Epiphany · The Epiphany of Our Lord · Year B
Isaiah 60:1-6
The Glory of Zion
January 6, 2027
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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Take it further: Isaiah 60:1-6
Commentary
Commentary on Isaiah 60:1-6Commentary on Is 60:1-6 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary commentary on Jerusalem as light of the nations and where Gentiles fit the story.
Isaiah 60:1-6 CommentaryIs 60:1-6 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary on the kings and camels as emblems of God's self-revelation.
Isaiah 60 - The Future Glory of IsraelIs 60 - The Future Glory of Israel Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse exposition of the promised radiance of Zion.
Isaiah 60:1 CommentariesIs 60:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators assembled on the call to arise and shine.
Background & Word Study
Isaiah (Enter the Bible)Is (Enter the Bible) Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on the composition and sections of Isaiah.
Isaiah 60Is 60 Sefaria
Hebrew text with English and Jewish commentary for the chapter.
Isaiah 60:1 InterlinearIs 60:1 Interlinear BibleHub
Hebrew word-by-word interlinear with parsing and Strong's numbers.
Overview: Isaiah 40-66Overview: Is 40-66 BibleProject
Animated overview of the second half of Isaiah where chapter 60 sits.
The Church Fathers
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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