Isaiah 60:5

5 Then you will see and be radiant, and your heart will tremble and rejoice,[a] because the riches of the sea will become yours, and the wealth of the nations will come to you.

Isaiah 60:5 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 60:5

Then thou shalt see, and flow together
That is, when thou seest thy sons and daughters flocking to thee from all parts, there will be a flow of joy in thee, like the stream of a river; or thine heart will beat and flutter within thee, through surprise and joy, when thou seest such a numerous company gathered unto thee. Some render it, "then thou shall fear", as Aben Ezra F21, or be surprised at the sight; and others the next clause, "thou shall be enlightened" F23; that is, shall see, being enlightened, and shall increase in light and knowledge more and more; or "shine" F24, in great splendour and glory: and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged;
shall fear the Lord and his goodness, and be enlarged with love to him, his truths and ordinances, and his people; and particularly shall be enlarged to receive in the most cordial manner those that flock unto her: because the abundance of the Sea shall be converted unto thee:
by which some understand the riches of the sea, that which is got out of it, or got upon it, in trading by it, this shall be converted to the use of the church and people of God; but rather an abundance of seafaring men is here meant, who shall be converted at this time, in which the grace of God will the more appear, as they are generally a very wicked and profligate set of men; or the inhabitants of the islands of the sea, such as Great Britain and others; or the sea may intend the several nations of the world, as waters do many people, nations, and kindreds, ( Revelation 17:15 ) and so it may denote a large abundance of converted persons everywhere, and more especially in the western parts of the world, in the European parts; since it is very common in Scripture to describe the western part of the world by the sea, the Mediterranean sea lying west of Judea. The forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee;
or their armies, every army of them; the soldiery will be converted, as well as the seafaring men, who are for the most part also exceeding wicked; not only kings will become real Christians, but their armies will be so too, their generals, officers, and common soldiers; and when this is once the case, woe to the whore of Rome! these will hate her, and burn her flesh with fire; these are the seven angels that shall come out of the temple, the church of God, to whom they have joined themselves, with the vials of God's wrath, and shall pour them upon the antichristian states; see ( Revelation 15:7 ) ( 16:1 ) ( 17:16 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F21 "Tum timebis", Vitringa.
F23 (trhn) "iiluminaberis", Vatablus.
F24 "Splendebis", Munster, Montanus, Calvin; "et lucebis", Cocceius, So Ben Melech interprets the word.

Isaiah 60:5 In-Context

3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your radiance.
4 Raise your eyes and look around: they all gather and come to you; your sons will come from far away, and your daughters will be carried on the hip.
5 Then you will see and be radiant, and your heart will tremble and rejoice, because the riches of the sea will become yours, and the wealth of the nations will come to you.
6 Caravans of camels will cover your land- young camels of Midian and Ephah- all of them will come from Sheba. They will carry gold and frankincense and proclaim the praises of the Lord.
7 All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth will serve you and go up on My altar as an acceptable [sacrifice]. I will glorify My beautiful house.

Footnotes 1

Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.