Isaiah 60 3

Isaiah 60:3 kjv

And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Isaiah 60:3 nkjv

The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.

Isaiah 60:3 niv

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Isaiah 60:3 esv

And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Isaiah 60:3 nlt

All nations will come to your light;
mighty kings will come to see your radiance.

Isaiah 60 verses

Isaiah 60 3 Meaning

Nations will be drawn to Zion, recognizing it as the source of divine light and glory. This signifies the universal spread of God's kingdom and the ultimate restoration and exaltation of His people, becoming a beacon of hope and salvation to the ends of the earth.

Isaiah 60 3 Context

Chapter 60 of Isaiah is a prophecy of restoration and future glory for Jerusalem and the nation of Israel. It begins by describing a period of immense darkness and oppression for the world, followed by God's divine intervention to establish His glory in Zion. This verse specifically follows the declaration of God's rising upon Zion and the surrounding darkness that has covered the nations. It emphasizes the drawing power of God's revealed glory, leading people from all corners of the earth to acknowledge and seek Him. Historically, this prophecy would have resonated with a post-exilic Jewish audience, offering hope for a return to national prominence and divine favor. Theologically, it points towards the messianic age and the universal expansion of God's salvific plan, ultimately fulfilled in the New Testament era with the coming of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 60 3 Word analysis

• וְ─ (wə─): And. A common conjunctive particle.
• אוֹרְךָ─ (ʾōrəḵā─): Your light. Hebrew for "your light" (singular masculine, referring to Zion). The light signifies divine presence, glory, salvation, and truth.
• וְ─ (wə─): And.
• גָּלִֽיל─ (gālîl─): Coast, circuit, district. In this context, it implies the wider regions surrounding Zion, encompassing its influence and domain.
• יָצָא─ (yāṣā─): Go forth, come out, arise. It signifies an emergence or going out from.
• יָאִירוּ─ (yāʾîrû─): Shall shine, shall give light. From the root ʾîr, meaning "to shine."
• כָּל─ (kāl─): All. Indicates comprehensiveness.
• אוֹתְךָ─ (ʾōṯəḵā─): To you, upon you. Dative case, directed towards Zion.
• הֲלֹךְ─ (hălōḵ─): Go, walk. Indicates movement, journeying.
• אֹרֶךְ─ (ʾōreḵ─): Length, at length. Adverbially, suggesting continuing movement or a protracted journey.
• יָמִֽים─ (yāmîm─): Days. Implies extended periods of time.
• וְ─ (wə─): And.
• הָחֳבְרִֽים─ (hāḥəḇərîm─): The coming, those joined to. From the root ḥāḇar, meaning "to join," "to associate." Suggests gathering or being attached to Zion.
• שַׁקְדֵךְ─ (šaqdêḵ─): Your almonds, thy watchfulness. While šāqēd can mean almond (associated with alertness), here it strongly suggests anticipation or watching eagerly. A metaphorical understanding points to zealous preparation or eagerly awaited coming.
• חַלּוּמֵךְ─ (ḥallūmêḵ─): Thy dreams. More likely referring to visions, spiritual perceptions, or earnest desires.
• מְלָאךְ─ (məlaʾḵ─): A. The indefinite article.
• נַעַר─ (na‘ar─): Boy, young man. Suggests eagerness, youthfulness in spirit, or being led by messengers.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Nations shall come to you" (וּלְאֻמִּים לְאוֹרֵךְ יָבוֹאוּ): This phrase is implicitly linked to the preceding statement in verse 2, "For behold, darkness shall cover the earth..." The nations coming to Zion's light implies a recognition of God's supreme power and a seeking of salvation where darkness reigned.
• "and kings to the brightness of your rising" (וּמְלָכִים לְנֹגַהּ זַרְחֵךְ): This further emphasizes the universal scope. Kings, who represent the highest earthly power, are humbled and drawn to Zion's light, signifying the dominion of God's kingdom over all worldly authorities.
• "all that they which have opened thee.": The Hebrew behind this phrase in some translations is more directly translated as "all who are drawn to you" or "all your traders" from a different root (šāqēd). The sense is of those who come for gain, commerce, or from eager longing and pilgrimage.
• "Thy sons shall come from afar, and thy daughters shall be carried as on the arm.": This depicts the dispersed people of Israel returning to Zion. The mention of being carried suggests a gentle restoration, no longer struggling but protected and tenderly brought back.

Isaiah 60 3 Bonus section

The concept of "light" in Isaiah is consistently linked to God's presence, His truth, and His saving power. In this chapter, the light emanating from Zion is not merely symbolic; it represents the tangible presence and rule of God made manifest. This universal draw is not an accident; it is the outworking of God’s covenant promises, extending His kingdom and His righteousness to the ends of the earth. The nations recognizing Zion's light highlights the failure of other nations and their own inability to provide true guidance or salvation, thus pointing them to the one true source. This echoes the prophecy in Isaiah 11:10, where the root of Jesse will be an "ensign to the peoples," to which nations will seek.

Isaiah 60 3 Commentary

This verse paints a vivid picture of divine outreach and universal appeal. Zion, radiating God's glory, becomes a magnetic center. This isn't about military conquest, but a spiritual magnetism. The nations and kings are not coerced; they are drawn by the intrinsic power and beauty of God's light. This foreshadows the spread of the Gospel, where Christ, the true light of the world, draws all people. The imagery speaks of a future where national boundaries dissolve in the face of divine revelation and salvation becomes a global reality. It’s a testament to God’s redemptive plan encompassing all humanity, fulfilling His promise to Abraham that through his seed all nations would be blessed.