Isaiah 60 21

Isaiah 60:21 kjv

Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

Isaiah 60:21 nkjv

Also your people shall all be righteous; They shall inherit the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified.

Isaiah 60:21 niv

Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor.

Isaiah 60:21 esv

Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified.

Isaiah 60:21 nlt

All your people will be righteous.
They will possess their land forever,
for I will plant them there with my own hands
in order to bring myself glory.

Isaiah 60 verses

Isaiah 60 21 Meaning

This verse proclaims a future, transformative reality for God's restored people. It declares their complete and inherent righteousness, an inner state reflecting divine standards, ensuring their eternal and secure possession of a renewed land. Furthermore, it firmly attributes this transformation and blessed existence entirely to God's own initiative and power, portraying them as His deliberate creation and unique planting. The ultimate purpose of this magnificent restoration is to visibly manifest and display God's splendor, glory, and majestic character to all.

Isaiah 60 21 Context

Isaiah chapter 60 bursts forth as a radiant prophecy of Jerusalem's future glory after a period of intense judgment and desolation, likely speaking to the exilic or post-exilic community. The preceding verses vividly describe a literal and spiritual dawn breaking over Jerusalem (Zion), inviting all nations to stream towards it, bringing their wealth and offering worship to the God who is its everlasting light. This chapter promises a reversal of fortunes, a rebuilding and flourishing of the city that far surpasses its former glory, marked by peace, prosperity, and the direct presence of the Lord. Verse 20 immediately precedes, declaring, "Your sun will never set again, and your moon will no longer wane; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end." This sets the stage for a realm of perpetual light and perfect well-being. Historically, the prophecy would have contrasted sharply with the pagan worldviews where a people's land tenure and well-being were often seen as precarious, dependent on appeasing many gods, or purely on military strength. Isaiah presents Yahweh as the sole sovereign orchestrator of this glorious future, entirely of His doing.

Isaiah 60 21 Word analysis

• וְעַמֵּךְ (ve'am•mekh): "And your people." The "your" refers to Zion/Jerusalem (chapter's addressee), signifying God's specific, chosen community. The conjunction "and" links this internal transformation to the external glory promised.
• כֻּלָּם (kul•lam): "all of them." Emphasizes absolute totality, indicating a complete and pervasive righteousness within the entire community without exception.
• צַדִּיקִים (tzad•di•kim): "righteous." From root צדק (tzedek – justice, righteousness). Implies moral rectitude, covenant faithfulness, and inward conformity to God's holy standard, not just external compliance.
• לְעוֹלָם (le'olam): "forever" or "eternally." Highlights permanence and unending duration, contrasting with past temporary blessings and judgments, assuring perpetual security.
• יִֽרְשׁוּ (yir•shu): "they will possess" or "inherit." Recalls covenant promises of land (Gen 12:7), signifying a legitimate and secured claim to territory, continuously enjoyed.
• אָרֶץ (aretz): "land" or "earth." Primarily referring to the promised land, its scope expands in broader prophecy to encompass the "new earth" and renewed creation (Is 65:17).
• נֵצֶר (netzer): "a shoot" or "a branch." Carries Messianic overtones (Is 11:1), but here applies collectively. Denotes new life, organic growth, divinely originated and carefully nurtured.
• מַטָּעוֹ (mat•ta'o): "my planting." Explicitly states God as the one who plants/cultivates, evoking images of a vineyard or garden, underscoring intimate involvement (cf. Is 61:3).
• אֶת־מַעֲשֵׂה (et-ma'a•seh): "the work of." "The very product of..." Stresses divine craftsmanship, intentional creation, and perfect completion by God.
• יָדַי (ya•dai): "my hands." An anthropomorphism, conveying God's direct, personal, powerful, and sovereign involvement in shaping and forming His people.
• לְהִתְפָּאֵר (le•hit•pa'er): "for the display of my splendor" or "that I may be glorified." Hithpael infinitive of פאר (pa'ar – to glorify, adorn). The ultimate purpose: their existence and blessing serve to magnify God's own majestic glory and beauty.

• "Your people will all be righteous": This phrase promises a radical, collective transformation. It signals an internal and communal adherence to God's justice, a state gifted by divine grace that decisively breaks from past sinfulness.
• "they will possess the land forever": This group of words emphasizes enduring security and perpetual blessedness. The inheritance is eternal, transcending the temporary land of Canaan to an eschatological dwelling, embodying complete wholeness (shalom).
• "They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands": These two parallel clauses are deeply significant. "Shoot I have planted" uses organic imagery of new growth directly from God's hand. "Work of my hands" highlights His active creation and personal craftsmanship. Together, they powerfully convey God's sole agency, originating and perfecting His people.
• "for the display of my splendor": This final, pivotal phrase reveals the ultimate aim. The righteousness, the inheritance, the divine authorship – all are ultimately designed to glorify God. His people become living testaments to His character, beauty, and redemptive power for all to see.

Isaiah 60 21 Bonus section

• Theological Progression: This verse demonstrates a key biblical progression. First, God brings salvation to His people, making them righteous. Second, this transformed people then becomes the means through which God is glorified, establishing a reciprocal relationship where humanity's flourishing is intrinsically tied to God's honor.
• Divine Passive and Active Voice: The language ("they will be righteous," "they will possess," "shoot I have planted," "work of my hands," "for the display of my splendor") consistently points to God as the initiator and completer of this glorious reality. This undermines any notion of human merit as the basis for these blessings.
• Contrast with Sin: The "all righteous" stands in stark contrast to humanity's fallen nature (Rom 3:10-12) and Israel's historical failures, underscoring the radical, supernatural work of God required for such a state. It promises a final, perfect state beyond the current struggle with sin.

Isaiah 60 21 Commentary

Isaiah 60:21 paints a sublime picture of God's fully restored and renewed people, highlighting a complete, corporate righteousness divinely bestowed upon them. This righteousness underpins their secure and everlasting possession of the land, conceptually expanding to a renewed earth. Critically, their entire being—their transformation and blessed state—is unequivocally attributed to God's sovereign hand, seeing them as His unique planting and purposeful handiwork. The singular, grand objective of this entire redemptive process is the manifest revelation of God's glory and splendor, where His redeemed community becomes the vibrant medium through which His majestic character shines forth to creation. This vision is fulfilled in the New Covenant through Christ, where believers are transformed into His image and are called to glorify God in their lives.