What are plow-shares and pruninghooks (2 Nephi 12:4)? According to Donald Parry, plowshares are the cutting blade of a plow, and the pruninghook is a tool with a hooked blade for pruning plants. In the parallelism, "they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks" (Isaiah 2:4), the two agricultural instruments may have been chosen as symmetrical counterparts of swords and spears because all four instruments have blades--two of the blades are used in warfare, and the other two blades are useful, constructive, and conducive to the work ethic and eventual prosperity. Plowshares and pruninghooks, therefore, represent instruments of peace and prosperity. [Donald W. Parry, "Isaiah, Prophecies of Jesus Christ, Zion, and the Millennium," (Part 2), F.A.R.M.S., p. 5]
2 Nephi 12:4 Plowshares ([Illustration]): Plowshares without the plow, Neot Kedumim, a biblical landscape reserve. Photograph by Tana and Mac Graham. [Donald W. Parry, Visualizing Isaiah, p. 118]
2 Nephi 12:4 Pruninghooks ([Illustration]): A pruning hook is a knifelike instrument with a short, broad blade used for pruning vines and harvesting grapes. Isaiah describes the pruning process: "For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, . . . he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches" (Isaiah 18:5). Photograph by Tana and Mac Graham. [Donald W. Parry, Visualizing Isaiah, p. 118]