Isaiah 60:13

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 60:13 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine, and the box-tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine, and the box-tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
Isaiah 60:13 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 60

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine, and the box-tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, &c.] Which are the trees that grew upon it, especially the cedars, for which it was famous, as well as the other trees after mentioned. Now, as these were brought into Solomon’s temple, and used in the building of that, (<110609>1 Kings 6:9,10,15), so such shall come of themselves, willingly and cheerfully, being drawn with the cords of love, into the church of Christ, comparable to the tall and strong cedars of Lebanon, and other trees, being eminent for their gifts and graces, and strong in the exercise of them; the more feeble among them being as the house of David, and that as the Angel of the Lord; and being durable, constant, and immovable in…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“glory--that is, the trees which adorned Lebanon; emblem of men eminent in natural gifts, devoting all that is in them to the God of Israel (Hos 14:5-6). fir . . . pine . . . box--rather, "the cypress . . . ilex . . . cedar." place of my sanctuary--Jerusalem (Jer 3:17). place of my feet--no longer the ark (Jer 3:16), "the footstool" of Jehovah (Psa 99:5; Psa 132:7; Ch1 28:2); but "the place of His throne, the place of the soles of His feet, where He will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever," in the new temple (Eze 43:7).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The glory of Lebanon - The ‘glory of Lebanon,’ here means the trees that grew on Lebanon (see the notes at Isaiah 35:2). Shall come unto thee - That is, thy beauty and glory will be as great as if those valuable trees were brought and planted around the temple. The fir-tree - (See the notes at Isaiah 41:19; Isaiah 55:13). The box - (See also the notes at Isaiah 41:19). To beautify the place of my sanctuary - The site of the temple, as if they were planted around it, and as if the magnificence of Lebanon was transferred there at once. The idea is, that the most valuable and glorious objects in distant nations would be consecrated to the service of the true God. And I will make the place of my…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The glory - The box, the fir, the pine, and the cedar, on account whereof Lebanon was so famous; kings and great ones, the glory of the world, and also persons of a lower rank, shall be the materials, and members of Christ's church. To beautify - This is the reason and end why the glory of Lebanon is to be brought hither; by these trees understand the beauty, and nobility of the church. Sanctuary - The temple wherein was the sanctuary. The place of my feet - The ark, so called, because, supposing God after the manner of men, to sit between the wings of the cherubim, his feet would rest upon the ark. All this is made good in the gospel - church. Isaiah 60:14”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“60:13 The Temple was God’s sanctuary, the symbol of his presence on earth. Believers now are the temple of God by the indwelling Spirit (1 Cor 3:16). We still await the fullness of God’s presence (Rev 21:22).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“The glory: That is, the cedar; and as the choice timber of Lebanon beautified Solomon's temple, that footstool of Jehovah; so shall the peculiar advantages of every nation, and of every description of men, concur to beautify the church of Christ, which He has determined to make glorious. The language then becomes more energetic, and the images employed more grand and magnificent; and nothing can answer to the glorious description but some future exalted state of the church on earth, or the church triumphant in heaven; though several expressions seem to limit it to the church below. Isa 35:2, Isa 41:19, Isa 41:20, Isa 55:13; Hos 14:6, Hos 14:7 to beautify: Ezr 7:27 the place: Isa 66:1; Ch1…”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“From the thought that everything great in the world of man is to be made to serve the Holy One and His church, the prophet passes to what is great in the world of nature. "The glory of Lebanon will come to thee, cypresses, plane-trees and Sherbin-trees all together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary, and to make the place of my feet glorious." The splendid cedars, which are the glory of Lebanon, and in fact the finest trees of all kinds, will be brought to Zion, not as trunks felled to be used as building materials, but dug up with their roots, to ornament the holy place of the temple ( Jer 17:12), and also to this end, that Jehovah may glorify the "holy place of His feet," i.e., the…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification