach us about His ways, and that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go out from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

BST - And many nations shall go and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will tell us his way, and we will walk in it: for out of Sion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord out of Jerusalem.

YLT - And gone have many peoples and said, “Come, and we go up unto the mount of Jehovah, Unto the house of the God of Jacob, And He doth teach us of His ways, And we walk in His paths, For from Zion goeth forth a law, And a word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.”

Alter - and many peoples shall go, and say: Come, let us go up to the mount of the LORD, to the house of Jacob’s God, that He may teach us of His ways and that we may walk in His paths. For from Zion shall teaching come forth and the LORD’s word from Jerusalem.

Parallelism

A. Mountain of the LORD – House of the God of Jacob
B. Teach us His ways – Walk in His paths
C. Law from Zion – Word of the LORD from Jerusalem

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Synonymous Parallelism

• A. Mountain of the LORD – House of the God of Jacob:
  These two designations refer to the same location—Zion—but from two perspectives: sacred elevation (mountain) and covenantal relationship (house of Jacob’s God). This deepens the sense of spiritual belonging and divine authority.

• B. Teach us His ways – Walk in His paths:
  “Ways” and “paths” are poetic parallels for divine instruction and ethical living. Learning leads naturally to walking—the internal reception of God's law must express itself in external obedience.

• C. Law from Zion – Word of the LORD from Jerusalem:
  These lines reinforce that Zion/Jerusalem is the source of divine revelation for the world, not just for Israel. “Law” (Torah) and “word” (davar) complement each other, highlighting both instruction and authoritative command.

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Antithetic Parallelism

• Not formally present within this verse.
  The verse is wholly constructive and positive, describing the coming together of nations in unity under divine teaching, not contrasting ideas.

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Literary Devices

• Exhortation – “Come, let us go up”:
  A collective invitation to seek God together, showing the universal and communal nature of this future pilgrimage.

• Imagery – Ascent to the Mountain:
  Physical ascent mirrors spiritual elevation. Drawing near to God requires movement, effort, and desire—climbing toward divine truth.

• Metaphor – “Ways” and “Paths”:
  These are classic biblical metaphors for moral conduct and life direction. God's “ways” are not abstract ideas but patterns of living to be embodied.

• Prophetic Perfect – “The law will go forth”:
  Even though future in meaning, it is stated with the certainty of an already determined outcome. This reflects the absolute assurance of divine fulfillment.

• Chiasm (subtle):
  A. Go up
   B. House of God
   B′. Teach us His ways
  A′. Walk in His paths
  The structure moves from invitation to education to action—a full process of covenantal transformation.

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Thematic Significance

• Universal Pilgrimage to Zion:
  Many nations, not just Israel, will seek Yahweh. The prophecy envisions the healing of divisions among peoples through unified worship and obedience.

• Centrality of God's Teaching:
  The heart of the pilgrimage is not spectacle, but instruction. The nations come to learn, to be taught by God Himself, and to live accordingly.

• Covenantal Fulfillment and Expansion:
  “The God of Jacob” roots this vision in Israel’s history, but now opened to all peoples. The promise to Abraham—to bless all nations—is being realized.

• Restoration of Jerusalem’s True Purpose:
  Once corrupt and idolatrous (Isaiah 1), Jerusalem now becomes the global center of justice, wisdom, and truth.

• Preparation for Peace:
  This verse sets the theological foundation for Isaiah 2:4, where the result of God’s teaching will be worldwide peace—swords turned into plowshares.

Many peoples (עַמִּים רַבִּים – ʿammîm rabbîm)

Isaiah 2:3 – Many peoples will come
Isaiah 2:4 – He will judge among many peoples
Isaiah 25:7 – He will destroy the covering that is over all peoples
Isaiah 60:3 – Nations will come to your light

Isaiah consistently envisions international gathering to Zion.

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Come / Go up (נַעֲלֶה – naʿăleh)

Root: עָלָה – ʿālāh – to go up, ascend

Isaiah 2:3 – Let us go up to the mountain of the LORD
Isaiah 30:29 – You shall have a song… as when one ascends the mountain of the LORD
Isaiah 37:34 – By the way he came, by the same he shall return, and shall not come up into this city

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Mountain of the LORD (הַר־יְהוָה – har-YHWH)

Already linked to Isaiah 2:2 — but repeated here for emphasis: the place of God's presence and teaching.

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House of the God of Jacob (בֵּית אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב – bêt ʾĕlōhê yaʿăqōv)

Isaiah 2:3 – To the house of the God of Jacob
Isaiah 2:5 – O house of Jacob, come walk in the light
Isaiah 29:22–23 – Jacob shall no longer be ashamed… when he sees his children, the work of My hands
Isaiah 48:1 – Hear this, O house of Jacob

It reinforces the covenantal identity rooted in Abraham–Isaac–Jacob.

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Teach (יוֹרֵנוּ – yôrēnû)

Root: יָרָה – yārāh – to teach, instruct, direct

Isaiah 2:3 – That He may teach us His ways
Isaiah 28:9 – Whom shall He teach knowledge?
Isaiah 48:17 – I am the LORD your God who teaches you to profit
Isaiah 54:13 – All your children shall be taught by the LORD

Teaching is central to covenant renewal in Isaiah’s vision.

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Ways (דְּרָכָיו – derākhāv)

Root: דֶּרֶךְ – derekh – way, path, manner

Isaiah 2:3 – His ways
Isaiah 55:8–9 – My ways are higher than your ways
Isaiah 58:2 – They seek Me daily and delight to know My ways
Isaiah 42:16 – I will lead the blind in a way they do not know

Learning God’s ways = conforming to His righteous law.

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Walk (וְנֵלְכָה – wĕnēlekhāh)

Root: הָלַךְ – hālak – to walk, live, behave

Isaiah 2:3 – …and that we may walk in His paths
Isaiah 30:21 – This is the way, walk in it
Isaiah 35:9 – But the redeemed shall walk there
Isaiah 50:10 – Let him walk in darkness and trust in the name of the LORD

Walking = living in covenant loyalty.

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Paths (אֹרְחֹתָיו – ʾorĕḥōtāv)

Root: אֹרַח – ʾōraḥ – path, track, way

Isaiah 2:3 – Walk in His paths
Isaiah 59:8 – The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths
Isaiah 42:16 – I will make darkness into light before them and crooked places straight

Paths = God’s prescribed Holy way of living.

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Law (תּוֹרָה – tōrāh)

Root: תּוֹרָה – tōrāh – instruction, law, teaching

Isaiah 2:3 – For the law will go forth from Zion
Isaiah 5:24 – They have cast away the law of the LORD
Isaiah 8:20 – To the law and to the testimony!
Isaiah 42:4 – He will establish law (tōrāh) in the earth

In Isaiah, tōrāh is not only Mosaic law — it is God’s living revelation.

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Word of the LORD (דְּבַר־יְהוָה – dĕvar-YHWH)

Root: דָּבָר – dāvar – word, matter, speech

Isaiah 2:3 – …and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem
Isaiah 40:8 – The word of our God stands forever
Isaiah 55:11 – So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth — it shall not return to Me void
Isaiah 66:2 – To this one will I look: to him who trembles at My word

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From Zion / From Jerusalem

Isaiah 2:3 – From Zion and Jerusalem
This reaffirms Zion as the epicenter of worldwide revelation and instruction — the true capital of peace and law.