Logos Bible Study

Isaiah 59:1–60:22

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Injustice Brings Alienation from God

59:1Look, the Lord’s hand is not too weak1 to deliver you;

his ear is not too deaf to hear you.2

59:2But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God;

your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers.3

59:3For your hands are stained with blood

and your fingers with sin;

your lips speak lies,

your tongue utters malicious words.

59:4No one is concerned about justice;4

no one sets forth his case truthfully.

They depend on false words5 and tell lies;

they conceive of oppression6

and give birth to sin.

59:5They hatch the eggs of a poisonous snake

and spin a spider’s web.

Whoever eats their eggs will die,

a poisonous snake is hatched.7

59:6Their webs cannot be used for clothing;

they cannot cover themselves with what they make.

Their deeds are sinful;

they commit violent crimes.8

59:7They are eager to do evil,9

quick to shed innocent blood.10

Their thoughts are sinful;

they crush and destroy.11

59:8They are unfamiliar with peace;

their deeds are unjust.12

They use deceitful methods,

and whoever deals with them is unfamiliar with peace.13

Israel Confesses its Sin

59:9For this reason deliverance14 is far from us15

and salvation does not reach us.

We wait for light,16 but see only darkness;17

we wait for18 a bright light,19 but live20 in deep darkness.21

59:10We grope along the wall like the blind,

we grope like those who cannot see;22

we stumble at noontime as if it were evening.

Though others are strong, we are like dead men.23

59:11We all growl like bears,

we coo mournfully like doves;

we wait for deliverance,24 but there is none,

for salvation, but it is far from us.

59:12For you are aware of our many rebellious deeds,25

and our sins testify against us;

indeed, we are aware of our rebellious deeds;

we know our sins all too well.26

59:13We have rebelled and tried to deceive the Lord;

we turned back from following our God.

We stir up27 oppression and rebellion;

we tell lies we concocted in our minds.28

59:14Justice is driven back;

godliness29 stands far off.

Indeed,30 honesty stumbles in the city square

and morality is not even able to enter.

59:15Honesty has disappeared;

the one who tries to avoid evil is robbed.

The Lord watches and is displeased,31

for there is no justice.

The Lord Intervenes

59:16He sees there is no advocate;32

he is shocked33 that no one intervenes.

So he takes matters into his own hands;34

his desire for justice drives him on.35

59:17He wears his desire for justice36 like body armor,37

and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head.38

He puts on the garments of vengeance39

and wears zeal like a robe.

59:18He repays them for what they have done,

dispensing angry judgment to his adversaries

and punishing his enemies.40

He repays the coastlands.41

59:19In the west, people respect42 the Lord’s reputation;43

in the east they recognize his splendor.44

For he comes like a rushing45 stream

driven on by wind sent from the Lord.46

59:20“A protector47 comes to Zion,

to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds,”48 says the Lord.

59:21“As for me, this is my promise to49 them,” says the Lord. “My spirit, who is upon you, and my words, which I have placed in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and descendants from this time forward,”50 says the Lord.

Zion’s Future Splendor

60:1“Arise! Shine! For your light arrives!

The splendor1 of the Lord shines on you!

60:2For, look, darkness covers the earth

and deep darkness covers2 the nations,

but the Lord shines on you;

his splendor3 appears over you.

60:3Nations come to your light,

kings to your bright light.

60:4Look all around you!4

They all gather and come to you—

your sons come from far away

and your daughters are escorted by guardians.

60:5Then you will look and smile,5

you will be excited and your heart will swell with pride.6

For the riches of distant lands7 will belong to you

and the wealth of nations will come to you.

60:6Camel caravans will cover your roads,8

young camels from Midian and Ephah.

All the merchants of Sheba9 will come,

bringing gold and incense

and singing praises to the Lord.10

60:7All the sheep of Kedar will be gathered to you;

the rams of Nebaioth will be available to you as sacrifices.11

They will go up on my altar acceptably,12

and I will bestow honor on my majestic temple.

60:8Who are these who float along13 like a cloud,

who fly like doves to their shelters?14

60:9Indeed, the coastlands15 look eagerly for me,

the large ships16 are in the lead,

bringing your sons from far away,

along with their silver and gold,

to honor the Lord your God,17

the Holy One of Israel,18 for he has bestowed honor on you.

60:10Foreigners will rebuild your walls;

their kings will serve you.

Even though I struck you down in my anger,

I will restore my favor and have compassion on you.19

60:11Your gates will remain open at all times;

they will not be shut during the day or at night,

so that the wealth of nations may be delivered,

with their kings leading the way.20

60:12Indeed,21 nations or kingdoms that do not serve you will perish;

such nations will be totally destroyed.22

60:13The splendor of Lebanon will come to you,

its evergreens, firs, and cypresses together,

to beautify my palace;23

I will bestow honor on my throne room.24

60:14The children of your oppressors will come bowing to you;

all who treated you with disrespect will bow down at your feet.

