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Translation
King James Version
And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.
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KJV (with Strong's)
And I will make H7760 her that halted H6760 a remnant H7611, and her that was cast far off H1972 a strong H6099 nation H1471: and the LORD H3068 shall reign H4427 over them in mount H2022 Zion H6726 from henceforth, even for H5704 ever H5769.
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Complete Jewish Bible
I will make the lame a remnant and those who were driven off a strong nation." ADONAI will rule them on Mount Tziyon from that time forth and forever.
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Berean Standard Bible
And I will make the lame into a remnant, and the outcast into a strong nation. Then the LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever.
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American Standard Version
and I will make that which was lame a remnant, and that which was cast far off a strong nation: and Jehovah will reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth even for ever.
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World English Bible Messianic
and I will make that which was lame a remnant, and that which was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD will reign over them on Mount Zion from then on, even forever.”
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Geneva Bible (1599)
And I will make her that halted, a remnant, and her that was cast farre off, a mightie nation: and the Lord shall reigne ouer them in Mount Zion, from hence forth euen for euer.
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Young's Literal Translation
And I have set the halting for a remnant, And the far-off for a mighty nation, And reigned hath Jehovah over them in mount Zion, From henceforth, and unto the age.
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Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Micah 4:7 presents a profound prophecy of divine restoration and eternal sovereignty, declaring God's unwavering commitment to His people. It promises that the weakened and scattered remnant of Israel, symbolized as "her that halted" and "her that was cast far off," will be transformed by God's power into a "strong nation." This miraculous transformation culminates in the eternal reign of the LORD Himself over them from Mount Zion, establishing a perpetual kingdom of peace and strength.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Micah 4:7 is nestled within a pivotal section of Micah's prophecy (Micah 4:1-5:15) that dramatically shifts from pronouncements of judgment and desolation to glorious promises of restoration and future blessing for Judah and Israel. The preceding chapter, particularly Micah 3:12, vividly describes Jerusalem's destruction, setting a stark backdrop for the hope that follows. This verse directly follows the vision of the Lord's house being established on the mountain of the Lord in the latter days, where nations will stream to Zion for divine instruction and peace. Thus, Micah 4:7 serves as a crucial bridge, detailing how this future glory will come about through God's redemptive work on His people and His direct, eternal rule.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The prophecies of Micah were delivered during a tumultuous period in Israel's history, spanning the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (circa 750-700 BC). Both the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah) faced the existential threat of Assyrian expansion, culminating in the fall of Samaria (722 BC) and the near-destruction of Jerusalem (701 BC). The people were characterized by spiritual idolatry, social injustice, and political corruption, leading to divine judgment, including exile and scattering. "Her that halted" and "her that was cast far off" directly reflect the historical reality of a people weakened by sin, fragmented by war, and dispersed through captivity. Mount Zion, the site of the Temple and the Davidic monarchy, was the spiritual and political heart of Judah, symbolizing God's presence and covenant with His people, making its mention here a powerful statement of future divine re-establishment.
  • Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Micah and broader biblical theology. It underscores Divine Restoration, showcasing God's sovereign ability to transform utter weakness and dispersion into strength and unity, a testament to His covenant faithfulness despite human failure. The concept of The Remnant is central, highlighting that God, in His justice and mercy, always preserves a faithful core of His people, even through judgment, to fulfill His redemptive purposes. This remnant is not merely preserved but actively empowered to become a "strong nation." Finally, the verse culminates in the theme of the Eternal Reign of the LORD, emphasizing God's ultimate and everlasting sovereignty centered in Jerusalem (Zion). This reign points toward the eschatological kingdom where God's rule will be fully and visibly established, fulfilling promises found elsewhere, such as the vision of a universal kingdom in Daniel 2:44 and the peaceful rule described in Micah 4:3.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Halted (Hebrew, tsâlaʻ', H6760): This word (צָלַע, H6760) is a primitive root meaning "to limp" or "to be lame." In this context, it vividly portrays the spiritual and physical weakness, brokenness, or infirmity of God's people, Israel/Judah, due to their sin and the ensuing judgments. It suggests an inability to walk uprightly or to stand strong on their own, underscoring their desperate need for divine intervention and healing.
  • Remnant (Hebrew, shᵉʼêrîyth', H7611): The term (שְׁאֵרִית, H7611) refers to a "remainder" or "residual portion," specifically a surviving or final group. Theologically, it signifies a preserved and purified portion of God's people who endure through judgment and are chosen for His redemptive purposes. This remnant is not merely what is left, but a divinely preserved and empowered core, destined for future glory and the continuation of God's covenant.
  • Cast far off (Hebrew, hâlâʼ', H1972): This word (הָלָא, H1972) denotes being "removed" or "remote," implying expulsion or dispersion. It powerfully describes the state of the exiles and those scattered from their homeland due to God's judgment, emphasizing the severity of their separation and displacement before God's powerful act of gathering and restoration.
  • Reign (Hebrew, mâlak', H4427): This primitive root (מָלָךְ, H4427) means "to reign," "to ascend the throne," or "to induct into royalty." Here, it signifies the LORD's direct, sovereign, and active rule over His restored people. It points to a future where God's authority is fully and visibly established, not merely as an abstract concept, but as a tangible, kingly dominion from His chosen seat of power.

