Isaiah 60 13

Isaiah 60:13 kjv

The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.

Isaiah 60:13 nkjv

"The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, The cypress, the pine, and the box tree together, To beautify the place of My sanctuary; And I will make the place of My feet glorious.

Isaiah 60:13 niv

"The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the juniper, the fir and the cypress together, to adorn my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place for my feet.

Isaiah 60:13 esv

The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious.

Isaiah 60:13 nlt

"The glory of Lebanon will be yours ?
the forests of cypress, fir, and pine ?
to beautify my sanctuary.
My Temple will be glorious!

Isaiah 60 verses

Isaiah 60 13 Meaning

Isaiah 60:13 paints a vibrant prophetic picture of the future glory of Jerusalem (Zion) and God's dwelling place. It foresees a time when the abundant natural resources and the finest materials, specifically represented by the famed trees of Lebanon—the cypress, fir, and pine—will be brought together to adorn and beautify God's sanctuary. This act of nations bringing their best to honor God is coupled with a divine promise: God Himself will add to this splendor by glorifying the place where His presence rests, sanctifying it with His divine glory. The verse emphasizes both the voluntary offering of creation's finest and God's ultimate role in hallowing His chosen place.

Isaiah 60 13 Context

Isaiah chapter 60 is a powerful prophetic declaration, a beacon of hope and future glory for Zion (Jerusalem). Following chapters that detail judgment, repentance, and restoration, Isaiah 60 marks a definitive shift, ushering in an era of unprecedented light and divine favor for God's people. The chapter opens with an imperative for Zion to "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you." It describes the ingathering of diaspora Jews and the drawing of Gentile nations to Zion, bringing their wealth, resources, and reverence. The verse fits within this grand vision, illustrating the physical beautification of Jerusalem's holy places through the nations' contributions, specifically the choice timbers from Lebanon. This entire chapter looks forward to an ideal, messianic future where God's presence radically transforms His chosen city and people, making it a source of light and worship for the entire world.

Isaiah 60 13 Word analysis

• The glory of Lebanon (כְּבוֹד הַלְּבָנוֹן, kěḇôḏ ha-leḇānôn):
  • Glory (kāḇôḏ): This Hebrew term signifies honor, renown, splendor, and also refers to tangible substance or wealth. Here, it denotes the prized possessions and natural splendor, specifically the valuable timber of the Lebanese forests. Its association with wealth elevates the offering.
  • Lebanon (Leḇānôn): Known for its majestic cedar and coniferous forests, highly valued in ancient times for construction, particularly for temples and palaces. It symbolized strength, beauty, and abundant resources.
• will come to you (ēlāyiḵ): Directed to Zion/Jerusalem (feminine singular), implying the convergence of resources and peoples towards God's holy city. It signifies a movement of dedicated offering.
• the cypress, the fir and the pine (בְּרוֹשׁ תִּדְהָר וּתְאַשּׁוּר, bi-rôš tidhār wā-təʾaššûr):
  • Specific types of high-quality coniferous trees, often hard to distinguish precisely but all valued for their timber. These represent the best and most durable building materials, echoing their use in Solomon's Temple. They embody the peak of natural beauty and strength that will be consecrated to God.
• together (yaḥdāw): Emphasizes unity and a collective, harmonious offering from diverse sources. It highlights the convergence of these materials and by extension, the unity of those who bring them.
• to adorn my sanctuary (לְפָאֵר מִקְדָּשִׁי, lē-pāʾēr miq-dāšî):
  • To adorn/beautify/glorify (pāʾēr): To render glorious, make beautiful. This suggests both practical and aesthetic purposes—the embellishment and elevation of the sacred space.
  • My sanctuary (miqdāšî): God's holy dwelling place. While it may refer to a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem, it also has broader implications for any space consecrated to God's presence, including the New Testament spiritual temple (the church, the redeemed community).
• and I will glorify the place of my feet (וּמְקוֹם רַגְלַי אֲכַבֵּד, wû-mĕqôm rag-lay a-ḵabēd):
  • Place of my feet (məqôm rag-lay): An idiomatic expression for God's dominion on earth, a place where His presence is manifest. Derived from Isa 66:1 ("heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool"), here it refers specifically to the chosen dwelling place of God, Jerusalem, and particularly His sanctuary within it.
  • I will glorify (ʾakabēd): A causative form of kāḇôḏ, meaning "I will make glorious." This is God's direct act of bestowing honor and divine presence upon the sanctuary, making its glory far surpass any human embellishment.

