Isaiah 60WEB
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Isaiah60

World English Bible · Public Domain

1“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and Yahweh’s glory has risen on you!

2For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but Yahweh will arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you.

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

4“Lift up your eyes all around, and see: they all gather themselves together. They come to you. Your sons will come from far away, and your daughters will be carried in arms.

5Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart will thrill and be enlarged; 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 dromedaries of Midian and Ephah. All from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and frankincense, and will proclaim the praises of Yahweh.

7All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you. The rams of Nebaioth will serve you. They will be accepted as offerings on my altar; and I will beautify my glorious house.

8“Who are these who fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?

9Surely the islands will wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your sons from far away, their silver and their gold with them, for the name of Yahweh 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, but in my favor I have had mercy on you.

11Your gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night, that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, and their kings led captive.

12For that nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; yes, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

13“The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress 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.

14The sons of those who afflicted you will come bowing to you; and all those who despised you will bow themselves down at the soles of your feet. They will call you Yahweh’s City, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15“Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, so that no one passed through you, I will make you an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.

16You will also drink the milk of the nations, and will nurse from royal breasts. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

17For bronze I will bring gold; for iron I will bring silver; for wood, bronze, and for stones, iron. I will also make peace your governor, and righteousness your ruler.

18Violence shall no more be heard in your land, nor desolation or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.

19The sun will be no more your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon give light to you, but Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

20Your sun will not go down any more, nor will your moon withdraw itself; for Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will end.

21Then your people will all be righteous. They will inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

22The little one will become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation. I, Yahweh, will do this 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