Isaiah 60 18

Isaiah 60:18 kjv

Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.

Isaiah 60:18 nkjv

Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, And your gates Praise.

Isaiah 60:18 niv

No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.

Isaiah 60:18 esv

Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.

Isaiah 60:18 nlt

Violence will disappear from your land;
the desolation and destruction of war will end.
Salvation will surround you like city walls,
and praise will be on the lips of all who enter there.

Isaiah 60 verses

Isaiah 60 18 Meaning

Violence shall no more be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. This verse describes a future reality of complete peace and security for God's people, where the sounds and experiences of aggression, devastation, and oppression are eradicated. In their place, the very fortifications and access points of their city will be recognized as the direct results of God's saving power and the expressions of their continuous worship. It signifies a transformation from fear and suffering to security and joyful devotion, driven by divine intervention.

Isaiah 60 18 Context

Isaiah 60 speaks of the future restoration and glory of Zion, a depiction that progressively intensifies as the chapter unfolds. This specific verse, Isaiah 60:18, follows prophecies of increased prosperity, safety, and international recognition for Jerusalem and its people. The immediate context (verses 17-22) emphasizes a radical transformation where God’s justice and righteousness will pervade all levels of society, leading to unparalleled security and peace. Historically, the people of Israel had endured periods of extreme violence, exile, and destruction due to their disobedience. This promise offers a stark contrast to their past experiences of suffering and fear. The chapter, written by the prophet Isaiah, anticipates a future messianic age, offering hope to the exilic community and assuring them of God's unfailing faithfulness and ultimate plan for redemption. The imagery of calling walls "Salvation" and gates "Praise" signifies that God’s protection and the community’s worship will be inseparable and foundational to their existence.

Isaiah 60 18 Word analysis

• Violence (חָמָס - chamas):

  • This Hebrew word refers to violence, wrong, injury, oppression, and injustice.
  • It carries a strong sense of unlawful force or aggressive action against others.
  • The negation of "chamas" signifies the complete absence of such aggressive wrongdoing.

• Nor (וְלֹא - wə-lō):

  • A conjunction meaning "and not" or "nor."
  • It continues the negation, reinforcing that neither violence nor the following concepts will be heard.

• Ruin (שֹׁד - šōḏ):

  • This term signifies destruction, devastation, spoil, or ravage.
  • It speaks of that which is brought to ruin or destroyed.
  • The absence of "šōḏ" implies the cessation of all forms of destruction and desolation.

• Or (אוֹ - ’ô):

  • A simple conjunction indicating an alternative.

• Destruction (בֶּצַע - beṣaʿ):

  • This Hebrew word can mean breach, ruin, devastation, or injury.
  • It is often associated with plunder or the violent taking of property, indicating an unjust gain obtained through force.
  • In this context, its exclusion further emphasizes the absence of any harmful or forceful act that leaves the land broken.

• Heard (תִּשָּׁמַע - tiššāmæʿ):

  • The Piel imperfect 3rd person feminine singular form of the verb שָׁמַע (šāmaʿ), meaning "to hear."
  • The Piel stem can indicate causing to hear or proclaim.
  • However, in the passive Hithpael (though often expressed in Niphal), it signifies "to be heard." Here, the niphal conjugation (תִּשָּׁמַע - tiššāməʿ) means "to be heard."
  • The future tense signifies that these negative sounds will no longer be perceptible in the land.

• In your land (בְּאַרְצֵךְ - bə’arṣēḵ):

  • "bə" means "in," "on," or "with."
  • "arṣēḵ" is from אֶרֶץ (’ereṣ) meaning "land," "earth," or "country," with the 2nd person feminine singular possessive suffix "-ḵ."
  • It refers to the territory belonging to the people addressed.

• Nor (וְשֹׁד - wəšōd):

  • Repeats the conjunction "and" with the noun "šōd" (ruin/destruction). This could be interpreted as "nor will ruin..." or it could be seen as a slight redundancy reinforcing the absence of all destructive forces. It can also be a typo in my previous explanation where I did not consider "and ruin".
  • (rechecking previous word analysis for "nor" "ruin" or "destruction": 'wə-lō' for "nor", 'šōḏ' for "ruin" and 'bəṣaʿ' for "destruction". 'tiššāmæʿ' is 'to be heard'. 'bə’arṣēḵ' is 'in your land'. so 'wə-lō' and then another word, "wəšōd" seems like it means "and ruin." I believe there's a typo here. It should be שׁוּד (šûd), which is related to שׁוֹד (šōd). Let's assume the text correctly refers to destruction or ruin here.)
  • Let's re-examine "nor ruin or destruction". The structure is "violence ... nor ruin or destruction". The Hebrew here is: חָמָס וְשֹׁד וּבֶצַע--בַּל-יִשָּׁמְעוּ (chamas wəšōd ûḇəṣaʿ—bal-yiššāməʿū). The conjunction 'û' before 'bəṣaʿ' means "and". So it's "violence, and ruin, and plundering". The negation 'bal' (בַּל) means "not at all", and 'yiššāməʿū' (יִשָּׁמְעוּ) is the Niphal imperfect 3rd person plural of 'šāmaʿ' (to hear), meaning "will be heard". Thus, "Violence, ruin, and destruction will not be heard." My earlier transliteration of 'wəšōd' for 'nor' might have been a slight misinterpretation or an assumed correction based on common prophetic themes. The actual reading points to the cumulative absence of these evils.