Verse Breakdown

  • "And I will make her that halted a remnant": This clause reveals God's active, sovereign intention ("I will make"). "Her that halted" refers to Israel/Judah in its state of weakness, spiritual lameness, and brokenness, often a result of divine judgment for sin. God promises to transform this weakened entity into a "remnant"—a preserved, purified, and faithful core of His people, demonstrating His commitment to His covenant despite their failures.
  • "and her that was cast far off a strong nation": Building on the first clause, this part specifies the transformation of those who were dispersed, exiled, or driven away from their land and covenant relationship. God will not only gather them but will empower them, making them a "strong nation" (H6099, H1471). This signifies not just numerical increase but a restoration to vitality, influence, and national identity, contrasting sharply with their previous state of weakness and scattering.
  • "and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever": This is the climax of the prophecy, declaring the ultimate outcome of God's restorative work. The divine agent is explicitly named as "the LORD" (Yahweh, H3068), emphasizing His covenant faithfulness and power. His reign will be direct and absolute, centered "in mount Zion" (H2022, H6726), the symbolic and actual seat of His presence in Jerusalem. The phrase "from henceforth, even for ever" (H5704, H5769) underscores the eternal and irreversible nature of this divine rule, pointing to a permanent, everlasting kingdom where God's sovereignty is fully established.

Literary Devices

Micah 4:7 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message of hope and divine sovereignty. Personification is evident in "her that halted" and "her that was cast far off," where the nation of Israel/Judah is given human characteristics of weakness and displacement, making their plight relatable. This imagery is also a strong Metaphor, portraying the spiritual and physical brokenness of the people as a literal physical infirmity or exile. The verse utilizes Contrast by juxtaposing the initial state of weakness ("halted," "cast far off") with the promised state of strength ("a remnant," "a strong nation"), highlighting the miraculous nature of God's restorative power. Finally, the declaration of the LORD's eternal reign "in mount Zion" functions as powerful Symbolism, where Mount Zion represents not just a geographical location but the spiritual center of God's presence, His chosen dwelling place, and the seat of His universal, everlasting kingdom.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Micah 4:7 is a profound testament to God's enduring covenant faithfulness and His ultimate sovereignty over history. It articulates the divine commitment to restore His people, even after judgment, transforming their weakness and dispersion into strength and unity under His direct, eternal rule. This vision underscores the biblical truth that God's purposes for His chosen people will ultimately prevail, culminating in a future where His kingdom is fully and visibly established on earth, bringing everlasting peace and righteousness from Zion. The verse foreshadows the eschatological hope of a regenerated Israel and a world brought under the perfect governance of the Almighty.

