Isaiah 60:20

20 Thy sun shall no more go down, and thy moon shall not be decreased; for the Lord shall be into everlasting light to thee, and the days of thy mourning shall be [ful]filled.

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 ) .
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 Wickedness shall no more be heard in thy land, neither destroying and defouling in thy coasts; and health shall occupy thy walls (and deliverance, or salvation, shall occupy thy walls), and praising shall occupy thy gates.
19 The sun shall no more be to thee for to shine by day, neither the brightness of the moon shall lighten thee (by night); but the Lord shall be into everlasting light to thee, and thy God shall be into thy glory.
20 Thy sun shall no more go down, and thy moon shall not be decreased; for the Lord shall be into everlasting light to thee, and the days of thy mourning shall be [ful]filled.
21 Forsooth thy people, all just men, without end shall inherit the land (For thy people, all the just, or all the righteous, shall inherit the land forever), (yea,) the seed of my planting, the work of mine hand for to be glorified.
22 The least shall be into a thousand, and a little man shall be into a full strong folk. I, the Lord, shall make this thing suddenly, in the time thereof (at its proper time).
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.