Epiphany · The Epiphany of Our Lord
Isaiah 60:1-6
The Glory of Zion
January 6, 2026
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 - The Coming Glory of Israel Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse notes on Zion's light rising and the nations bringing gold and frankincense.
Commentary on Isaiah 60:1-6 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary exegesis of Zion's radiant future that draws the nations to its light.
Isaiah 60:1-6 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed reading connecting Isaiah's vision of light to the Epiphany of Christ to the world.
Isaiah 60:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators on the call to arise and shine because the glory of the Lord has risen.
Background & Word Study
Isaiah Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary introduction to Isaiah and the post-exilic vision of Zion restored.
Book of Isaiah Overview (Part 2: Chapters 40-66) BibleProject
Animated overview of Isaiah 40-66, the section that holds the vision of Zion's glory.
Isaiah 60:1 Interlinear (Hebrew) BibleHub
Hebrew word-by-word text for study of qumi ori (arise, shine) and kavod (glory).
Isaiah 60 (Hebrew and English) Sefaria
Parallel Hebrew and English with Jewish commentary links for the light-of-Zion oracle.
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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