Isaiah 24:23
Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.
Original Language Analysis
וְחָֽפְרָה֙
shall be confounded
H2659
וְחָֽפְרָה֙
shall be confounded
Strong's:
H2659
Word #:
1 of 14
to blush; figuratively, to be ashamed, disappointed; causatively, to shame, reproach
וּבוֹשָׁ֖ה
ashamed
H954
וּבוֹשָׁ֖ה
ashamed
Strong's:
H954
Word #:
3 of 14
properly, to pale, i.e., by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or delayed
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
5 of 14
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
מָלַ֞ךְ
shall reign
H4427
מָלַ֞ךְ
shall reign
Strong's:
H4427
Word #:
6 of 14
to reign; hence (by implication) to take counsel
יְהוָ֣ה
when the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
when the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
7 of 14
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָא֗וֹת
of hosts
H6635
צְבָא֗וֹת
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
8 of 14
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
בְּהַ֤ר
in mount
H2022
בְּהַ֤ר
in mount
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
9 of 14
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
צִיּוֹן֙
Zion
H6726
צִיּוֹן֙
Zion
Strong's:
H6726
Word #:
10 of 14
tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of jerusalem
וּבִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם
and in Jerusalem
H3389
וּבִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם
and in Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
11 of 14
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
וְנֶ֥גֶד
H5048
וְנֶ֥גֶד
Strong's:
H5048
Word #:
12 of 14
a front, i.e., part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before
Cross References
Isaiah 60:19The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.Revelation 21:23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.Isaiah 13:10For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.Revelation 22:5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.Hebrews 12:22But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,Isaiah 12:6Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.Isaiah 30:26Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.Micah 4:7And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.
Historical Context
Zion/Jerusalem represents God's dwelling place, the temple as microcosm of heaven. Post-exilic Jews expected Messiah to reign from Jerusalem; Christians spiritualized this to the New Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22) descending from heaven (Revelation 21:2). The 'elders' connect to Israel's seventy elders (Exodus 24:9-11) who saw God's glory on Sinai, now expanded to include all redeemed people (Revelation 5:9-10).
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's glory outshining sun and moon illustrate that all created beauty and light derive from Him?
- What does it mean to see God 'gloriously' in the presence of the elders—how does corporate worship anticipate this?
- How should the hope of beholding God's glory directly shape our current priorities and what we seek glory in?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed (וְחָפְרָה הַלְּבָנָה וּבוֹשָׁה הַחַמָּה)—The verbs chaphar (be ashamed, abashed) and bush (be ashamed, embarrassed) personify celestial bodies experiencing humiliation. When God's glory appears, even sun and moon—sources of light—are 'ashamed' because their light pales into insignificance. Jesus described this: 'the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light' (Matthew 24:29). When the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem—The verb malak (reign, be king) indicates Yahweh's direct royal rule from Zion, not through intermediaries.
And before his ancients gloriously (וְנֶגֶד זְקֵנָיו כָּבוֹד)—The zeqenim (elders/ancients) are the redeemed assembly witnessing God's kavod (glory). Revelation 4:10-11 depicts twenty-four elders before God's throne casting crowns, worshiping in glory's presence. The sun and moon's 'shame' isn't moral guilt but the inevitable dimming of derivative light before uncreated Light. As Paul writes: 'There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon... but they differ in glory' (1 Corinthians 15:41). When the Glory appears, all created glories fade. This is the Beatific Vision—seeing God face-to-face, the ultimate human fulfillment where no created thing competes for attention.