  • Isaiah 10:21 – Prophesies the return of a remnant of Jacob to the mighty God.
  • Jeremiah 31:10 – Declares that He who scattered Israel will gather them and keep them as a shepherd keeps his flock.
  • Isaiah 2:2-4 – Describes the exaltation of the Lord's house on Mount Zion in the latter days, where all nations will flow to it for instruction and peace.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Micah 4:7 offers a powerful message of hope and divine assurance for believers today. It reminds us that no matter how broken, weak, or "cast off" we may feel due to personal failures, societal challenges, or spiritual struggles, God possesses the infinite power and unwavering desire to heal, strengthen, and restore. Our past mistakes or present vulnerabilities do not negate His ability to transform us into instruments for His purposes. This verse instills confidence in God's ultimate plan for history, affirming that His kingdom will prevail eternally, and His sovereign rule will bring about perfect justice and peace. It encourages perseverance in faith, knowing that even in times of personal or collective adversity, divine preservation and future glory are assured through His everlasting reign. We are called to trust in His restorative power and align our lives with the coming of His eternal kingdom.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what areas of your life do you feel "halted" or "cast far off," and how does the promise of God's restoration speak to those areas?
  • What does it mean for the LORD to "reign over" you personally, and how does that influence your daily decisions and outlook?
  • How does the promise of God's eternal reign from Mount Zion shape your hope for the future of the world and the Church?

FAQ

Who are "her that halted" and "her that was cast far off"?

Answer: These phrases are metaphorical expressions referring to the people of Israel and Judah. "Her that halted" (or "limped") vividly portrays their spiritual and physical weakness, brokenness, and inability to stand firm, often due to their sin and the resulting divine judgment or foreign oppression. "Her that was cast far off" refers to those who were exiled, scattered, and dispersed from their homeland, particularly after the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities. Together, they represent the entire covenant people of God in their state of brokenness and dispersion, whom God promises to restore and gather.

What is the significance of the LORD reigning "in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever"?

Answer: Mount Zion, located in Jerusalem, was the site of the Temple and the Davidic monarchy, symbolizing God's dwelling place and the center of His covenant with Israel. The promise that the LORD will reign "in mount Zion" signifies the re-establishment of His direct, visible, and sovereign rule from His chosen spiritual and governmental capital. The phrase "from henceforth, even for ever" emphasizes the eternal and irreversible nature of this reign. It points to the ultimate, everlasting kingdom of God, where His perfect will and justice will be fully realized, bringing enduring peace and righteousness to His people and the world. This is often understood as the eschatological kingdom, ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of the Messiah.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Micah 4:7 finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah. The "her that halted" and "her that was cast far off" are not only the literal nation of Israel but also prophetically represent all humanity, broken by sin and alienated from God, spiritually "limping" and "cast far off" from His presence. Jesus, through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, became the means by which this restoration is accomplished. He gathers those who were scattered, making them a "remnant" of believers, a "strong nation" in the spiritual sense—the Church, His body, composed of both Jews and Gentiles who are reconciled to God and to one another (Ephesians 2:13-16). His first coming inaugurated the kingdom of God, and He now reigns spiritually from His heavenly throne, which is the true, heavenly Mount Zion. The promise that "the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever" points to Christ's eternal kingship, which will be fully and visibly established at His second coming, when He returns to reign physically from Jerusalem, bringing about the new heavens and new earth where God's dwelling is with humanity forever (Revelation 21:1-4). Thus, Micah's prophecy of restoration and eternal reign culminates in the person and work of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).

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Commentary on Micah 4 verses 1–7

