They looked to him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
They
Psalm 123:1,2 A Song of degrees. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens…
Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
and were
Psalm 13:3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
Psalm 18:28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
Psalm 97:11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
lightened.
Psalm 83:16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.
2 Samuel 19:5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;
are radiant with joy
The imagery of radiance suggests a transformation that occurs when one is in the presence of God. This transformation is not just internal but visible to others, as seen in the story of Moses, whose face shone after speaking with God (Exodus 34:29-35). The joy mentioned here is a deep, abiding joy that comes from a relationship with God, transcending circumstances. This joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and is often linked with the peace and assurance found in God's presence.
their faces shall never be ashamed
Shame in biblical terms often relates to dishonor or disgrace. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, honor and shame were significant social values. To have one's face "never be ashamed" implies a state of vindication and honor. This assurance is rooted in the faithfulness of God, who does not disappoint those who trust in Him. Romans 10:11 echoes this promise, "Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame." This phrase also points to the ultimate redemption and justification found in Christ, who bore our shame on the cross, ensuring that believers stand unashamed before God.
• “Looking” is an act of trust—turning the eyes of the heart away from self-reliance and toward the Lord’s sufficiency (Isaiah 45:22; Psalm 123:1–2).
• It is continuous, not a one-time glance. Like Jehoshaphat who prayed, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You” (2 Chronicles 20:12), we stay focused even when circumstances wobble.
• New-covenant believers fix their eyes on Jesus, “the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2), confident that He welcomes every gaze.
• The Hebrew picture is a face lit up—as Moses’ skin shone after meeting God (Exodus 34:29–30). Encountering the Lord leaves a visible mark.
• Joy flows from His presence, not from perfect surroundings (Psalm 16:11; Acts 6:15).
• In Christ, we “all, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed” (2 Corinthians 3:18). The radiance is both gift and witness—others see the light and trace it back to its Source (Matthew 5:16).
• Shame speaks of disappointment, disgrace, or being exposed as foolish. God pledges that those who trust Him will never end that way (Psalm 25:3; Isaiah 50:7).
• The pledge is rooted in His character: “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame” (Romans 10:11).
• Final vindication is guaranteed—Joel 2:26–27 looks forward to a day when God’s people will “never again be put to shame.” Every earthly scorn will be reversed when He sets things right.
Looking steadily to the Lord produces two unbreakable outcomes: present radiance and future vindication. Fix your eyes on Him, bask in the joy that overflows from His presence, and rest assured—you will never be disgraced for trusting Him.
(5) Were lightened.--The Hebrew verb means properly "to flow," but by a natural process, as in the common phrases "streams of light," "floods of light," acquired in Aramaic the sense of "shining." Such must be its meaning in Isaiah 60:5, almost the echo of the thought in the psalm, the thought of a reflex of the Divine glory lighting up the face of those who in trouble seek God. (Theodoret has "He who approaches God, receives the rays of intellectual light.") We naturally think of the dying Stephen.As to the construction, the subject must either be supplied from Psalm 34:2, or it must be general. The LXX. and Vulg. avoid the difficulty by changing to the second person.
Verse 5. - They looked unto him, and were lightened; or, were brightened (Hengstenberg); i.e. had their countenances lighted up and cheered. And their faces were not ashamed. As they would have been if God had made no response to their appeal (comp. Psalm 25:2, 3; Psalm 74:21).