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.
From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.
Take it further
Commentary
Commentary on Isaiah 60:1-6 Working Preacher
A Luther Seminary commentary reading Isaiah's dawning light against the exile it answers.
Isaiah 60:1-6 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary tying Zion's light to the magi's gold and frankincense.
Isaiah 60 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik
A verse by verse evangelical commentary on Zion's coming glory and the nations streaming to her light.
Isaiah Commentaries & Sermons Precept Austin
A study hub indexing word studies, outlines, and expositors across Isaiah, including chapter 60.
Classic commentaries on Isaiah 60 BibleHub
A classic aggregator stacking Barnes, Gill, Ellicott, and other historic commentators verse by verse.
Isaiah 60, Expository Notes StudyLight
A verse by verse commentary hub gathering more than a hundred historic and modern expositors on Isaiah 60.
Background & Word Study
Overview: Isaiah 40-66 BibleProject
An animated overview of Isaiah's second half, the section this reading's restoration oracle belongs to.
Isaiah 60 interlinear BibleHub
The Hebrew text of Isaiah 60 word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers.
Isaiah 60:1-6 Sefaria
The Hebrew Masoretic text with the JPS translation and linked Jewish commentaries on Isaiah 60.
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.
Prep at sermons.com
Ready to write?
- Full sermons on Matthew 2:1-12
- Illustrations cleared for use in worship
- Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Trusted by pastors since 1995.
Free every Tuesday
Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox
The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.