It is a very comfortable but with which this chapter begins, and very reviving to those who lay the interests of God's church near their heart and are concerned for the welfare of it. When we sometimes see the corruptions of the church, especially of church-rulers, princes, priests, and prophets, seeking their own things and not the things of God, and when we soon after see the desolations of the church, Zion for their sakes ploughed as a field, we are ready to fear that it will one day perish between both, that the name of Israel shall be no more in remembrance; we are ready to give up all for gone, and to conclude the church will have neither root not branch upon earth. But let not our faith fail in this matter; out of the ashes of the church another phoenix shall arise. In the last words of the foregoing chapter we left the mountain of the house as desolate and waste as the high places of the forest; and is it possible that such a wilderness should ever become a fruitful field again? Yes, the first words of this chapter bring in the mountain of the Lord's house as much dignified by being frequented as ever it had been disgraced by being deserted. Though Zion be ploughed as a field, yet God has not cast off his people, but by the fall of the Jews salvation has come to the Gentiles, so that it proves to be the riches of the world, Rom 11:11, Rom 11:12. This is the mystery which God by the prophet here shows us, and he says the very same in the first three verses of this chapter which another prophet said by the word of the Lord at the same time (Isa 2:2-4), that out of the mouth of these two witnesses these promises might be established; and very precious promises they are, relating to the gospel-church, which have been in part accomplished, and will be yet more and more, for he is faithful that has promised.

I. That there shall be a church for God set up in the world, after the defection and destruction of the Jewish church, and this in the last days; that is, as some of the rabbin themselves acknowledge, in the days of the Messiah. The people of God shall be incorporated by a new charter, a new spiritual way of worship shall be enacted, and a new institution of offices to attend it; better privileges shall be granted by this new charter, and better provision made for enlarging and establishing the kingdom of God among men than had been made by the Old Testament constitution: The mountain of the house of the Lord shall again appear firm ground for God's faithful worshippers to stand, and go, and build upon, in their attendance on him, Mic 4:1. And it shall be a centre of unity to them; a church shall be set up in the world, to which the Lord will be daily adding such as shall be saved.

II. That this church shall be firmly founded and well-built: It shall be established in the top of the mountains; Christ himself will build it upon a rock; it shall be an impregnable fort upon an immovable foundation, so that the gates of hell shall neither overthrow the one nor undermine the other (Mat 16:18); its foundations are still in the holy mountains (Psa 87:1), the everlasting mountains, which cannot, which shall not, be removed. It shall be established, not as the temple, upon one mountain, but upon many; for the foundations of the church, as they are sure, so they are large.

III. That it shall be highly advanced, and become eminent and conspicuous: It shall be exalted above the hills, observed with wonder for its growing greatness from small beginnings. The kingdom of Christ shall shine with greater lustre than ever any of the kingdoms of the earth did. It shall be as a city on a hill, which cannot be hid, Mat 5:14. The glory of this latter house is greater than that of the former, Hag 2:9. See Co2 3:7, Co2 3:8, etc.

IV. That there shall be a great accession of converts to it and succession of converts in it. People shall flow unto it as the waters of a river are continually flowing; there shall be a constant stream of believers flowing in from all parts into the church, as the people of the Jews flowed into the temple, while it was standing, to worship there. Then many tribes came to the mountain of the house, to enquire of God's temple; but in gospel-times many nations shall flow into the church, shall fly like a cloud and as the doves to their windows. Ministers shall be sent forth to disciple all nations, and they shall not labour in vain; for, multitudes being wrought upon to believe the gospel and embrace the Christian religion, they shall excite and encourage one another, and shall say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord now raised among us, even to the house of the God of Jacob, the spiritual temple which we need not travel far to, for it is brought to our doors and set up in the midst of us." Thus shall people be made willing in the day of his power (Psa 110:3), and shall do what they can to make others willing, as Andrew invited Peter, and Philip Nathanael, to be acquainted with Christ. They shall call the people to the mountain (Deu 33:19), for there is in Christ enough for all, enough for each. Now observe what it is, 1. Which these converts expect to find in the house of the God of Jacob. They come thither for instruction: "He will teach us of his ways, what is the way in which he would have us to walk with him and in which we may depend upon him to meet us graciously." Note, Where we come to worship God we come to be taught of him. 2. Which they engage to do when they are thus taught of God: We will walk in his paths. Note, Those may comfortably expect that God will teach them who are firmly resolved by his grace to do as they are taught.

