Isaiah 60:2

2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

Isaiah 60:2 in Other Translations

2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.

2 Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you.

2 The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness, But God rises on you, his sunrise glory breaks over you.

2 For look, darkness covers the earth, and total darkness the peoples; but the Lord will shine over you, and His glory will appear over you.

Isaiah 60:2 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 60:2

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross
darkness the people
Like that which covered the land of Egypt, when there was light in Goshen: and this may be meant either of the darkness of ignorance, idolatry, superstition, false doctrine, and false worship, that should cover the far greater part of the nations of the world, before this light and glory should break out, as it does at this day; some parts of it being covered with Pagan darkness, others with Mahometan darkness, and others with Papal darkness; and a very small spot it is where the light of the Gospel is, and that clear, but among a very few; for the most part it is not clear nor dark, it is not day nor night; and this is the evening time, in which, ere long, it shall be light; see ( Zechariah 14:6 Zechariah 14:7 ) or else this may design the distress that the antichristian states will be in, when this light shall break forth; the kingdom of the beast will be full of darkness, distress, and confusion, ( Revelation 16:10 ) : but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon
thee:
as on the tabernacle of old, ( Leviticus 9:23 ) to which the allusion is, ( Isaiah 4:5 ) this shows that the light and glory of the Lord, in the preceding verse, design the Lord himself, and his gracious purpose, and the display of his glory in the Gospel now preached; and that it will be visible in the church, and taken notice of by others, and induce them, and even great personages, to come unto it, as follows: or "he shall be seen", or "appear", in "his glory upon thee"; so Ben Melech renders it, supposing that (b) "in", is wanting; and so the sense is, that Christ shall appear in the glory of his person and of his offices, and especially his kingly office; and in the glory of his grace and righteousness, in the ministration of his word among his people. The Jews ^F18 apply this to the first coming of Christ, which belongs to his spiritual reign.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F18 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 99. 1.

Isaiah 60:2 In-Context

1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

4 “Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip.

5 Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come.

Cross References

• 1. S 1 Samuel 2:9; S Psalms 82:5; S Psalms 107:14; S Isaiah 8:20
• 2. Jeremiah 13:16; Colossians 1:13