Isaiah 60NASB
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Isaiah60

New American Standard

1“Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

2For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the Lord will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you.

3Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.

4“Raise your eyes all around and see; They all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar, And your daughters will be carried on the hip.

5Then you will see and be radiant, And your heart will thrill and rejoice; Because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, The wealth of the nations will come to you.

6A multitude of camels will cover you, The young camels of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba will come; They will bring gold and frankincense, And proclaim good news of the praises of the Lord.

7All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you, The rams of Nebaioth will serve you; They will go up on My altar with acceptance, And I will glorify My glorious house.

8Who are these who fly like a cloud And like the doves to their windows?

9Certainly the coastlands will wait for Me; And the ships of Tarshish will come first, To bring your sons from afar, Their silver and their gold with them, For the name of the Lord your God, And for the Holy One of Israel because He has glorified you.

10“Foreigners will build up your walls, And their kings will serve you; For in My wrath I struck you, And in My favor I have had compassion on you.

11Your gates will be open continually; They will not be closed day or night, So that people may bring you the wealth of the nations, With their kings led in procession.

12For the nation and the kingdom which will not serve you will perish, And the nations will be utterly ruined.

13The glory of Lebanon will come to you, The juniper, the elm tree and the cedar together, To beautify the place of My sanctuary; And I will make the place of My feet glorious.

14The sons of those who afflicted you will come bowing to you, And all those who despised you will bow down at the soles of your feet; And they will call you the city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15“Whereas you have been forsaken and hated With no one passing through, I will make you an object of pride forever, A joy from generation to generation.

16You will also suck the milk of nations, And suck the breast of kings; Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

17Instead of bronze I will bring gold, And instead of iron I will bring silver, And instead of wood, bronze, And instead of stones, iron. And I will make peace your administrators, And righteousness your overseers.

18Violence will not be heard again in your land, Nor devastation or destruction within your borders; But you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.

19No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor will the moon give you light for brightness; But you will have the Lord as an everlasting light, And your God as your glory.

20Your sun will no longer set, Nor will your moon wane; For you will have the Lord as an everlasting light, And the days of your mourning will be over.

21Then all your people will be righteous; They will possess the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified.

22The smallest one will become a thousand, And the least one a mighty nation. I, the Lord, will bring it about quickly in its time.”

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 60.

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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.

Cross References

Isaiah 60
v19Revelation 21:23thematic

Direct thematic and verbal parallel where God is the city's everlasting light, superseding sun and moon.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v19Revelation 22:5thematic

New Jerusalem parallel where there is no night, for the Lord God gives them light.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v1Ephesians 5:14allusion

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

v6Matthew 2:11fulfillment

The Magi from the East bringing gold and incense fulfills the tribute of Sheba's treasures.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v11Revelation 21:25thematic

Fulfillment parallel of gates that shall not be shut at all by day or night.

Supported by JFB

v1Malachi 4:2thematic

The rising of the Sun of Righteousness corresponding to the Lord rising upon Zion.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v3Isaiah 49:23thematic

Kings serving as nursing fathers, matching the gentiles and kings coming to thy light.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v5Jeremiah 33:9thematic

The heart fearing (trembling) and being enlarged with joy at God's goodness and prosperity.

Supported by JFB

v71 Peter 2:5typology

Believers offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God, typified by the voluntary offerings of Kedar.

Supported by JFB

v6Isaiah 30:6thematic

Camels and dromedaries bearing treasures through the south lands to Zion.

Supported by JFB

v9Isaiah 2:16thematic

Tarshish ships, symbol of distant commerce, first bringing Zion's children and treasures home.

Supported by JFB

v14Revelation 3:9thematic

Those who afflicted/despised the church coming to bow down at her feet.

Supported by JFB

v1Romans 11:25thematic

The mystery of Israel's partial hardening until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Supported by Matthew Henry