V. That, in order to this, a new revelation shall be published to the world, on which the church shall be founded, and by which multitudes shall be brought into it: For the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. The gospel is here called the word of the Lord, for the Lord gave the word, and great was the company of those that published it, Psa 68:11. It was of a divine original, a divine authority; it began to be spoken by the Lord Christ himself, Heb 2:3. And it is a law, a law of faith; we are under the law to Christ. This was to go forth from Jerusalem, from Zion, the metropolis of the Old Testament dispensation, where the temple, and altars, and oracles were, and whither the Jews went to worship from all parts; thence the gospel must take rise, to show the connexion between the Old Testament and the New, that the gospel is not set up in opposition to the law, but is an explication and illustration of it, and a branch growing out of its roots. It was in Jerusalem that Christ preached and wrought miracles; there he died, rose again, and ascended; there the Spirit was poured out; and those that were to preach repentance and remission of sins to all nations were ordered to begin at Jerusalem, so that thence flowed the streams that were to water the desert world.

VI. That a convincing power should go along with the gospel of Christ, in all places where it should be preached (Mic 4:3): He shall judge among many people. Messiah, the lawgiver (Mic 4:2.), is here the judge, for to him the Father committed all judgment, and for judgment he came into this world; his word, the word of his gospel, that was to go forth from Jerusalem, was the golden sceptre by which he shall rule and judge when he sits as king on the holy hill of Zion, Psa 2:6. By it he shall rebuke strong nations afar off; for the Spirit working with the word shall reprove the world, Joh 16:8. It is promised to the Son of David that he shall judge among the heathen (Psa 110:6), which he does when in the chariot of his everlasting gospel he goes forth, and goes on, conquering and to conquer.

VII. That a disposition to mutual peace and love shall be the happy effect of the setting up of the kingdom of the Messiah: They shall beat their swords into plough-shares; that is, angry passionate men, that have been fierce and furious, shall be wonderfully sweetened, and made mild and meek, Tit 3:2, Tit 3:3. Those who, before their conversion, did injuries, and would bear none, after their conversion can bear injuries, but will do none. As far as the gospel prevails it makes men peaceable, for such is the wisdom from above; it is gentle and easy to be entreated; and if nations were but leavened by it, there would be universal peace. When Christ was born there was universal peace in the Roman empire; those that were first brought into the gospel church were all of one heart and of one soul (Act 4:32); and it was observed of the primitive Christians how well they loved one another. In heaven this will have its full accomplishment. It is promised, 1. That none shall be quarrelsome. The art of war, instead of being improved (which some reckon the glory of a kingdom), shall be forgotten and laid aside as useless. They shall not learn war any more as they have done, for they shall have no need to defend themselves nor any inclination to offend their neighbours. Nation shall no longer lift up sword against nation; not that the gospel will make men cowards, but it will make men peaceable. 2. That all shall be quiet, both from evil and from the fear of evil (Mic 4:4): They shall sit safely, and none shall disturb them; they shall sit securely, and shall not disturb themselves, every man under his vine and under his fig-tree, enjoying the fruit of them, and needing no other shelter than the leaves of them. None shall make them afraid; not only there shall be nothing that is likely to frighten them, but they shall not be disposed to fear. under the dominion of Christ, as that of Solomon, there shall be abundance of peace. Though his followers have trouble in the world, in him they enjoy great tranquillity. If this seems unlikely, yet we may depend upon it, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it, and no word of his shall fall to the ground; what he has spoken by his word he will do by his providence and grace. He that is the Lord of hosts will be the God of peace; and those may well be easy whom the Lord of hosts, of all hosts, undertakes the protection of.

