Isaiah60
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee.
2For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
3And nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
4Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: they all gather themselves together, they come to thee; thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be carried in the arms.
5Then thou shalt see and be radiant, and thy heart shall thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned unto thee, the wealth of the nations shall come unto thee.
6The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praises of Jehovah.
7All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee; they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar; and I will glorify the house of my glory.
8Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?
9Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, for the name of Jehovah thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.
10And foreigners shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favor have I had mercy on thee.
11Thy gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the wealth of the nations, and their kings led captive.
12For that nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.
13The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine, and the box-tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
14And the sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee The city of Jehovah, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man passed through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
16Thou shalt also suck the milk of the nations, and shalt suck the breast of kings; and thou shalt know that I, Jehovah, am thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
17For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron. I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.
18Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, desolation nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
19The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but Jehovah will be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
20Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; for Jehovah will be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
21Thy people also shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
22The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation; I, Jehovah, will hasten it in its time.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 60.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The glories of the church of God, when the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in. (1-8). and the Jews shall be converted and gathered from their dispersions. (9-14). and the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. (15-22).
vv1-8
As far as we have the knowledge of God in us, and the favour of God towards us, our light is come. And if God's glory is seen upon us to our honour, we ought, not only with our lips, but in our lives, to return its praise. We meet with nothing in the history of the Jews which can be deemed a fulfilment of the prophecy in this chapter; we must conclude it relates principally to future events. It predicts the purity and enlargement of the church. The conversion of souls is here described. They fly to Christ, to the church, to the word and ordinances, as doves to their own home; thither they fly for refuge and shelter, thither they fly for rest. What a pleasant sight to see poor souls hastening to Christ!
vv9-14
God will be very gracious. We must begin with his promise, thence all mercies take rise. Many shall be brought into the church, even from far countries. Christ is always ready to receive all who come to him; and the gate of mercy is always open, night and day. All that are about the church shall be made serviceable to it. But those who will not be subject to Christ's golden sceptre, to his word and Spirit, who will not be kept in by the laws and rules of his family, shall be broken in pieces by his iron rod. The peculiar advantages of every nation, and of every description of men, shall join to beautify the church of Christ. We must suppose this to be accomplished in the beauties of holiness, and the graces and comforts of the Spirit, with which gospel ordinances are adorned and enriched. Blessed be his name, the gates of Zion are ever open to returning sinners.
vv15-22
We must look for the full accomplishment in times and things, exceeding those of the Old Testament church. The nations and their kings shall lay themselves out for the good of the church. Such a salvation, such a redemption, shall be wrought out for thee, as discovers itself to be the work of the Lord. Every thing shall be changed for the better. In thy land shall no more be heard threats of those that do violence, nor complaints of those that suffer violence. Thy walls shall be means of safety, thy gates shall be written upon with praises to God. In the close of this chapter are images and expressions used in the description of the New Jerusalem, Rev. 21:23; 22:5. Nothing can answer to this but some future glorious state of the church on earth, or the state of the church triumphant in heaven. Those that make God their only light, shall have him their all-sufficient light. And the happiness shall know no change or alloy. No people on earth are all righteous; but there are no mixtures in heaven. They shall be wholly righteous. The spirits of just men shall there be made perfect. The glory of the church shall be to the honour of God. When it shall be finished, it will appear a work of wonder. It may seem too difficult to be brought about, but the God of almighty power has undertaken it. It may seem to be delayed and put off; but the Lord will hasten it in the time appointed by his wisdom, though not in the time prescribed by our folly. Let this hope cheer us under all difficulties, and stir us up to all diligence, that we may have an abundant entrance into this everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Key Words
קוּם: to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
אוֹר: to be (causative, make) luminous (literally and metaphorically)
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אוֹר: illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
כָּבוֹד: properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness
זָרַח: properly, to irradiate (or shoot forth beams), i.e. to rise (as the sun); specifically, to appear (as a symptom of leprosy)
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הִנֵּה: lo!
חֹשֶׁךְ: the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
Cross References
Isaiah 60Direct thematic and verbal parallel where God is the city's everlasting light, superseding sun and moon.
Supported by Matthew Henry
New Jerusalem parallel where there is no night, for the Lord God gives them light.
Supported by Matthew Henry
New Testament call to 'awake' and 'arise' reflecting Isaiah's command to arise and shine.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The nations of them which are saved walking in the light, and kings bringing glory.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Magi from the East bringing gold and incense fulfills the tribute of Sheba's treasures.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Fulfillment parallel of gates that shall not be shut at all by day or night.
Supported by JFB
The rising of the Sun of Righteousness corresponding to the Lord rising upon Zion.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Kings serving as nursing fathers, matching the gentiles and kings coming to thy light.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The heart fearing (trembling) and being enlarged with joy at God's goodness and prosperity.
Supported by JFB
Believers offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God, typified by the voluntary offerings of Kedar.
Supported by JFB
Camels and dromedaries bearing treasures through the south lands to Zion.
Supported by JFB
Tarshish ships, symbol of distant commerce, first bringing Zion's children and treasures home.
Supported by JFB
Those who afflicted/despised the church coming to bow down at her feet.
Supported by JFB
The mystery of Israel's partial hardening until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Supported by Matthew Henry