The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about a brighter future; it's about a fundamental shift in the source of light and glory. The natural sun and moon, the ultimate light sources we know, will become irrelevant, not because they vanish, but because God Himself will be the direct, unending illumination and the ultimate reason for boasting.
The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Isaiah is painting a picture of a glorious future for God's people, following a period of great devastation and exile. This passage builds on earlier prophecies about restoration, shifting the focus from earthly comforts to the ultimate, divine source of all light and glory. The prophet anticipates a time when the presence of God himself will so completely illuminate and satisfy his people that the natural lights of the sun and moon will become irrelevant by comparison.
Imagine a city so bright, the sun and moon become obsolete. Isaiah paints a picture that transcends our everyday experience of light and darkness.
In Isaiah 60:19, the prophet describes a future reality where the natural lights we depend on – the sun and moon – are no longer the primary sources of illumination. This isn't to say the sun and moon disappear, but rather that their light will be completely overshadowed. The passage suggests that in this future state, the light provided by these celestial bodies will be unnecessary because a greater, more profound light will be present. This imagery points to a time when God's presence is so manifest and glorious that it outshines all natural phenomena.
What if the source of all light was also the source of unending joy and security? Isaiah reveals God's commitment to being our constant, unchanging illumination.
The core of this verse is the breathtaking declaration that 'the LORD will be your everlasting light.' This isn't a fleeting beam or a temporary glow; it's an unending, constant source of light. This 'everlasting light' signifies God's perpetual presence, His unwavering guidance, His unending comfort, and His eternal truth. Unlike the sun and moon, which have cycles of rising and setting, waxing and waning, God's light is constant and eternal. It promises security, clarity, and unending hope that will never fade or be withdrawn.
What is the ultimate source of beauty and pride? Isaiah shifts our focus from external achievements to the intrinsic worth found in our relationship with God.
Ask a follow-up
The second half of the verse reveals another profound truth: 'and your God will be your glory.' This means that God Himself, and the intimate relationship we have with Him, will be the ultimate source of our honor, our beauty, and our deepest satisfaction. Instead of finding glory in worldly accomplishments, status, or possessions, believers will find their highest boast and greatest dignity in the very fact that the Lord is their God. This points to a complete reorientation of value, where the divine presence is not just our light, but also our highest honor and source of identity.
Understand the original words
tip’artēk · Hebrew Noun
The weight, radiance, or splendor of God; it refers to the visible manifestation of His presence, character, and supreme worth.
This passage directly echoes Isaiah's vision, describing the New Jerusalem where the glory of God provides light, rendering the sun and moon unnecessary. It shows how this prophetic image finds its ultimate fulfillment in the eternal dwelling place of God with His people.
John 1:9Jesus is identified as 'the true Light, which, in its continuous coming into the world, enlightens every person.' This connects to Isaiah's vision by pointing to Christ as the source of the 'everlasting light' that God will be for His people, a light far surpassing natural illumination.
Psalm 84:11This psalm declares that 'the LORD God is a sun and a shield.' This resonates with Isaiah's prophecy by highlighting God's role not just as a protector but also as a source of brilliant, life-giving light for His people, emphasizing His encompassing provision.
Zechariah 2:5Zechariah prophesies that God Himself will be 'a wall of fire all around' His people and 'the glory in their midst.' This parallels Isaiah's vision of God being the glory and light, showing God's intimate presence and radiant protection dwelling within His people.
cambridgeIsaiah 60:19: "The 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."
19 . thy glory ] thy beauty ; Isaiah 60:7 , Isaiah 9:13 . 19, 20 . Comp. Revelation 21:23 : “And 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”; and Isaiah 22:5 . It is not implied that the sun and moon shall…
clarkeIsaiah 60:19: "The 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."
Neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee "Nor by night shall the brightness of the moon enlighten thee" - This line, as it stands in the present text, seems to be defective. The Septuagint and Chaldee both express the night, which is almost necessary to answer to day in the preceding…
This verse isn't just about a brighter future; it's about a fundamental shift in the source of light and glory. The natural sun and moon, the ultimate light sources we know, will become irrelevant, not because they vanish, but because God Himself will be the direct, unending illumination and the ultimate reason for boasting.
Isaiah is painting a picture of a glorious future for God's people, following a period of great devastation and exile. This passage builds on earlier prophecies about restoration, shifting the focus from earthly comforts to the ultimate, divine source of all light and glory. The prophet anticipates a time when the presence of God himself will so completely illuminate and satisfy his people that the natural lights of the sun and moon will become irrelevant by comparison.
Isaiah is painting a picture of a glorious future for God's people, following a period of great devastation and exile. This passage builds on earlier prophecies about restoration, shifting the focus from earthly comforts to the ultimate, divine source of all light and glory. The prophet anticipates a time when the presence of God himself will so completely illuminate and satisfy his people that the natural lights of the sun and moon will become irrelevant by comparison.
"The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory." — This verse isn't just about a brighter future; it's about a fundamental shift in the source of light and glory. The natural sun and moon, the ultimate light sources we know, will become irrelevant,…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026