Bible Strands
Isaiah 60:2
For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The prophet addresses the people of God, contrasting their current condition with the imminent arrival of divine light. This oracle follows a command to arise and precedes a promise that nations will seek this revealed glory.
The words — The Hebrew חֹשֶׁךְ (cho-shekh) literally means "darkness," while עֲרָפֶל (a-ra-fel) denotes "thick darkness" or fog. These terms establish the physical obscurity that covers the earth before the Lord's manifestation.
The thread — The contrast between darkness and divine light recurs in Colossians 1:13, which describes rescue from the dominion of darkness, and 1 Peter 2:9, which identifies believers as a people called to proclaim God's virtues. Acts 17:30 parallels this shift by noting God now commands all people to repent after previously overlooking ignorance.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that human obscurity is temporary and subordinate to God's revealed glory. It requires a posture of attentive waiting rather than independent action, as the Lord's appearance dictates the pace of restoration.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Cross-references
- Colossians 1:13 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,
- 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Acts 17:30 Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.
- Haggai 2:7 I will shake all the nations, and they will come with all their treasures, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Hosts.
- Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
- Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.
- 2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
- Ephesians 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
- Malachi 4:2 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall.
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.