Isaiah 60:11
in Isaiah 60Your gates will always stand open; they will never be shut, day or night, so that the wealth of the nations may be brought into you, with their kings being led in procession.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Thy gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the wealth of the nations, and their kings led captive.
KJV
Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.
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This verse in Isaiah 60
Commentary
9 notes on this verseWhich power of the nations ran toward the former Jerusalem to worship? Which kings were led to worship the God of the universe? But the gates of the church of God are always open to receive the arrivals, and they receive also the godly kings …
This site's exposition
Foreigners will rebuild your walls
on Isaiah 60:10-12
“Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you” reverses conquest. Verse 11 gives the reversal a shape: “Your gates will always stand open”, words Revelation 21:25-26 carries forward. Verse 12 stands beside the promise: “For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish”.
This site's exposition
with their kings being led in procession
Barnes notes that cities shut their gates at night, and reads the open gates as a sign of converts arriving in such numbers. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown see the kings led in as willing captives, or else brought by judgment. Henry sees the gate of mercy, open night and day.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Verse 10 and following) And the sons of strangers will build your walls, and their kings will serve you. In my indignation I struck you, but in my mercy I have shown you compassion; and your gates will always be open, never closed day or night, so that the strength of the nations may come to you and their kings may be brought. Indeed, any nation or kingdom that does not serve you will perish, and the nations will be devastated. For because of my anger I struck you, and because of my mercy I have loved you.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Second, he shows the security of the rebuilt city: and your gates shall be open continually, because the fear of their enemies has ceased, and out of necessity for those who come to worship in Jerusalem; and this is so that the strength of the …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Note, Christ is always ready to entertain those that come to him, is never out of the way, nor can they ever come unseasonably; the gate of mercy is always open, night and day, or shall soon be opened to those that knock.
Therefore thy gates shall be open continually,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Therefore thy gates shall be open continually - The main idea here is, probably, that the accession from the pagan world, and the consequent influx of converts, would be so great, that there would be a necessity that the gates should never be closed. It is possible, also, that the prophet meant to describe that time as a period of security and peace. The gates of cities were closed in time of war, and at night, to guard them from danger.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
The gates are ever open to receive new offerings and converts (Isa 26:2; In time of peace the gates of a city are open: so, under the Prince of peace, there shall be no need of barring gates against invaders. forces--riches. be brought--as willing captives to the truth; or, if not willingly, be bought by judgments to submit to Israel (Isa 60:12, 14).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
and in my grace Because I favored you; in old French, en mon apayemant.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וּפִתְּח֨וּ | ufitechu | and they will be open | H6605 → | 144 times |
| שְׁעָרַ֧יִךְ | shearayikh | gates your | H8179 → | 374 times |
| תָּמִ֛יד | tamid | continually | H8548 → | 104 times |
| יוֹמָ֥ם | yomam | by day | H3119 → | 50 times |
| וָלַ֖יְלָה | valaylah | and night | H3915 → | 233 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יִסָּגֵ֑רוּ | yisageru | they will be shut | H5462 → | 91 times |
| לְהָבִ֤יא | lehavi' | to bring | H935 → | 2568 times |
| אֵלַ֙יִךְ֙ | ʾelayikh | to you | H413 → | 5510 times |
| חֵ֣יל | cheil | [the] wealth of | H2428 → | 246 times |
| גּוֹיִ֔ם | goyim | nations | H1471 → | 561 times |
| וּמַלְכֵיהֶ֖ם | umalkheihem | and kings their | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| נְהוּגִֽים׃ | nehugim | [will be] led | H5090 → | 31 times |
וּפִתְּח֨וּand they will be open
ufitechuH6605 →144 times
שְׁעָרַ֧יִךְgates your
shearayikhH8179 →374 times
תָּמִ֛ידcontinually
tamidH8548 →104 times
יוֹמָ֥םby day
yomamH3119 →50 times
וָלַ֖יְלָהand night
valaylahH3915 →233 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יִסָּגֵ֑רוּthey will be shut
yisageruH5462 →91 times
לְהָבִ֤יאto bring
lehavi'H935 →2568 times
אֵלַ֙יִךְ֙to you
ʾelayikhH413 →5510 times
חֵ֣יל[the] wealth of
cheilH2428 →246 times
גּוֹיִ֔םnations
goyimH1471 →561 times
וּמַלְכֵיהֶ֖םand kings their
umalkheihemH4428 →2525 times
נְהוּגִֽים׃[will be] led
nehugimH5090 →31 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 62:10Go out, go out through the gates; prepare the way for the people! Build it up, build up the highway; clear away the stones; raise a banner for the nations!
it leads to
- Isaiah 57:14
And it will be said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, take every obstacle out of the way of My people.”
- Isaiah 40:3
A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.
- Isaiah 49:22
This is what the Lord GOD says: “Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and raise My banner to the peoples. They will bring your sons in their arms and carry…
- Hebrews 12:13
Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
- Isaiah 11:10
On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.
- Isaiah 57:14
Through
Isaiah 60:18No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders. But you will name your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.
it leads to
- Isaiah 26:1
In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; salvation is established as its walls and ramparts.
- Isaiah 11:9
They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the sea is full of water.
- Zechariah 9:8
But I will camp around My house because of an army, because of those who march to and fro, and never again will an oppressor overrun My people, for now I keep watch with…
- Isaiah 26:1
Where this verse is studied
About Isaiah
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 19:60.11-16 and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.