Epiphany Season · Epiphany of the 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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Commentary
Isaiah 60:1-6 Working Preacher
The post-exilic vision of Zion's light drawing nations with gold and frankincense, the backdrop the magi echo.
Isaiah 60:1-6 Center for Excellence in Preaching
The arise-and-shine summons and the magnetic pull of God's glory on a people emerging from exile.
Isaiah 60:1-6 Enduring Word · David Guzik
An accessible verse-by-verse commentary, widely used across evangelical churches.
Background & Word Study
Isaiah 60 in Hebrew, with Jewish commentary Sefaria
The Hebrew with Rashi and other classical commentators on light, glory (kavod), and the ingathering of nations.
Work's Ultimate Meaning (Isaiah 60ff.) Theology of Work
Reads the nations' incoming wealth and trade in Isaiah 60 as a vision of redeemed work in the restored city.
Enter the Bible: Isaiah Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's book-level introduction to Isaiah, orienting chapter 60 within Third Isaiah's message of hope.
Overview: Isaiah 40-66 BibleProject
An animated overview of Isaiah's second half, placing chapter 60's promise of light within the post-exile arc.
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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