Isaiahchapter 60

22 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 336 cross-references outward and receives 543 — heaviest partner: Isaiah.

Chapter summary

Zion is commanded to arise and shine, for her light has come and Jehovah's glory has risen upon her while gross darkness covers the peoples (vv. 1-2). Nations stream to her light and kings to her rising: camels of Midian and Ephah, gold and frankincense from Sheba, flocks of Kedar and rams of Nebaioth for the altar, ships of Tarshish bringing her sons home with silver and gold (vv. 3-9). Foreigners rebuild her walls, her gates stay open day and night to receive the wealth of nations, and the nation refusing to serve her perishes (vv. 10-12). Former oppressors bow, naming her "The city of Jehovah, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel" (v. 14). Violence ends; her walls are called Salvation and her gates Praise, and Jehovah himself replaces sun and moon as her everlasting light — imagery Revelation 21:23-26 takes up for the New Jerusalem (vv. 15-22).

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Prophecy · Isaiah — see the Isaiah overview for the book's full setting.

1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee.

2 For, 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.

3 And nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

4 Lift 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.

5 Then 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.

6 The 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.

7 All 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.

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

9 Surely 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.