Isaiah 60 20

Isaiah 60:20 kjv

Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

Isaiah 60:20 nkjv

Your sun shall no longer go down, Nor shall your moon withdraw itself; For the LORD will be your everlasting light, And the days of your mourning shall be ended.

Isaiah 60:20 niv

Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.

Isaiah 60:20 esv

Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.

Isaiah 60:20 nlt

Your sun will never set;
your moon will not go down.
For the LORD will be your everlasting light.
Your days of mourning will come to an end.

Isaiah 60 verses

Isaiah 60 20 Meaning

Isaiah 60:20 proclaims a future glorious state for Zion, depicting an existence where the natural sources of light—the sun and moon—will no longer be necessary because the Lord Himself will be her everlasting and unwavering light. This divine illumination signals the permanent cessation of all suffering and sorrow, ushering in an era of unbroken peace and joy under God's perpetual presence. It foretells a time of ultimate comfort and unhindered communion with God.

Isaiah 60 20 Context

Isaiah chapter 60 is a prophetic declaration of the future glory of Jerusalem (Zion). It falls within the "Book of Comfort" (Isa 40-66) where promises of restoration follow periods of judgment and exile. The chapter opens with a call for Zion to "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." It describes nations being drawn to Jerusalem, bringing their wealth and children, acknowledging the Lord's splendor upon her. This sets the stage for a dramatic reversal of fortunes, from desolation and darkness to unparalleled peace, prosperity, and divine illumination. Verse 20 amplifies the promises of verse 19, stating that the natural celestial bodies will be made redundant by God's own everlasting light. Historically and culturally, the original audience, having experienced the sorrow and literal darkness of exile and oppression, would deeply resonate with the promise of unending light, prosperity, and the permanent end of mourning. It offered a potent polemic against any polytheistic belief that might associate finite powers or transient celestial bodies with ultimate control over light and destiny; Yahweh's light is supreme, direct, and eternal.

Isaiah 60 20 Word analysis

• Your sun (שִׁמְשֵׁךְ - shim•shēkh): Refers to Zion/Jerusalem (indicated by the feminine singular possessive suffix). This signifies the normal, natural source of daytime light for human existence. It's a created light source, therefore subject to cycles and eventual dimming or setting.

• will never set again (לֹא יָבוֹא עוֹד - lo ya•vo od): A powerful double negation indicating a complete and permanent cessation. "Lo" (not) + "ya•vo" (it will come/set) + "od" (again/anymore). It emphasizes an irreversible state where the sun's natural cycle of setting—which symbolizes periods of darkness, sorrow, or decline—is eternally abolished.

• and your moon (וְיָרֵחֵךְ - vī•rā•khēkh): Again, referring to Jerusalem's created light source at night. The moon also undergoes phases, waning and waxing, symbolizing impermanence.

• will wane no more (לֹא יֵאָסֵף - lo ye•'ā•sēf): "Will not be gathered/withdrawn." This speaks to the moon's diminishing light or its absence due to clouds or other phenomena. The promise implies constant, undiminished moonlight, removing any form of literal or metaphorical obscurity or absence of light.

• for the Lord (כִּי יהוה - kī Yah•weh): "For/because Yahweh." This crucial connective clause introduces the divine agent and the very reason for this profound transformation. It highlights the direct, personal intervention and source of God Himself, revealed through His covenant name.

• will be your everlasting light (לָךְ לְאוֹר עוֹלָם - lākh l'ōr o•lām): "To/for you for light of eternity/forever." Ōr Olam denotes eternal, unending light, qualitatively superior to and superseding any created light source. God Himself, Yahweh, becomes Zion's direct and permanent light. This is not just a light that never goes out but one that is unchanging in its nature and source.

• and your days of sorrow will end (וְשָׁלְמוּ יְמֵי אֶבְלֵךְ - v'shā•l'mū y'mey ev•lēkh): Shalmū (will be complete/fulfilled/finished/come to an end). Y'mey Evlēkh (your days of mourning/grief/sorrow). This states the blessed consequence or co-occurring reality of God's everlasting light. The spiritual and emotional darkness of sorrow will permanently conclude. The end of literal darkness (sun/moon) perfectly mirrors the end of internal, emotional darkness.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more": This initial segment dismantles the very foundation of temporal experience for humankind. It speaks of transcending natural cycles that dictate human life, sleep, work, and even the ebb and flow of national fortunes. It implies an end to all forms of "darkness" - be it literal night, or symbolic periods of hardship, fear, or divine judgment. It describes a static, perfect, unending day.
  • "for the Lord will be your everlasting light": This identifies the majestic and supernatural replacement for the natural light. It elevates the source of light from creation to the Creator, establishing an unbreakable, eternal, and intensely personal connection where God's very essence provides perfect illumination. It speaks of divine presence, glory, and knowledge.
  • "and your days of sorrow will end": This highlights the profound impact of God's direct light and presence on human experience. It signifies ultimate deliverance not only from external circumstances but also from internal suffering. Perpetual light translates directly into perpetual peace, joy, and comfort, signifying the consummation of redemption and restoration.

Isaiah 60 20 Bonus section

• The immediate preceding verse, Isa 60:19, states "The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory." Verse 20 functions as an emphatic continuation and confirmation of this glorious truth.
• The absence of the sun and moon being necessary highlights God's transcendence over all creation. No longer is life dependent on the created order; it flows directly from the Creator.
• "Everlasting light" implies not only unending duration but also unchanging quality and intensity. There will be no shadows, no fluctuations, and no dimness in the presence of this divine light.
• This prophetic image speaks to the fullness of God's glory and presence (His kavod), which completely overwhelms and displaces any need for natural illumination. It represents perfect security, clear guidance, and constant blessing.
• The imagery suggests a state of ultimate Shalom, where not just suffering ends, but everything contrary to perfect peace is eradicated, sustained by God's eternal character.

Isaiah 60 20 Commentary

Isaiah 60:20 is a jewel among the prophetic promises, picturing an ultimate state of glorified existence for God's people, often understood eschatologically as the New Jerusalem. It is not merely a metaphor for good times, but a promise of a fundamental transformation of reality itself. By stating that the sun will not set and the moon will not wane, the prophet announces an end to all natural cycles of light and darkness, signifying that all temporal, finite, and variable aspects of existence, which can contribute to change or decline, will be abolished. The reason for this radical shift is paramount: "for the Lord will be your everlasting light." God Himself, the unchanging and all-sufficient source, supersedes any created light, ensuring eternal radiance. This divine light then inherently banishes all sorrow, grief, and suffering. When God is the full and direct source of light, there is no space for anything that causes darkness, distress, or separation. This vision resonates deeply in the New Testament's description of heaven, affirming a tangible future where believers experience unbroken joy and divine presence, eternally freed from all tears and pain by God's own illuminating presence (Rev 21:23; 22:5). It reassures believers that any present darkness or sorrow is temporary, culminating in a future where God’s light brings perfect and unending solace.