Isaiah 60:20
Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
Original Language Analysis
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 16
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָב֥וֹא
shall no more go down
H935
יָב֥וֹא
shall no more go down
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
2 of 16
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
עוֹד֙
H5750
עוֹד֙
Strong's:
H5750
Word #:
3 of 16
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
שִׁמְשֵׁ֔ךְ
Thy sun
H8121
שִׁמְשֵׁ֔ךְ
Thy sun
Strong's:
H8121
Word #:
4 of 16
the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e., (architectural) a notched battlement
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
6 of 16
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יֵאָסֵ֑ף
withdraw
H622
יֵאָסֵ֑ף
withdraw
Strong's:
H622
Word #:
7 of 16
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
8 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יְהוָ֗ה
itself for the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֗ה
itself for the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
9 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יִֽהְיֶה
H1961
יִֽהְיֶה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
10 of 16
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לְא֣וֹר
light
H216
לְא֣וֹר
light
Strong's:
H216
Word #:
12 of 16
illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)
עוֹלָ֔ם
shall be thine everlasting
H5769
עוֹלָ֔ם
shall be thine everlasting
Strong's:
H5769
Word #:
13 of 16
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
וְשָׁלְמ֖וּ
shall be ended
H7999
וְשָׁלְמ֖וּ
shall be ended
Strong's:
H7999
Word #:
14 of 16
to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate
Cross References
Revelation 21:4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.Psalms 84:11For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.Isaiah 35:10And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.Isaiah 25:8He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.Psalms 27:1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?Malachi 4:2But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.Isaiah 30:19For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer 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.Isaiah 65:19And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.Amos 8:9And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:
Historical Context
The post-exilic community experienced ongoing struggles despite return from exile—economic hardship, foreign domination, spiritual coldness. Their mourning hadn't ended. The prophecy looked beyond temporal circumstances to eternal reality. Jesus inaugurated the kingdom, bringing light to darkness (John 8:12, 12:46), but full consummation awaits His return. The church experiences foretastes of perpetual joy (John 16:22, 1 Peter 1:8) but awaits complete fulfillment when all mourning ceases forever (Revelation 21:4).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the promise of ended mourning provide comfort amid present sorrows?
- What does perpetual light without sunset teach about the unchanging nature of eternal joy?
- How should we balance present suffering with future glory (Romans 8:18)?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The permanence is emphasized: "Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself." Natural luminaries set and wane, but God's light is perpetual. "For the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended." Or olam (everlasting light) repeats from verse 19, while shalaum yeme eblech (completed the days of your mourning) promises permanent end to sorrow. This echoes Revelation 21:4: "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." From a Reformed perspective, this describes the eternal state where glorified believers experience perfect, uninterrupted joy in God's presence. No more cycles of light and darkness, joy and sorrow—only perpetual light and gladness. This doesn't mean emotional monotony but the consummation of all that brings true joy. The perpetual light symbolizes comprehensive knowledge (no more darkness of ignorance or confusion), holiness (no more darkness of sin), and joy (no more darkness of sorrow).