Isaiah 60:16 kjv
Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
Isaiah 60:16 nkjv
You shall drink the milk of the Gentiles, And milk the breast of kings; You shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
Isaiah 60:16 niv
You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
Isaiah 60:16 esv
You shall suck the milk of nations; you shall nurse at the breast of kings; and you shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
Isaiah 60:16 nlt
Powerful kings and mighty nations
will satisfy your every need,
as though you were a child
nursing at the breast of a queen.
You will know at last that I, the LORD,
am your Savior and your Redeemer,
the Mighty One of Israel.
Isaiah 60 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 60:16 | "You shall also suck the milk of the Gentiles, And milk the breast of kings;" | Direct fulfillment promise |
| Isaiah 49:23 | "Kings shall be your foster fathers, And their queens your nursing mothers;" | Queens as nursing mothers |
| Isaiah 45:14 | "Thus says the LORD: 'The labor of Egypt and merchandise of Cush, And the Sabaeans, men of stature, Shall come over to you and belong to you; They shall follow you. They shall come over in chains and bow down to you." | Gentiles submitting |
| Revelation 21:24 | "And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it." | Nations bringing glory |
| 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 | "Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come, all are yours." | All things are yours |
| Genesis 22:17 | "...multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore;" | Multiplication promise |
| Psalm 22:28 | "For the kingdom is the LORD’s, And He is the Governor among the nations." | Lord's dominion |
| Isaiah 60:11 | "Therefore your gates shall be open continually; They shall not be shut day or night, That men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles, And that their kings may be brought." | Gates open for wealth |
| Zechariah 8:20-22 | "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Cities shall yet be inhabited by people old and very old, Men and women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, Each one with his staff in his hand because of great age. The streets of the city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.' " | Revitalization and peace |
| Galatians 3:29 | "And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." | Heirs according to promise |
| Ephesians 3:8 | "To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ," | Unsearchable riches |
| Revelation 7:15-17 | "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; Neither will the sun of midday heat them nor any burning heat." | Final heavenly provision |
| John 6:35 | "And Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.' " | Jesus as bread of life |
| Psalm 37:3 | "Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness." | Feed on faithfulness |
| Philippians 4:19 | "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." | God supplies needs |
| Matthew 6:33 | "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." | Seek His kingdom first |
| Romans 11:12 | "Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!" | Gentiles' riches |
| 2 Corinthians 8:9 | "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." | Christ's poverty for riches |
| 1 Peter 2:9 | "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you might proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;" | Chosen generation |
| Song of Solomon 4:5 | "Your two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies." | Metaphorical breasts |
| Psalm 72:10 | "The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will offer gifts; The kings of Sheba and Seba will bring offerings." | Kings bringing offerings |
| Isaiah 60:3 | "The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising." | Gentiles to light |
Isaiah 60 verses
Isaiah 60 16 Meaning
This verse describes the cyclical nature of God's provision and care for His people. It emphasizes the abundant provision that nourishes and sustains them, ensuring their continuity and growth, mirroring a perennial source of strength and life.
Isaiah 60 16 Context
Isaiah chapter 60 is a powerful prophecy of the future glory of Jerusalem and its restoration. It speaks of a time when the nations will be drawn to Israel's light, bringing their wealth and submitting to God's reign. This includes material prosperity and spiritual acknowledgment from kings and Gentile nations. The verse in question, Isaiah 60:16, paints a vivid picture of the abundance that will be available to God's people through the contributions of these converted nations. It highlights a shift where what was once dependent on external nations becomes a source of sustenance derived from them, but ultimately as part of God's divine provision.
Isaiah 60 16 Word Analysis
- And: This conjunction links the preceding part of the verse with the imagery of sustenance from Gentiles and kings, emphasizing the continuous nature of the blessings.
- you: Refers to Israel, the recipient of God's promise and future restoration.
- shall: Indicates a future certainty and divine command.
- suck: From Hebrew: yoneq (יוֹנֵק). This word, related to the root yoneq (יוֹנֵק - to suckle), signifies nourishment and dependence, often used for infants drawing life from their mother. It implies drawing in and absorbing what is vital.
- the milk: The 'milk' symbolizes nourishment, provision, sustenance, and abundance. It speaks of rich, life-giving resources.
- of the Gentiles: Refers to the nations that are not part of the covenant people of Israel. This signifies that blessings and provisions will flow from these nations to Israel.
- and: Connects the two clauses, showing a parallel action of receiving nourishment.
- milk: Repeated for emphasis on the abundance and nature of the provision.
- the breast: From Hebrew: shadayim (שַׁדַּיִם). This is the plural of shad (שַׁד - breast), often used metaphorically for a source of abundance and life-giving nourishment. The plural emphasizes the plentiful and continuous supply. The divine name El Shaddai (God Almighty) derives from a similar root related to breast and pouring out, emphasizing God's nurturing, all-sufficient nature.
- of kings: Refers to the rulers of the nations. Their "breasts" metaphorically represent their wealth, resources, and power, which will be given to God's people.
Word Group Analysis
- "suck the milk of the Gentiles" and "milk the breast of kings": These parallel phrases powerfully illustrate a future reality where Israel will be the recipient of great bounty from the Gentile nations and their rulers. The imagery is one of profound sustenance and nurturing, implying a complete provision for the needs of God's people. It signifies that the wealth and power of the world will be directed towards and absorbed by God's redeemed people, not for their subjugation, but for their empowerment and glorification in service to God.
Isaiah 60 16 Bonus Section
The imagery of "sucking the milk" and "milking the breast" connects to the covenant God makes with His people. It speaks of a nurturing relationship and abundant provision that ensures life and continuation, a theme also seen in God's provision in the wilderness (e.g., manna and water). The verse suggests that this nurturing care will be extended to God's people through channels He establishes, which include the transformed contributions of earthly powers. This foreshadows the comprehensive redemption and establishment of God's kingdom on earth.
Isaiah 60 16 Commentary
This verse speaks of a future ingathering of wealth and influence from the Gentile nations and their kings, which will be directed towards God's people. It is a metaphor for abundant spiritual and material provision. The Gentiles will contribute their resources, and kings will actively support and nurture the people of God, much like a mother provides for her child. This signifies the conversion and submission of nations under the reign of the Messiah, contributing to the flourishing of Zion. The ultimate source of this sustenance remains God, who orchestrates this ingathering through the obedience and devotion of transformed nations.