Words-group analysis

• The glory of Lebanon will come to you—the cypress, the fir and the pine—together: This phrase vividly personifies the natural world bringing its choicest offerings. It speaks to creation itself participating in the worship and beautification of God's dwelling, a fulfillment of a universal call to praise. This convergence underscores the drawing of nations, metaphorically represented by their prime resources, to Zion. It subtly acts as a polemic against the idea that the greatest human-made idols or structures can compare to what Yahweh’s dwelling will be, glorifying only the one true God who also owns these resources.
• to adorn my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place of my feet: This juxtaposition highlights the dual nature of sanctification and glorification. Human efforts (bringing materials to adorn) are meaningful and desired by God, yet they are always secondary to God's own ultimate act of making a place truly holy and glorious through His presence. This promise underscores divine initiative, reassuring that the ultimate glory will be divinely endowed and surpasses all human endeavor. The sanctuary, whether physical or spiritual, derives its true significance and holiness from God's presence.

Isaiah 60 13 Bonus section

• The "glory of Lebanon" is often contrasted in prophetic literature. While Isa 2:13 uses the "cedars of Lebanon" to represent human pride that will be humbled, here in Isa 60:13, the valuable timber of Lebanon is repurposed and consecrated to a holy purpose, symbolizing redeemed creation offering its best to its Creator.
• The specific trees mentioned (cypress, fir, pine) were not only used in Solomon's physical Temple (1 Ki 5-6), but their enduring, often evergreen, nature can subtly symbolize the everlasting nature of God's restored covenant and sanctuary.
• The phrase "the place of my feet" (מְקוֹם רַגְלַי, məqôm raglay) carries a deep theological weight. While Isa 66:1 declares that the entire earth is God's "footstool," in Isa 60:13, it implies a specific earthly locus where God chooses to manifest His presence and dominion in a profound way. This specific chosen place—Zion, Jerusalem, the sanctuary—becomes supernaturally hallowed by His direct intent and presence.
• This verse can be understood eschatologically as a foreshadowing of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21-22), where the "glory and honor of the nations" are brought into the city, symbolizing a redeemed humanity in an entirely glorified dwelling with God, where God Himself is the ultimate glory and light.

Isaiah 60 13 Commentary

Isaiah 60:13 serves as a profound statement on divine glorification and the devotion of creation. It is a promise that Zion will not merely be restored but exalted to an unparalleled state of splendor. The "glory of Lebanon," symbolizing natural opulence and choice building materials, is envisioned as converging on Jerusalem, transforming God's sanctuary into a magnificent abode. This imagery goes beyond mere aesthetics; it speaks of the redirection of the world's finest resources and the nations' devotion towards the worship of the one true God. Crucially, the verse climaxes not with human effort, but with God's direct intervention: "I will glorify the place of my feet." This signifies that the ultimate and enduring glory of God's dwelling place comes directly from His own sanctifying presence. It points to a redeemed earth where the best of creation is dedicated to God, and God's presence permeates and hallows the very ground, establishing a radiant center of divine-human interaction.

Practical usages might include:

• Acknowledging that our offerings to God, however excellent, are made truly glorious by His acceptance and sanctification.
• Understanding that God delights in beautiful and dedicated spaces for worship, whether physical buildings or the spiritual assembly of believers.
• Recognizing that the resources and talents we possess can and should be consecrated for God's purposes, contributing to the "adornment" of His kingdom.