They will call you, ‘The City of the Lord,

Zion of the Holy One of Israel.’25

60:15You were once abandoned

and despised, with no one passing through,

but I will make you26 a permanent source of pride

and joy to coming generations.

60:16You will drink the milk of nations;

you will nurse at the breasts of kings.27

Then you will recognize that I, the Lord, am your deliverer,

your protector,28 the powerful ruler of Jacob.29

60:17Instead of bronze, I will bring you gold,

instead of iron, I will bring you silver,

instead of wood, I will bring you30 bronze,

instead of stones, I will bring you31 iron.

I will make prosperity32 your overseer,

and vindication your sovereign ruler.33

60:18Sounds of violence34 will no longer be heard in your land,

or the sounds of35 destruction and devastation within your borders.

You will name your walls, ‘Deliverance,’

and your gates, ‘Praise.’

60:19The sun will no longer supply light for you by day,

nor will the moon’s brightness shine on you;

the Lord will be your permanent source of light—

the splendor of your God will shine upon you.36

60:20Your sun will no longer set;

your moon will not disappear;37

the Lord will be your permanent source of light;

your time38 of sorrow will be over.

60:21All of your people will be godly;39

they will possess the land permanently.

I will plant them like a shoot;

they will be the product of my labor,

through whom I reveal my splendor.40

60:22The least of you will multiply into41 a thousand;

the smallest of you will become a large nation.

