Isaiah 60:20

20 Your sun shall no more go down, or your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your 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 no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

20 Your sun shall no more go down, or 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. They are the shoot that I planted, the work of my hands, so that I might be glorified.

22 The least of them shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the Lord; in its time I will accomplish it quickly.