Isaiah 60 1

Isaiah 60:1 kjv

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

Isaiah 60:1 nkjv

Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.

Isaiah 60:1 niv

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

Isaiah 60:1 esv

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

Isaiah 60:1 nlt

"Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see.
For the glory of the LORD rises to shine on you.

Isaiah 60 verses

Isaiah 60 1 Meaning

Isaiah 60:1 is a prophetic call to Zion (often symbolizing Jerusalem or the people of God) to "Arise" from a state of humiliation and "Shine," not by its own power, but by reflecting the divine light and glory of God that has arrived and settled upon it. It declares the beginning of a new era of restoration and splendor, marking God's decisive intervention and the manifestation of His presence among His people.

Isaiah 60 1 Context

Isaiah 60:1 marks a profound turning point in the Book of Isaiah, particularly within what is often termed "Third Isaiah" (chapters 56-66). The preceding chapters (especially 58-59) have painted a stark picture of Israel's sin, corruption, and estrangement from God, resulting in judgment, spiritual darkness, and a state of lowliness. Despite their unworthiness, these chapters also contain promises of redemption for the penitent. Chapter 59:9-10 describes people groping like the blind in darkness, a clear contrast to the "light" now proclaimed.

Isaiah 60, therefore, opens with a dramatic shift, moving from despair and divine hiddenness to an urgent summons to witness and participate in God's glorious restoration. It describes an eschatological vision of future glory for Jerusalem (Zion) following the suffering and exile, when God's favor would be irrevocably returned. The historical/cultural context points to a post-exilic community yearning for the fulfillment of God's promises of return, rebuilding, and renewed national and spiritual prominence. The message directly contrasts with the prevalent pagan worldview that attributed glory and light to idols or powerful human empires, positioning YHWH as the sole source of true, enduring glory and the only one capable of truly lighting up the world and drawing all nations to Himself.

Isaiah 60 1 Word analysis

• קוּמִי (qūmî) - "Arise!"

  • This is an imperative verb, feminine singular. It addresses "Zion," implicitly or explicitly (often referred to as a "daughter" or feminine entity in prophetic literature, like the "daughter of Zion").
  • Signifies a command to rouse oneself from a state of prostration, dormancy, or humiliation. It implies a previous condition of being cast down or inactive, as seen in the preceding chapters where Jerusalem suffers the consequences of sin.
  • It is a call to action and a spiritual awakening.
  • Used elsewhere for physical standing (Gen 13:17) and spiritual or national revival (Psa 7:6).

• אוֹרִי (ʼōrî) - "Shine!"

  • Also an imperative verb, feminine singular, derived from the root אוֹר (ʼōr), meaning "light."
  • This command is directly linked to the "Arise!" and refers to manifesting light, making it visible.
  • Crucially, this is not a command to create light, but to reflect the light that has come to Zion. The city itself does not originate the glory.
  • It is an external display of an internal or divine reality.

• כִּי־בָא (kî-ḇāʼ) - "for your light has come," or "for light has come [for] you."

  • כִּי (kî) serves as a causal conjunction: "for," "because." It provides the reason or basis for the commands to arise and shine.
  • בָא (bāʼ) is a verb meaning "to come, arrive." It is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action—the light has already come or has effectively arrived.
  • This confirms that the call to shine is not based on Zion's inherent ability but on a divinely initiated event.

• אוֹרֵךְ (ʼôrēḵ) - "your light"

  • This is the noun אוֹר (ʼôr) with the second person feminine singular suffix -ֵךְ (-ēḵ), meaning "your."
  • This "light" refers to God's manifested presence and favor. It is described as Zion's light because it is given to and for Zion, causing her to radiate.

• וּכְבוֹד (ūḵḇôḏ) - "and the glory of"

  • וּ (ū) is the conjunctive "and."
  • כְבוֹד (kəḇôḏ) is the construct form of כָּבוֹד (kāḇôḏ), meaning "glory, honor, splendor, reputation."
  • The root כָּבֵד (kāḇēd) implies "heaviness" or "substance," conveying the idea of intrinsic worth and impressiveness. It signifies God's visible manifestation of His magnificent attributes.

• יהוה (YHWH) - "the LORD"

  • The personal covenant name of God, emphasizing the exclusive source and authenticity of this light and glory.
  • This establishes the divine authority and unwavering promise behind the prophecy.

• עָלַיִךְ (ʿālayiḵ) - "upon you"

  • עַל (ʿal) means "upon, over."
  • -ַיִךְ (-ayiḵ) is the second person feminine singular suffix, referring back to Zion.
  • This phrase indicates a position of direct placement and covering, suggesting that the glory of the Lord rests conspicuously and effectively on Zion. It is not just near, but has risen onto her, making her the direct recipient and displayer of this divine splendor.

Words-group analysis

• "Arise, shine": These are twin commands requiring an active response from Zion. The sequence suggests "Arise" (get up from a low state) in order to "Shine" (manifest God's light). They are an empowered call, not just a demand, for Zion to resume her rightful, glorious position.
• "for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you": This phrase functions as the dual justification and enablement for the preceding commands. The "light" (referring to God's salvation and presence) is specifically for Zion ("your light"), indicating an intimate and redemptive relationship. The perfect tense ("has come," "has risen") underscores that God's action is decisive and already in effect or soon to be. The parallel between "your light has come" and "the glory of the LORD has risen upon you" confirms that Zion's "light" is directly derived from and identified with the Lord's "glory," which physically (spiritually) settles upon her.

Isaiah 60 1 Bonus section

The Hebrew word קוּמִי (Arise!) is used not only for literal rising but also to initiate a new action or a spiritual revival. In this context, it is a spiritual resurrection from the 'dust' of desolation and a commissioning. The perfect tense בָא (has come) and זָרַח (has risen) point to an already established reality from God's perspective, providing an unshakable foundation for Zion's mandated response. This means that Zion is called to act because God has already acted. While addressed to Zion, this passage carries profound implications for individual believers and the New Testament Church. Believers are called to "arise" from spiritual sleep or sin and "shine" by reflecting the light of Christ, who is the "glory of God" (2 Cor 4:6; Eph 5:14). Our light is derived, never original, just as Zion's was. This divine enablement transforms passive despair into active, visible witness.

Isaiah 60 1 Commentary

Isaiah 60:1 bursts forth as a divine imperative and a profound promise of restoration and glory for God's chosen people. It addresses Zion, representative of Jerusalem and by extension, the entire faithful community of God. The command "Arise, shine" is not a plea for Zion to muster her own strength, but an urgent call to respond to a new divine reality. For long, Zion had been in darkness and despondency due to sin and exile, reflecting the spiritual barrenness described in previous chapters. But now, God declares that "your light has come." This is a singular, decisive event, not merely a gradual process. The light that has arrived is not an earthly radiance, but the very "glory of the LORD." This glory, intrinsically substantial and awe-inspiring, has "risen upon" Zion, effectively covering and transforming her. This rising implies God's definitive revelation and an end to her hiddenness or humiliation. Thus, Zion's shining is purely a reflection of God's manifest presence and saving power. It signifies a future era where Jerusalem becomes a radiant beacon, a city no longer marred by sin and judgment, but bathed in divine splendor, drawing all nations to the light of the Lord. The message offers a powerful reminder that any light emanating from God's people is ultimately His own, reflecting His initiative, presence, and faithfulness to His covenant promises.