Isaiah 60 19

Isaiah 60:19 kjv

The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.

Isaiah 60:19 nkjv

"The sun shall no longer be your light by day, Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; But the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, And your God your glory.

Isaiah 60:19 niv

The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

Isaiah 60:19 esv

The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

Isaiah 60:19 nlt

"No longer will you need the sun to shine by day,
nor the moon to give its light by night,
for the LORD your God will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.

Isaiah 60 verses

Isaiah 60 19 Meaning

Isaiah 60:19 prophesies a future time for God's people, particularly the redeemed Jerusalem, where the natural sources of light—the sun and moon—will become obsolete. Instead, the LORD Himself will serve as their everlasting, unending light, and their God will be their glory and splendor. This verse declares a profound shift from reliance on the created order for illumination to direct and perpetual sustenance by God's own radiant presence, signifying complete divine provision and a perfected state of fellowship.

Isaiah 60 19 Context

Isaiah 60:19 is situated within a vibrant prophetic vision concerning the glorious future of Jerusalem (Zion) after a period of affliction and exile. Chapter 60 begins with a call for Jerusalem to "Arise, shine, for your light has come" (v. 1), immediately establishing the theme of divine illumination and glory. The preceding verses (v. 1-18) depict a restored and greatly enlarged Jerusalem, adorned with the glory of the LORD, attracting wealth and people from all nations who come to worship. This divine light ensures perpetual day, prosperity, peace, and righteousness within the city's walls. Verse 19 intensifies this vision by stating that the natural luminaries—the sun and moon, which previously regulated day and night and were objects of worship in surrounding pagan cultures—will no longer be necessary, being entirely superseded by the unceasing and eternal light of the LORD Himself. This shift signifies a new covenant reality, free from the limitations and cycles of the created order, establishing God's direct, unending, and exclusive presence as the source of all life and splendor for His people. The historical context reflects a comforting message to an exilic or post-exilic community longing for restoration and God's renewed favor.

Isaiah 60 19 Word analysis

• The sun (שֶׁמֶשׁ, shemesh): Refers to the physical sun, a primary created light source that dictates "day." In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the sun was often deified (e.g., Ra, Shamash), representing power and light. The verse asserts its diminishment in the eschatological age.

• shall no more be (לֹא־יִהְיֶה־לָּךְ עוֹד, lo-yihyeh-lach od): An emphatic negation, conveying finality. It indicates a complete cessation of function in this specific role for God's redeemed people.

• your light by day (לְאוֹר יוֹמָם, l'or yomam): 'Or (אור) signifies light, illumination, also metaphorical light for guidance, well-being, or knowledge. Yomam means "by day." The established natural rhythm will be overcome.

• nor for brightness (וּלְנֹגַהּ, u-l'nogahh): Nogah (נוֹגַהּ) denotes brilliant light, splendor, brightness. It highlights the aesthetic and comforting quality of moonlight.

• shall the moon give light to you (הַיָּרֵחַ לֹא־יָאִיר לָךְ, ha-yareach lo-ya'ir lach): The moon (yareach), also a created light, especially prominent in the absence of the sun. Similar to the sun, it was sometimes deified. Its light will also be superseded. Ya'ir (יאיר) means to shine or give light.

• but the Lord (וְהָיָה לָךְ יְהוָה, v'hayah lach YHVH): Introduces the divine subject as the ultimate replacement. YHVH (יהוה) is the sacred covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal and unchanging presence.

• will be your everlasting light (לְאוֹר עוֹלָם, l'or olam): 'Olam (עוֹלָם) means eternal, everlasting, forever. This signifies a perpetual, undiminishing, and superior light, transcending all temporal or cyclical natural light. It represents enduring joy, truth, and presence.

• and your God your glory (וֵאלֹהַיִךְ תִּפְאַרְתֵּךְ, ve'Elohayich tif'artech): Elohayich (אֱלֹהַיִךְ) means "your God," emphasizing the personal relationship. Tif'arah (תפארת) signifies glory, splendor, beauty, majesty, honor, and adornment. It implies not just illumination, but also a source of praise and divine radiance, representing the full manifestation of God's perfect character.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "The sun shall no more be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you": This phrase emphatically removes reliance on natural light sources. It serves as a strong polemic against any form of worship or ultimate dependence on created elements, subtly contrasting with pagan practices of moon and sun worship (e.g., in ancient Egypt, Babylon, Canaan). The negation lo od ("no more") emphasizes a radical and final change.
  • "but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God your glory": This counter-statement asserts God as the singular, all-sufficient source of light and splendor. It shifts the focus from temporary, created luminaries to the eternal, uncreated God. "Everlasting light" signifies not only the duration but also the unchanging, ultimate quality of God's illuminating presence. "Your God your glory" elevates God to be the very essence of Zion's splendor, honor, and majesty, implying an inherent divine beauty that radiates from the community blessed by His presence. This suggests a direct, unmediated communion.

Isaiah 60 19 Bonus section

The concept of "light" in the Bible often encompasses more than just physical illumination; it represents truth, purity, life, salvation, guidance, and the very presence of God Himself. Isaiah 60:19 culminates this understanding by portraying God not just as giving light but being the light—a personal, all-sufficient luminary. This is not merely a spiritual metaphor but points to a tangible, physical reality in the future New Creation, where God's glorious presence will literally be the illuminating force, outshining all created light. The prophetic shift from finite, natural cycles of day and night to an eternal, divine luminosity underscores the perfection and permanency of God's redeemed cosmos, where sorrow and darkness will cease because the source of all light is unceasing and incorruptible.

Isaiah 60 19 Commentary

Isaiah 60:19 paints a breathtaking picture of ultimate divine provision and intimate fellowship between God and His people in an eschatological setting. It conveys that in the New Creation, the very essence of existence will be radically transformed: the familiar rhythm of day and night, sustained by the sun and moon, will be transcended. This isn't just a poetic flourish but a profound declaration that God's immediate, manifest presence will be so overwhelmingly radiant and complete that no lesser, created light source will be needed or even desired.

"Everlasting light" implies unending truth, life, guidance, and joy, free from shadows, fading, or change. "Your God your glory" signifies that Zion's honor, beauty, and renown will not come from earthly status or achievements, but directly from the radiant presence and inherent majesty of the Almighty Himself. He is not merely reflecting glory upon them, but He is their glory. This fulfillment is most vividly described in Revelation's vision of the New Jerusalem, where the city "has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb" (Rev 21:23). The verse points to a future reality of complete intimacy, where humanity dwells perpetually within God's unhindered light and splendor, reflecting His nature in an ultimate, perfected state, free from any hint of darkness, sorrow, or external reliance.

Practical Examples:

• Overcoming Dependency: Just as the sun and moon become unnecessary, we are called to release our dependency on temporary, created things (wealth, status, human approval) for our sense of light, worth, and fulfillment.
• Seeking True Source: Recognize God as the sole, unfading source of spiritual light and guidance in our lives, turning to His Word and Spirit for direction when confused.
• Anticipating Eternity: Live with an eager expectation for the future when God's unmediated light will fully overcome all darkness, bringing everlasting peace and joy.