VIII. That the churches shall be constant in their duty, and so shall make a good use of their tranquillity and shall not provoke the Lord to deprive them of it, Mic 4:5. When the churches have rest they shall be edified, and confirmed, and comforted, and shall resolve to be as firm to their God as other nations are to theirs, though they be no gods. Where we find the foregoing promises, Isa 2:2, etc. it follows (Mic 4:5), O house of Jacob! come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord; and here, We will walk in the name of the Lord our God. Note, Peace is a blessing indeed when it strengthens our resolutions to cleave to the Lord. Observe, 1. How constant other nations were to their gods: All people will walk every one in the name of his god, will own their god and cleave to him, will worship their god and serve him, will depend upon him and put confidence in him. Whatever men make a god of they will make use of, and take his name along with them in all their actions and affairs. The mariners, in a storm, cried every man to his god, Jon 1:5. And no instance could be found of a nation's changing its gods, Jer 2:11 : If the hosts of heaven were their gods, they loved them, and served them, and walked after them, Jer 8:2. 2. How constant God's people now resolve to be to him: "We will walk in the name of the Lord our God, will acknowledge him in all our ways, and govern ourselves by a continual regard to him, doing nothing but what we have warrant from him for, and openly professing our relation to him." Observe, Their resolution is peremptory; it is not a thing that needs be disputed: "We will walk in the name of the Lord our God." It is just and reasonable: He is our God. And it is a resolution for a perpetuity: "We will do it for ever and ever, and will never leave him. He will be ours for ever, and therefore so we will be his, and never repent our choice."

IX. That notwithstanding the dispersions, distress, and infirmities of the church, it shall be formed and established, and made very considerable, Mic 4:6, Mic 4:7. 1. The state of the church had been low, and weak, and very helpless, in the latter times of the Old Testament, partly through the corruptions of the Jewish nation, and partly through the oppressions under which they groaned. They were like a flock of sheep that were maimed, worried, and scattered, Eze 34:16; Jer 50:6. 17. The good people among them, and in other places, that were well inclined, were dispersed, were very infirm, and in a manner lost and cast far off. 2. It is promised that all these grievances shall be redressed and the distemper healed. Christ will come himself (Mat 15:24), and send his apostles to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, Mat 10:6. From among the Jews that halted, or that for want of strength, could not go upright, God gathered a remnant (Mic 4:7), that remnant according to the election of grace which is spoken of in Rom 11:7, which embraced the gospel of Christ. And from among the Gentiles that were cast far off (so the Gentiles are described to be, Eph 2:13, Act 2:39) he raised a strong nation; greater numbers of them were brought into the church than of the Jews, Gal 4:27. And such a strong nation the gospel-church is that the gates of hell shall never be able to prevail against it. The church of Christ is more numerous than any other nation, and strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

