Isaiah 60 · a question people ask
Who is the "you" that chapter 60 speaks to?
The chapter doesn't begin with a name. It says, "Arise, shine; for your light has come" (60:1), and in Hebrew arise and shine are spoken to one woman (the forms are feminine and singular). The name comes in 60:14: "They will call you the LORD’s City, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel" (60:14). The one spoken to has sons and daughters (60:4), walls and gates (60:10-11, 60:18), and a people: "Then your people will all be righteous" (60:21). Chapter 49 speaks to Zion the same way, as a mother whose children come back to her (Isaiah 49:14-21). The map line below sets 60:19-20 beside the city John saw in Revelation 21 and gives two readings of that link. These notes say only what the chapter says, and apply it to no city, people, nation or conflict today.
The verses
““Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the LORD’s glory has risen on you!”
““Lift up your eyes all around, and see: they all gather themselves together. They come to you. Your sons will come from far away, and your daughters will be carried in arms.”
““Foreigners will build up your walls, and their kings will serve you; for in my wrath I struck you, but in my favor I have had mercy on you. Your gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night, that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, and their kings led captive.”
“The sons of those who afflicted you will come bowing to you; and all those who despised you will bow themselves down at the soles of your feet. They will call you the LORD’s City, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.”