Isaiah 60 15

Isaiah 60:15 kjv

Whereas thou has been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.

Isaiah 60:15 nkjv

"Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, So that no one went through you, I will make you an eternal excellence, A joy of many generations.

Isaiah 60:15 niv

"Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations.

Isaiah 60:15 esv

Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, with no one passing through, I will make you majestic forever, a joy from age to age.

Isaiah 60:15 nlt

"Though you were once despised and hated,
with no one traveling through you,
I will make you beautiful forever,
a joy to all generations.

Isaiah 60 verses

Isaiah 60 15 Meaning

Isaiah 60:15 declares a profound transformation for Zion (often representing God's people or Jerusalem). It prophesies an end to a former state of abandonment and disdain, where the city was desolate and without inhabitants or visitors. In place of this past suffering and neglect, the Lord promises to elevate Zion to a state of eternal glory and honor, becoming a source of magnificent joy that will endure perpetually, through all succeeding generations. It underscores God's unfailing commitment to restore His chosen people from disgrace to a position of preeminence and perpetual gladness.

Isaiah 60 15 Context

Isaiah 60 is part of the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-66), primarily addressing God's people in or looking forward to the post-exilic period. Following chapters that emphasize Jerusalem's past suffering and sin, Chapter 60 bursts forth with glorious prophecies of its future restoration and preeminence. It depicts Zion awakening to divine light, becoming a magnetic beacon for nations and kings who will bring their wealth and honor. The immediate context of verse 15 is one of stark contrast: prior verses detail the ingathering of nations to Zion, its magnificent adornment, and divine provision. Verse 15 specifically highlights the reversal of Jerusalem's past shame and desolation, promising that its future glory will be of divine making, perpetual, and an unparalleled source of pride and joy, a central theme of Isaiah 60:1-22. Historically, this offered hope to a remnant struggling to rebuild after the Babylonian exile, looking beyond their present hardships to a glorious future wrought by God. Polemically, it contrasted with pagan nations whose temples and cities might crumble; Zion's future, in contrast, was eternally guaranteed by YHWH.

Isaiah 60 15 Word analysis

• Instead of: This prepositional phrase, using the Hebrew תַּחַת (taḥat), explicitly signals a complete reversal. It marks the antithesis between a bleak past and a glorious future, underscoring divine intervention.
• your being forsaken: Hebrew עֲזוּבָה ('azuvah), derived from the verb עָזַב ('azav - to leave, abandon, forsake). This passive participle describes Zion as having been desolate, abandoned, or neglected. It speaks to a deep sense of national rejection, perhaps experienced during the exile or periods of political and spiritual decline, highlighting past suffering and vulnerability.
• and hated: Hebrew שְׂנוּאָה (senu'ah), derived from the verb שָׂנֵא (sane' - to hate, abhor). This feminine singular passive participle indicates being a subject of animosity and contempt. This deep rejection further emphasizes the depth of Israel's prior humiliation, both from human adversaries and potentially a perceived divine disfavor due to sin.
• with no one passing through: This phrase powerfully conveys desolation and abandonment. It uses an active participle עֹבֵר ('over - passing over, traveler). A lack of passersby means no commerce, no visitors, no activity, no life – signifying extreme isolation and a deserted, ruined state. It paints a picture of utter lifelessness.
• I will make you: Hebrew וְשַׂמְתִּיךְ (wesämtîyk), a waw-consecutive perfect form from שׂוּם (sum - to set, place, make, appoint). The "I" here is YHWH, God himself, emphasizing divine agency. This verb denotes a decisive, intentional act of transformation, a complete re-ordering of Zion's destiny by divine decree and power.
• an everlasting: Hebrew עוֹלָם ('olam). This highly significant term denotes unending, perpetual, eternal, extending through ages. It asserts the permanence and irreversibility of the coming glory, setting it apart from any temporary human achievement or setback. God's restoration is for all time.
• pride: Hebrew גְּאוֹן (gā'ôn), refers to majesty, excellency, glory, splendor, dignity, exaltation. It's a sense of honorable distinction or preeminence, but in this context, it's not human arrogance, but divinely bestowed honor and an object of admiration. Zion will be esteemed and regarded with reverence.
• a joy: Hebrew מָשׂוֹשׂ (māsôs), refers to joy, exultation, gladness. It signifies a profound, overflowing happiness and delight. Zion will not just be respected but will be a source and recipient of great rejoicing.
• from generation to generation: Hebrew דּוֹר וָדוֹר (dōr wā-dōr), literally "generation and generation." This idiomatic expression reinforces the meaning of 'everlasting' by emphasizing the continuous and unbroken duration of this joy and pride throughout successive human epochs, indicating its enduring nature for all future descendants.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Instead of your being forsaken and hated,": This clause starkly contrasts Zion's past ignominious state of desolation, isolation, and widespread rejection with a future of divine favor. It directly addresses the deep pain of feeling abandoned and despised, capturing the experience of exile and ruin.
• "with no one passing through,": This imagery emphasizes the utter lifelessness and complete abandonment of Zion, painting a vivid picture of its former, desolate state, stripped of interaction and purpose, as if utterly erased from the world's routes.
• "I will make you": The personal pronoun "I" establishes Yahweh as the sole agent of this radical transformation, underscoring that Zion's future glory is a sovereign, unmerited gift, not an outcome of human effort or circumstance.
• "an everlasting pride, a joy": These twin declarations promise two fundamental aspects of the new reality: perpetual honor (pride in the positive sense of dignity and esteem) and enduring happiness. The "everlasting" and "from generation to generation" components underline the infinite scope and continuous nature of these blessings, transcending temporal limitations and historical fluctuations.

Isaiah 60 15 Bonus section

The transformation described in Isaiah 60:15 extends beyond the physical restoration of Jerusalem after the exile; it possesses a deeply spiritual and eschatological dimension. Scholars often interpret this verse, like much of Isaiah 60, as foreshadowing the glory of the New Testament church, God's spiritual Israel, and ultimately the New Jerusalem. The reversal of "forsaken and hated" into "everlasting pride and joy" speaks to humanity's redemption from spiritual abandonment and alienation (due to sin) to an eternal, joyful union with God through Christ. The perpetuity of this pride and joy ('olām and dōr wā-dōr) ensures that the divine blessing is not dependent on human performance but on God's unchanging covenant faithfulness and eternal purpose. This glory isn't earned; it's a gift of divine grace.

Isaiah 60 15 Commentary

Isaiah 60:15 is a magnificent divine reversal, painting a picture of radical transformation for Zion. It stands as a clear antithesis to the pain of past rejection and desolation, promising an entirely new, divinely engineered future. Where Zion once suffered from being "forsaken" (עֲזוּבָה, 'azuvah) and "hated" (שְׂנוּאָה, senu'ah) – experiences tied to Israel's disobedience and subsequent judgments like the exile – God pledges to intervene directly. The imagery of "no one passing through" vividly portrays utter devastation, suggesting a forgotten city, devoid of economic activity, human presence, or even simple recognition.

However, the divine "I will make you" ('esīm) ushers in a new era. God Himself takes action to establish Zion as an "everlasting pride" (gā'ôn 'olām) and "a joy from generation to generation" (māsôs dōr wā-dōr). "Everlasting" and "from generation to generation" are crucial, ensuring that this bestowed honor and gladness are not temporary but perpetual and sustained through all future epochs. This glory is not fleeting; it's eternal, solidifying Zion's new identity as a beacon of God's favor and a source of profound, lasting delight. This transformation ultimately finds its fullest expression in the spiritual New Jerusalem, where God's people enjoy His eternal presence and joy.