This is the climax to the vision of judgment in chapter 24. It speaks of the final triumph of Yahweh, ruling from Jerusalem.

Then the moon will be confounded, and the sun ashamed: These two parallel lines give the response of the sun and moon to Yahweh’s reign. They will become insignificant when compared to his glory. Although the Hebrew verbs rendered confounded and ashamed normally refer to the shame of a person, here they are applied poetically to the sun and moon. Shame can often be seen on a person’s face, so New American Bible renders these two verbs as “blush” for the moon and “grow pale” for the sun. The Hebrew word for moon is literally “white.” It is a rare poetic term used also in 30.26 and Song 6.10. The Hebrew noun for sun is literally “heat.” It is another rare poetic term found also in 30.26 and Song 6.10 as well as Job 30.28 and Psa 19.6. These two lines are saying the white light of the moon and the heat of the sun will disappear (see the examples below).

For the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem: The connector For introduces the reason why the light of the sun and moon will disappear. For the LORD of hosts see 1.9. The parallel phrases on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem indicate the place where God will rule. For Mount Zion, see 1.8.

And before his elders he will manifest his glory is literally “and before his/its elders glory.” Revised Standard Version adds he will manifest and the pronoun his in his glory. There are two basics understandings of this line in the versions. One understanding is that the LORD will show his glory to his elders, that is, his council in heaven. Some versions that reflect this meaning are RSV/NRSV, Bible en français courant (1997) “His glorious presence will radiate before his council,” and New American Bible “glorious in the sight of his elders” (similarly King James Version). The other understanding is that the LORD will show his glory to the elders of Jerusalem. Several versions that express this sense are Good News Translation, Revised English Bible “and [he] is revealed in his glory to the elders of his people,” New Jerusalem Bible “and the Glory will radiate on their elders,” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “And the oldest of the people will see his power and majesty.” Both interpretations are possible, but we recommend the second one. For elder see 3.2, and for glory see 3.8.

Our suggestions for the translation of this verse are:

• The white light of the moon will fade, the heat of the sun will grow less,
because Yahweh of hosts will reign on Mount Zion in Jerusalem,
and before its leaders [his] glory will shine forth.

• The moon’s light will grow dim and the sun’s heat will fades,
for Yahweh of hosts will reign on Mount Zion in Jerusalem,
and its leaders will witness his glory.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .