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.

◄ Isaiah 60:2 ►

New International Version
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

New Living Translation
Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you.

English Standard Version
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.

New American Standard Bible
“For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you.

NASB 1995
“For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you.

NASB 1977
“For behold, darkness will cover the earth, And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you, And His glory will appear upon you.

Legacy Standard Bible
For behold, darkness will cover the earth And dense gloom the peoples; But Yahweh will rise upon you, And His glory will appear upon you.

Amplified Bible
“For in fact, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness will cover the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you [Jerusalem] And His glory and brilliance will be seen on you.

Christian Standard Bible
For look, darkness will cover the earth, and total darkness the peoples; but the LORD will shine over you, and his glory will appear over you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For look, darkness covers the earth, and total darkness the peoples; but the LORD will shine over you, and His glory will appear over you.

American Standard Version
For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Contemporary English Version
The earth and its people are covered with darkness, but the glory of the LORD is shining upon you.

English Revised Version
For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Darkness now covers the earth, and thick darkness covers the nations. But the LORD dawns, and his glory appears over you.

Good News Translation
Other nations will be covered by darkness, But on you the light of the LORD will shine; The brightness of his presence will be with you.

International Standard Version
For look! Darkness will cover the earth and thick darkness is over the people, but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
For, look, darkness covers the earth and deep darkness covers the nations, but the LORD shines on you; his splendor appears over you.

New Heart English Bible
For, look, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you.

Webster's Bible Translation
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD will arise upon thee, and his glory will be seen upon thee.

World English Bible
For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but Yahweh will arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
For behold, the darkness covers the earth, "" And thick darkness the peoples, "" And YHWH rises on you, "" And His glory is seen on you.

Young's Literal Translation
For, lo, the darkness doth cover the earth, And thick darkness the peoples, And on thee rise doth Jehovah, And His honour on thee is seen.

Smith's Literal Translation
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gloom the nations: and Jehovah shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
For behold darkness shall cover the earth, and a mist the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and thick darkness will cover the peoples. Then the Lord will rise above you, and his glory will be seen in you.

New American Bible
Though darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds, the peoples, Upon you the LORD will dawn, and over you his glory will be seen.

New Revised Standard Version
For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Behold, darkness will cover the earth, and thick darkness the nations; but the LORD shall shine upon you, and his glory shall be seen upon you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because behold, darkness covers the Earth, and thick darkness the peoples, and LORD JEHOVAH shall rise upon you, and his glory shall appear upon you!

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, And gross darkness the peoples; But upon thee the LORD will arise, And His glory shall be seen upon thee.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and there shall be gross darkness on the nations: but the Lords shall appear upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Future Glory for Zion
1Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. 2For 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. 3Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

John 1:4-5
In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. / The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Matthew 4:16
the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

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.

Revelation 21:23-24
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp. / By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory.

Revelation 22:5
There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.

Luke 1:78-79
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, / to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

John 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

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.’

Psalm 18:28
For You, O LORD, light my lamp; my God lights up my darkness.

Psalm 27:1
Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread?

Psalm 112:4
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright—for the gracious, compassionate, and righteous.

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.

Isaiah 9:2
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.

Treasury of Scripture

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you.

the darkness

Matthew 15:14
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Matthew 23:19,24
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? …

John 8:55
Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

the Lord

Leviticus 9:23
And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.

Numbers 16:19
And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.

1 Kings 8:11
So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

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Isaiah 60

1. The glory of the church in the abundant access of the Gentiles.
15. And the great blessings after a short affliction

Berean Study Bible

For behold
The Hebrew word used here is "הִנֵּה" (hinneh), which is often translated as "behold" or "look." It serves as a call to attention, urging the reader or listener to focus on the significant message that follows. In the context of Isaiah, it is a divine announcement, emphasizing the certainty and importance of the prophecy. This word sets the stage for a dramatic contrast between the current state of the world and the promised divine intervention.

darkness covers the earth
The term "darkness" in Hebrew is "חֹשֶׁךְ" (choshek), which can refer to both physical darkness and a metaphorical state of ignorance, sin, or despair. In the ancient Near Eastern context, darkness often symbolized chaos and evil, contrasting with the order and goodness represented by light. The phrase suggests a pervasive spiritual and moral decline affecting the entire earth, a condition that is observable throughout history and resonates with the human experience of living in a fallen world.

and thick darkness is over the peoples
The phrase "thick darkness" translates from the Hebrew "עֲרָפֶל" (araphel), indicating an even deeper, more impenetrable darkness. This intensification underscores the severity of the spiritual blindness and moral corruption affecting humanity. Historically, this could be seen in the idolatry and injustice prevalent among the nations surrounding Israel. Scripturally, it reflects the condition of humanity without the revelation and guidance of God, emphasizing the need for divine intervention.

but the LORD will rise upon you
The Hebrew name for "LORD" here is "יְהוָה" (YHWH), the covenant name of God, signifying His eternal, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His promises. The phrase "will rise upon you" uses the imagery of the sun rising, bringing light and life. This is a promise of God's active presence and favor, specifically directed towards His people. It signifies hope and renewal, contrasting sharply with the preceding darkness, and is a reminder of God's sovereignty and His ability to transform situations.

and His glory will appear over you
"Glory" in Hebrew is "כָּבוֹד" (kabod), which conveys the idea of weightiness, honor, and splendor. It represents the manifest presence of God, often associated with light and brilliance. The promise that His glory "will appear over you" suggests a visible, transformative impact on God's people, making them a beacon of hope and truth in a dark world. This reflects the biblical theme of God's people being a light to the nations, as seen in the calling of Israel and fulfilled in the mission of the Church.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2) The darkness shall cover the earth . . .--The darkness which had shrouded Zion still spreads its veil over the heathen nations of the world, but they also are to share in the light which is to stream forth from the new Jerusalem. (Comp. Malachi 4:2; Psalm 84:11.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth. As in Egypt a "thick darkness" covered the whole land at the word of Moses (Exodus 10:22), while still "the children of Israel had light in their dwellings," so now the world and "the nations' of the world lay in a deep obscurity, into which scarcely a ray of light penetrated, while on Israel there dawned a glory which streamed from the throne of God, and at once transfigured her, and gave her the appearance of an angel of the Most High. In the radiance of this light she was to stand up and show herself, and then great results would follow.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

For
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

behold,
הִנֵּ֤ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

darkness
הַחֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙ (ha·ḥō·šeḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2822: The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness

covers
יְכַסֶּה־ (yə·ḵas·seh-)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3680: To plump, fill up hollows, to cover

the earth,
אֶ֔רֶץ (’e·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

and thick darkness
וַעֲרָפֶ֖ל (wa·‘ă·rā·p̄el)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6205: Cloud, heavy cloud

[is over] the peoples;
לְאֻמִּ֑ים (lə·’um·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3816: A community

but the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

will rise
יִזְרַ֣ח (yiz·raḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2224: To irradiate, to rise, to appear

upon you,
וְעָלַ֙יִךְ֙ (wə·‘ā·la·yiḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

and His glory
וּכְבוֹד֖וֹ (ū·ḵə·ḇō·w·ḏōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3519: Weight, splendor, copiousness

will appear
יֵרָאֶֽה׃ (yê·rā·’eh)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

over you.
עָלַ֥יִךְ (‘ā·la·yiḵ)
Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

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OT Prophets: Isaiah 60:2 For behold darkness shall cover the earth (Isa Isi Is)