X. That the Messiah shall be the king of this kingdom, shall protect and govern it, and order all the affairs of it for the best, and this to the end of time. The Lord Jesus shall reign over them in Mount Zion by his word and Spirit in his ordinances, and this henceforth and for ever, for of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–7. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Micah
(Chapter IV - Verses 1 onwards) And it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations 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; he shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever. On that day, says the Lord, I will gather the lame and gather her whom I have driven away, and the one whom I have afflicted; I will make the lame a remnant, and the one who was cast off a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on and forever. And in the last days, the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 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; he shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. For all the peoples walk, each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever. But we will go in the name of the Lord our God forever and beyond. In that day, says the Lord, I will gather her who was crushed, and her who was cast out, I will receive, and those whom I had rejected: and I will make the crushed into a remnant, and the cast out into a strong nation, and the Lord will reign over them on Mount Zion, from now and forever. For the leaders of Judah have despised justice, and have perverted all that is right, and have built Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity: and not only have they done these things, but they have also judged for bribes, and the priests of Jerusalem have answered for payment, and her prophets have divined for money, and because of them, Zion was like a plowed field, and Jerusalem had fallen into heaps of stones, and the mountain of the temple of God, desolate among the high forests. Therefore now, their house is abandoned and deserted, when the Son of God, going out of the temple, said: Rise, let us go hence (John 14:31): And: Your house shall be left to you desolate (Luke 13:15). The angels also, with Joseph reporting, said: Let us go forth from our abodes, for the mountain of Zion is exalted, of which it is said to the prince of Tyre. And you were wounded on the mountain of the Lord (Ezek. XXVIII). But this mountain of the Lord was revealed in the last days, when the kingdom of heaven was drawing near. For in the consummation of the ages, for the condemnation of sinners, our Savior appeared through his sacrifice, and he came at the eleventh hour to hire workers. And completing His passion, John says: It is the last hour (1 John 2:18): in six thousand years, if five hundred years are divided by the hours of each day, the last hour will consequently be called the time of the faith of the Gentiles. And it will be made manifest, he says, the mountain of the Lord prepared upon the tops of the mountains. It will be made manifest, which was previously hidden, and prepared not only in the mountains, but upon the tops of the mountains, Moses and the Prophets, who prophesied about Him. For although they have written all things holy, nevertheless, in comparison to the prophecy in which they foretold the coming of the Savior, all other things are humble and do not reach to the top of the mountains. And it is said, 'He will be exalted upon the hills.' (Philippians 2:8-9) Indeed, he appeared as a man and took on the form of a servant; he humbled himself unto death, even death on a cross. But the Father exalted him and gave him a name that is above every name, and the whole life of mankind, compared to his way of life, is called fields and valleys. So to this mountain, which is prepared on the top of the mountains, and exalted above the hills, all people will hasten, or as it is written in Hebrew, all the people will flow, that is, in the manner of rivers, innumerable crowds will gather. But the people will hasten when the Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya which are near Cyrene, and Roman visitors, Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs will have believed in him together. Do they not seem to you to have hurried to the mountain, to whom it was said: Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men (Matt. 4:19-20), and they immediately followed the Savior? And again, the Scripture relates about James and John, that having left the boat and father and the waves of the world, they hurried to the mountain. And when Matthew the tax collector heard: Follow me (Matt. 9), he immediately ran. And that too in the Gospel, when great crowds from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and beyond the Jordan followed him, and he healed them, he approves the peoples who hurried. But as the people hasten, many nations will also go to the mountain: indeed, the whole world believing in it, and they will say to the standard, mutually challenging themselves to the gallows: Come, let us ascend to the mountain of the Lord. Ascension is necessary in order for anyone to be able to reach Christ, and to the house of God of Jacob, the Church, which is the house of God, the pillar and foundation of truth. Moreover, what Jacob signifies the Savior, as we have said: Jacob, my servant, I will uphold him (Isaiah 2:3). But they will also say to those to whom they had spoken: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and they will add: So that they may show us His way, which we either understand in the Angels who are present in the Churches, or in the holy Scriptures, which show the way of the Lord, and Him who says: I am the way (John 14). And let us walk in His paths, namely in the Apostles, through whom we have believed in Christ. For from Zion a spiritual law has come forth, and the word of God has passed from Jerusalem to the nations, who He will judge among many peoples (John 5:22): For the Father has given all judgment to the Son. And he shall rebuke many nations unto a great distance (Ps. XCIII, 11): For the Lord takes hold of the wise in their craftiness, and he understands the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile. But he shall judge among the peoples who are deserving of salvation, and those who are unworthy, and at his coming all zeal for war shall be directed towards peace (Isai. II, 4). Swords shall be turned into plowshares, and spears into pruning-hooks, and the nation shall cease to wage war against another nation. No one