When the right time comes, I the Lord will quickly do this!”42

Read in Logos
Isaiah 60:2–3: 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. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Heb “short” (so , , , ).
  2. 2 Heb “or his ear too heavy [i.e., “dull”] to hear.”
  3. 3 Heb “and your sins have caused [his] face to be hidden from you so as not to hear.”
  4. 4 Heb “no one pleads with justice.”
  5. 5 Heb “nothing”; “emptiness.”
  6. 6 Or “trouble” (), or “harm.”
  7. 7 Heb “that which is pressed in hatches [as] a snake.”
  8. 8 Heb “their deeds are deeds of sin, and the work of violence [is] in their hands.”
  9. 9 Heb “their feet run to evil.”
  10. 10 Heb “they quickly pour out innocent blood.”
  11. 11 Heb “their thoughts are thoughts of sin, destruction and crushing [are] in their roadways.”
  12. 12 Heb “a way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their pathways.”
  13. 13 Heb “their paths they make crooked, everyone who walks in it does not know peace.”
  14. 14 מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat), which refers to “justice” in the earlier verses, here refers to “justice from God,” or “vindication.” Because the people are unjust, God refuses to vindicate them before their enemies. See v. 11.
  15. 15 The prophet speaks on behalf of the sinful nation and confesses its sins.
  16. 16 Light here symbolizes prosperity and blessing.
  17. 17 Heb “but, look, darkness”; “but all is darkness.”
  18. 18 The words “we wait for” are supplied in the translation; the verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
  19. 19 The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
  20. 20 Or “walk about”; “all we have is darkness.”
  21. 21 The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
  22. 22 Heb “like there are no eyes.”
  23. 23 Heb among the strong, like dead men.”
  24. 24 See the note at v. .
  25. 25 Heb “for many are our rebellious deeds before you.”
  26. 26 Heb “indeed [or “for”] our rebellious deeds (are) with us, and our sins, we know them.”
  27. 27 Heb “speaking.” A new sentence was started here in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  28. 28 Heb “conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.”
  29. 29 Or “righteousness” (, , , ); , “justice.”
  30. 30 Or “for” (, ).
  31. 31 Heb “and it is displeasing in his eyes.”
  32. 32 Heb “man” (so , ); “no one to help.”
  33. 33 Or “appalled” (, , ), or “disgusted.”
  34. 34 Heb “and his arm delivers for him.”
  35. 35 Heb “and his justice [or “righteousness”] supports him.”
  36. 36 Or “righteousness” (, , , , ); “goodness.”
  37. 37 Or “a breastplate” (traditional; so many English versions); “a coat of armour.”
  38. 38 Heb “and [as] a helmet deliverance on his head.”
  39. 39 Heb “and he puts on the clothes of vengeance [as] a garment.”
  40. 40 Heb “in accordance with deeds, so he repays, anger to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies.”
  41. 41 Or “islands” (, ).
  42. 42 Heb “fear.” A few medieval Hebrew read “see.”
  43. 43 Heb “and they fear from the west the name of the Lord.”
  44. 44 Heb “and from the rising of the sun his splendor.”
  45. 45 Heb “narrow”; , , “pent-up.”
  46. 46 Heb “the wind of the Lord drives it on.” The term רוּחַ (ruakh) could be translated “breath” here (see 30:28).
  47. 47 Or “redeemer.” See the note at .
  48. 48 Heb “and to those who turn from rebellion in Jacob.”
  49. 49 Or “my covenant with” (so many English versions); “my agreement with.” The Lord promises the repentant (note “to them”) that they and their offspring will possess his spirit and function as his spokesmen. In this regard they follow in the footsteps of the Lord’s special servant. See 42:1; 49:2; 51:16.
  50. 50 Heb “from now and on into the future.”
  51. 1 Or “glory” (so most English versions).
  52. 2 The verb “covers” is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
  53. 3 Or “glory” (so most English versions); “the brightness of his presence.”
  54. 4 Heb “Lift up around your eyes and see!”
  55. 5 Or “shine,” or “be radiant” (, , , ).
  56. 6 Heb “and it will tremble and be wide, your heart.”
  57. 7 Heb “the wealth of the sea,” i.e., wealth that is transported from distant lands via the sea.
  58. 8 Heb “an abundance of camels will cover you.”
  59. 9 Heb “all of them, from Sheba.”
  60. 10 Heb “and they will announce the praises of the Lord.”
  61. 11 Heb “will serve you,” i.e., be available as sacrifices (see the next line). Another option is to understood these “rams” as symbolic of leaders who will be subject to the people of Zion. See v. 10.
  62. 12 Heb “they will go up on acceptance [on] my altar.” Some have suggested that the preposition עַל (’al) is dittographic (note the preceding יַעֲלוּ [ya’alu]). Consequently, the form should be emended to לְרָצוֹן (lératson, “acceptably”; see 953 רָצוֹן). However, the Qumran scroll 1QIsaa has both לרצון followed by the preposition על, which would argue against deleted the preposition. As the above translation seeks to demonstrate, the preposition עַל (’al) indicates a norm (“in accordance with acceptance” or “acceptably”; §11.2.13e, n. 111) and the “altar” functions as an objective accusative with a verb of motion (cf. Gen 49:4; Lev 2:2; Num 13:17; J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah [], 2:, n. 14).
  63. 13 Heb “fly” (so , , ); , “fly along.”
  64. 14 Heb “to their windows,” i.e., to the openings in their coops. See אֲרֻבָּה.
  65. 15 Or “islands” (); “distant islands”; “distant lands.”
  66. 16 Heb “the ships of Tarshish.” See the note at .
  67. 17 Heb “to the name of the Lord your God.”
  68. 18 See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in .
  69. 19 Heb “in my favor I will have compassion on you.”
  70. 20 Or “led in procession.” The participle is passive.
  71. 21 Or “For” (, , , , , ); “But.”
  72. 22 The infinitive absolute appears before the finite verb for emphasis.
  73. 23 Or “holy place, sanctuary.”
  74. 24 Heb “the place of my feet.” See Ezek 43:7, where the Lord’s throne is called the “place of the soles of my feet.”
  75. 25 See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in .
  76. 26 Heb “Instead of your being abandoned and despised, with no one passing through, I will make you.”
  77. 27 The nations and kings are depicted as a mother nursing her children. Restored Zion will be nourished by them as she receives their wealth as tribute.
  78. 28 Or “redeemer.” See the note at .
  79. 30 The words “I will bring you” are supplied in the translation; they are understood by ellipsis (see the preceding lines).
  80. 31 The words “I will bring you” are supplied in the translation; they are understood by ellipsis (see the first two lines of the verse).
  81. 32 Or “peace” ( and many other English versions).
  82. 33 The plural indicates degree. The language is ironic; in the past Zion was ruled by oppressive tyrants, but now personified prosperity and vindication will be the only things that will “dominate” the city.
  83. 34 The words “sounds of” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  84. 35 The words “sounds of” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  85. 36 Heb “and your God for your splendor.”
  86. 37 In this verse “sun” and “moon” refer to the Lord’s light, which will replace the sun and moon (see v. 19). Light here symbolizes the restoration of divine blessing and prosperity in conjunction with the Lord’s presence. See 30:26.
  87. 38 Heb “days” (so , , , , ).
  88. 39 Or “righteous” (, , , ); “just.”
  89. 40 Heb “a shoot of his planting, the work of my hands, to reveal splendor.”
  90. 41 Heb “will become” (so , ).
  91. 42 Heb “I, the Lord, in its time, I will quickly do it.”

Cross references

  1. 29 See 1:24 and 49:26.

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press