Isaiah 2 — Dead Sea Scrolls
22 verses • 9 variants • Columns II–III of 1QIsaiah-a contain Isaiah chapter 2.
Scroll Overview
Summary
Isaiah 2 in 1QIsaiah-a contains the famous swords-into-plowshares oracle (vv. 2-4), which parallels Micah 4:1-3. The scroll is well preserved through this chapter. Most variants are orthographic, with a few moderate differences in the Day of the LORD catalogue.
Notable Variants
The shared passage with Micah 4:1-3 (Isaiah 2:2-4) is remarkably stable — 1QIsaiah-a agrees closely with the MT here. A few plene spellings and one or two minor word-form differences appear in the Day of the LORD section (vv. 12-21).
Scroll Condition
Excellent condition. Fully legible throughout.
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. II, line 14
In the days to come, the mountain of the LORD's house will be established as the highest of the mountains, raised above the hills — and all the nations will stream to it.
Masoretic (WLC)
נָכוֹן
established
Dead Sea Scroll
נכון
established
Identical consonantal text. The eschatological vision of the mountain of the LORD's house reads the same in both traditions.
1QIsaᵃ col. II, line 15
Many peoples will go 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 we may walk in his paths." For instruction will go out from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Masoretic (WLC)
וְיֹרֵנוּ
and he will teach us
Dead Sea Scroll
ויורנו
and he will teach us
Plene spelling with waw. The verb from the root y-r-h ('teach, instruct') — the same root as torah — reads identically in meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. II, line 17
He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and they will no longer learn war.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. II, line 19
O house of Jacob, come — let us walk in the light of the LORD!
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. II, line 21
For you have abandoned your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with practices from the east and practice divination like the Philistines, and they clasp hands with foreigners.
Masoretic (WLC)
וְעֹנְנִים
and practice divination
Dead Sea Scroll
ועוננים
and practice divination
Plene spelling with additional waw. The reference to forbidden divination practices is identical.
1QIsaᵃ col. II, line 22
His land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to his treasures. His land is filled with horses, and there is no end to his chariots.
Masoretic (WLC)
לְאֹצְרֹתָיו
to his treasures
Dead Sea Scroll
לאוצרותיו
to his treasures
Plene spelling with additional waw. Standard Qumran orthography.
1QIsaᵃ col. III, line 1
His land is filled with worthless idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. III, line 2
So humanity is brought low, and each person is humbled — do not forgive them!
Masoretic (WLC)
וַיִּשַּׁח אָדָם וַיִּשְׁפַּל אִישׁ
So humanity is brought low, and each person is humbled
Dead Sea Scroll
וישח אדם וישפל איש
So humanity is brought low, and each person is humbled
The consonantal text is identical. Some scholars note that 1QIsaiah-a's spacing may suggest a different verse division, but the reading is the same.
1QIsaᵃ col. III, line 3
Enter the rock and hide in the dust from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of his majesty!
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. III, line 5
The haughty eyes of humanity will be brought low, and the pride of mortals will be humbled. The LORD alone will be exalted on that day.
Masoretic (WLC)
גַּבְהוּת
haughtiness
Dead Sea Scroll
גבהות
haughtiness
Plene spelling with waw. The refrain about human pride being humbled is identical in meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. III, line 6
For the LORD of Hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up — it will be brought low:
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. III, line 7
against all the cedars of Lebanon, tall and lofty, and against all the oaks of Bashan;
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. III, line 8
against all the high mountains and against all the lofty hills;
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. III, line 9
against every high tower and against every fortified wall;
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. III, line 10
against all the ships of Tarshish and against every beautiful vessel.
Masoretic (WLC)
שְׂכִיּוֹת
vessels
Dead Sea Scroll
שכיות
vessels
Identical consonantal text. The rare word sekhiyyot remains debated in both traditions.
1QIsaᵃ col. III, line 11
The pride of humanity will be brought down, and the arrogance of mortals will be humbled. The LORD alone will be exalted on that day.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. III, line 12
And the worthless idols will vanish entirely.
Masoretic (WLC)
כָּלִיל
entirely
Dead Sea Scroll
כליל
entirely
Identical consonantal text. The wordplay between elilim and kalil is preserved.
1QIsaᵃ col. III, line 13
They will enter the caves of the rocks and the holes in the ground, from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. III, line 14
On that day, people will throw away their silver idols and their gold idols — which they made for themselves to worship — to the moles and the bats.
Masoretic (WLC)
אֱלִילֵי כַסְפּוֹ
his silver idols
Dead Sea Scroll
אלילי כספו
his silver idols
Identical consonantal reading. The passage about casting idols to moles and bats is the same in both traditions.
1QIsaᵃ col. III, line 15
to enter the crevices of the rocks and the clefts of the crags, from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. III, line 17
Stop trusting in mere mortals, who have only breath in their nostrils. Of what account are they?
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. III, line 18