will learn to fight, in the absence of the necessity to fight. And there will be such peace, that not only in cities, but also in villages and fields, everyone will be safe: and this will happen, because the mouth of the Lord has spoken. And first indeed, according to the letter, before a child was born to us, whose government was upon his shoulder, the whole world was full of blood, nations fought against nations, kings fought against kings, and peoples fought against peoples. Finally, even the Roman Republic itself was torn apart by civil wars, with Cinna and Octavius and Carbo fighting, with Sylla and Marius, Antony and Catiline, Caesar and Gnaeus Pompeius, Augustus and Brutus, and with the same Augustus and Antony: in their battles, entire kingdoms shed blood. But after the reign of Christ began, Rome obtained a unique reign; the path of the Apostles became known throughout the world, and the gates of cities were opened to them, and a unique reign of one God was established for preaching. It is also possible to interpret this saying in a tropological sense: that we may say to the faith of Christ, anger and unbridled insults are put aside, so that each person may place their hand on the plow and not look back, and desiring to reap spiritual fruits, breaking the darts of insults and spears of contempt, so that while others labor, we may enter into their labors, and it may be said of us: 'They that sow in tears shall reap in joy, carrying their sheaves.' Now no one fights against another, because we read: Blessed are the peacemakers (Matt. V, 9). No one learns to argue to the downfall of the listeners, but puts silence on his mouth, and is silent; because it is an evil time (Ps. CIII). And each one rests under his vine, to press the wine, which makes glad the heart of man, under that vine, whose farmer is the Father (John XV), and under his fig tree collecting the sweet fruits of the Holy Spirit, charity, joy, peace, and the rest. But all these things happen, according to both interpretations, because the words of the Lord are true, and he said and did them. All the peoples will go, each one on his own way: but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and beyond. They say to all the nations going astray according to their error, we hastened to the mountain of the Lord, and we said: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob (Isaiah 2:3), and we will walk in the name of Christ our Lord, because he is the mountain who is God. In that day, in which the sun of justice will shine, that which was formerly crushed will be gathered together, and that which was expelled will be received, and to this the crushed will be gathered together, so that it may be placed among the remnants, and the forsaken will be made into a strong nation. For unless the Lord of hosts had left us seed, we would have been like Sodom, and we would have been similar to Gomorrah (Rom. 9:29). But according to the Hebrew, it is beautiful: I will gather the limping one, and the one who has walked badly and to whom Elijah said: How long will you limp? (1 Kings 18:21). Whose foot had been scandalized was cut off (Mark 9). I will gather the one whom I had cast out, and to whom I had given the bill of divorce. And the one whom I had afflicted with various captivities, or had delivered to the devil and his angels. And so that a diligent reader may not immediately oppose us, saying how can you claim that the limping one has been gathered, and the one that had been cast out has been collected, when the Jews remain in unbelief? Let him hear about the first Church of Christ that believed from the Jews, from which even the Apostles came, about which Luke describes in the Acts of the Apostles: that in one day three thousand believed, and elsewhere five thousand (Acts 2). And about whom James speaks to Paul: You see, brother Paul, how many thousands there are among the Jews who believe, and all of these are zealous for the Law (Ibid., 21). But consider also the prophetic significance: He did not say, 'I will make the whole lame person whole,' but 'I will make the lame person into a remnant, so that the remnant and the chosen ones may be saved, and those who have labored may become a strong nation, namely the Christian people, which neither sword nor fire nor torments will overcome. See the faith and passion of the Martyrs, and you will not doubt the strength of this nation. And the Lord will rule over them, that is, over many nations, and over the lame remnants on Mount Zion, in the Church, in the watchtower, in the contemplation of virtues, from the present world to the future.' But if anyone wants to understand this which is said: 'I will gather that which was broken, and I will receive that which was cast out, etc.,' to refer to the human soul which, before the coming of Christ, was subject to various sufferings and vices, and was like a lost and diseased sheep torn apart by the jaws of wolves, he will not be mistaken, as long as he knows that the one that was broken and afflicted will later be part of the Lord's kingdom, and will live in Zion, and will be carried on the shoulders of the good shepherd to the former mountain. It should also be known, and this chapter which we have now exposed, and a similar one from Isaiah, refers the Jews and the heirs of their errors to the thousand-year reign of Christ and the saints. And that which is said: All peoples will worship, each one in the name of their Lord God, should be interpreted as each nation being tormented with their own idol, and being cast into the fire of eternal punishment. But from the subsequent things, it is argued that this is not said about the end of the ages, but about the first coming of Christ, in which the remnants of the limping are gathered and the nations are saved beforehand. Therefore Isaiah has given this testimony: The word that was spoken to Isaiah son of Amos concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of the Lord's house will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 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.' The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (Isaiah 2) It is significant here that it is said that the word of God, coming out from Jerusalem, will judge between many nations and specifically rebuke the people of Judah. For he will judge us as sinners according to the measure of our works: but he will not judge them as wicked and deniers, but will reprove and condemn them.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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