Epiphany Season · Epiphany of the Lord · Year C
Isaiah 60:1-6
The Glory of Zion
January 6, 2028
Overview & Insights
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1)
In the two great central sections of chapters 56–66 (59:21–60:22 and 61:1–62:12), Yahweh addresses both the prophet and the city. In the first section, the address to the prophet comes in 59:21, while the address to the city occupies the whole of chapter 60. Admittedly Zion/Jerusalem is not named until 60:14, but the verb arise (60:1) repeats the exhortation to Jerusalem in 51:17 (NIV “rise up”) and the verbs are feminine singular, which makes it clear enough that the prophet speaks to the city (cf. 59:20). The prophet takes up the exhortation and the promises in chapters 49–54 and once again re-expresses them in yet more glorious technicolor for people who evidently are back in Jerusalem but have not seen those promises fulfilled in their glory. They thus presuppose a similar situation to the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah.
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Commentary
Isaiah 60:1-6 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary on Jerusalem's light drawing the wealth and worship of the nations.
Isaiah 60 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse by verse reading of Zion's coming glory and the nations streaming to her light.
Isaiah 60:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentary on arise, shine, for your light has come.
Isaiah 60 - Barnes' Notes StudyLight
Barnes' Notes verse by verse on Zion's light and the gold and frankincense brought by the nations.
Isaiah 60 - Gill's Exposition StudyLight
Gill's Exposition verse by verse on the same vision of nations bringing tribute to Zion's light.
Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Agape Bible Study
Catholic study of the full Sunday readings reading Isaiah's light as fulfilled in the Magi's gifts of gold and frankincense.
Background & Word Study
Isaiah 60:1-6 Sefaria
Hebrew text alongside English for Zion's dawning light and the nations' tribute.
Isaiah 40-66 Overview BibleProject
Animated literary overview of Isaiah 40-66, tracing the promise of restored light for Zion.
Enter the Bible: Isaiah Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on Isaiah's structure and its promises of comfort and restoration.
Questions preachers ask
Why is Isaiah 60 the Epiphany reading?
As darkness covers the earth, the light of God dawns over Zion, and nations and kings come to its brightness bearing gold and frankincense, fulfilled when the Magi seek the newborn King.
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