Isaiah 60:20

20 Your sun will never again go down, or your moon keep back her light: for the Lord will be your eternal light, and the days of your sorrow will 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 Violent acts will no longer be seen in your land, wasting or destruction in your limits; but your walls will be named, Salvation, and your doors Praise.

19 The sun will not be your light by day, and the moon will no longer be bright for you by night: but the Lord will be to you an eternal light, and your God your glory.

20 Your sun will never again go down, or your moon keep back her light: for the Lord will be your eternal light, and the days of your sorrow will be ended.

21 Your people will all be upright, the land will be their heritage for ever; the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, to be for my glory.

22 The smallest of their families will become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I, the Lord, will make it come quickly in its time.