Isaiah 60:20

20 Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and ¹your days of mourning shall be ended.

Isaiah 60:20 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 60:20

Thy sun shall no more go down
This is a different sun from the former; this is the church's sun, and no other than the sun of righteousness, Christ Jesus; who has his risings and settings now, at least, in the apprehensions of his people; he sometimes withdraws himself, and is gone; and then returns again: but so it will not be in this state: the saints shall be for ever with him, and he shall be for ever with them; who will always behold his glory, and be enlightened by him; see ( 1 Thessalonians 4:16 1 Thessalonians 4:18 ) : neither shall thy moon withdraw itself;
or, "shall not be gathered" {i}, under a cloud; or "fail" ^F11, as the Septuagint version; or, "suffer a defect", as the Arabic version; as the moon does when in the wane, or is eclipsed. This may refer to this then present state of the church, which shall not fail; and to the blessings and comforts of it from Christ the sun, which will not cease, the enjoyment of them be ever interrupted. The Targum is,

``thy kingdom shall cease no more, and thy glory shall not be removed;''

and so Maimonides ^F12 interprets it of the kingdom of the Messiah, that shall endure for ever: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light;
this is repeated for the confirmation of it: and the days of thy mourning shall be ended
^F13; or, "completed"; shall be fully up, and so at an end: or, "shall be recompensed" ^F14; with an everlasting day of joy and pleasure; there will now be no more sin to distress the saints; no more temptations of Satan to annoy them; no more afflictions either of body or mind to trouble them; no more pain, or crying, or death; and so no more mourning; sorrow and sighing will flee away; all tears will be wiped from their eyes; and everlasting joy be upon their heads; see ( Revelation 21:4 ) ( Isaiah 35:10 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F9 (Poay) "non colligetur", Montanus, Vitringa; "vel recolligetur", Vatablus; "occultabitur", Munster, Tigurine version.
F11 (ouk ekleiqein) , Sept. "deficiet", Pagninus.
F12 Moreh Nevochim, par. 2. c. 29. p. 263.
F13 (wmlv) "completi erunt", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "completisunt", Vitringa.
F14 "Compensabuntur", Tigurine version.

Isaiah 60:20 In-Context

18 Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.

19 The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

20 Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.

21 Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified.

22 The least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the LORD; in its time I will hasten it.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 35:10; Isaiah 65:19; Revelation 21:4