4:3 He will arbitrate 1 between many peoples
and settle disputes between many 2 distant nations. 3
They will beat their swords into plowshares, 4
and their spears into pruning hooks. 5
Nations will not use weapons 6 against other nations,
and they will no longer train for war.
5:4 He will assume his post 7 and shepherd the people 8 by the Lord’s strength,
by the sovereign authority of the Lord his God. 9
They will live securely, 10 for at that time he will be honored 11
even in the distant regions of 12 the earth.
1 tn Or “judge.”
2 tn Or “mighty” (NASB); KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV “strong”; TEV “among the great powers.”
3 tn Heb “[for many nations] to a distance.”
4 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.
5 sn This implement was used to prune the vines, i.e., to cut off extra leaves and young shoots (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.
6 tn Heb “take up the sword.”
7 tn Heb “stand up”; NAB “stand firm”; NASB “will arise.”
8 tn The words “the people” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
9 tn Heb “by the majesty of the name of the
10 tn The words “in peace” are supplied in the translation for clarification. Perhaps וְיָשָׁבוּ (vÿyashavu, “and they will live”) should be emended to וְשָׁבוּ (vÿshavu, “and they will return”).
11 tn Heb “be great.”
12 tn Or “to the ends of.”