• Within your borders (בִּגְבוּלַיִךְ - bigəḇûlāyik):

  • "bigəḇûlāyik" from גְּבוּל (gəḇûl) meaning "border," "boundary," or "territory," with the 2nd person feminine singular possessive suffix "-yik."
  • This specifies the extent of the promised peace and security – encompassing all the nation's geographical limits.

• But you shall call (כִּי-תִקְרְאִי - kî-tiqrə’î):

  • "kî" means "but," "for," or "indeed." Here it introduces a strong contrast.
  • "tiqrə’î" is the Piel imperfect 2nd person feminine singular of קָרָא (qārā’), meaning "to call," "to name," or "to summon."
  • It signifies the active naming or designation by the people.

• Your walls (חוֹמֹתַיִךְ - ḥōmōṯayik):

  • "ḥōmōṯayik" from חוֹמָה (ḥōmāh) meaning "wall," especially a city wall or rampart, with the 2nd person feminine singular possessive suffix "-yik."
  • These are the protective structures of their city.

• Salvation (שָׂוַע - śāwaʿ):

  • This is a direct repurposing of the word. Instead of calling their walls by a material name or a defensive term, they will call them by the name "Salvation."
  • It emphasizes that their security is entirely dependent on and derived from God's saving action.
  • The term for salvation here, שׁוּעַ (šuʿa), relates to deliverance and help.

• And your gates (וּשַׂעֲרַיִךְ - ûšäʿărāyik):

  • "ûšäʿărāyik" from שַׁעַר (šaʿar) meaning "gate," often referring to a city gate, with the 2nd person feminine singular possessive suffix "-yik."
  • Gates are points of entry and exit, vital for commerce, governance, and defense.

• Praise (תְּהִלָּה - təhillāh):

  • This Hebrew word means "praise," "glory," "thanksgiving," or "rejoicing."
  • The gates will be named "Praise," signifying that access into and out of the city will be marked by expressions of worship and thanksgiving to God. The very acts of entering and departing will be occasions for praise.

Isaiah 60 18 Bonus section

This verse resonates deeply with the concept of the new heavens and new earth described in the New Testament, particularly in Revelation. The complete absence of violence, ruin, and destruction, along with the promise of everlasting peace and unending praise, is a foundational aspect of the eschatological hope. The idea of renaming structures or identifying them by divine attributes can be seen as a parallel to the New Jerusalem where "the name of the city depends on what it is" – its essence is divine. The transformation from defensive walls to symbols of salvation and gates of praise speaks to a shift in the very purpose and experience of life; former instruments of fear or protection become instruments of joy and testimony to God's work. The prophecy is ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who breaks down the dividing wall of hostility (Eph 2:14) and whose reign brings perfect peace and a kingdom of righteousness and worship that will never end.

Isaiah 60 18 Commentary

Isaiah 60:18 paints a vivid picture of ultimate security and perpetual worship, transitioning from a state of conflict to one of blessed peace. The prophecy declares that all forms of aggression—violence, ruin, and plunder—will be banished entirely from the land and its borders. This is not merely a temporary cessation of hostilities but a fundamental and enduring transformation of the environment. What makes this future remarkable is how the people will actively re-identify their physical defenses. Their walls, once literal barriers against attack, will be redesignated as "Salvation" (Hebrew: śāwaʿ), signifying that their ultimate protection comes from God and is a constant reminder of His saving power. Similarly, their gates, which represent access, interaction, and control over their territory, will be known as "Praise" (Hebrew: təhillāh). This means that every entrance and exit will be an act of public worship, a declaration of their dependence on and gratitude towards God. This renaming reflects an internalization of their faith; their security is not in the fortifications themselves but in the God of Salvation, and their joy in God will permeate every aspect of their communal life, including the very way they enter and leave their cities. The passage points to a New Covenant reality where God's presence brings not only external safety but an internal disposition of perpetual praise.