Isaiah 66:10 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Isaiah 66:10 kjv
Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
Isaiah 66:10 nkjv
"Rejoice with Jerusalem, And be glad with her, all you who love her; Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her;
Isaiah 66:10 niv
"Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her.
Isaiah 66:10 esv
"Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her;
Isaiah 66:10 nlt
"Rejoice with Jerusalem!
Be glad with her, all you who love her
and all you who mourn for her.
Isaiah 66 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 66:13 | As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. | God's personal comfort |
| Pss 122:6 | Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. | Blessings for those who love Zion |
| Pss 126:5-6 | They that sow in tears shall reap in joy… with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves. | Mourning transformed into joy |
| Isa 61:2-3 | To comfort all that mourn… to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning. | Divine comfort and oil of joy for mourners |
| Zech 8:16-19 | ...the fast… shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness. | Former sorrows turning to joy |
| Rev 21:2-3 | And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God... "God himself shall be with them." | New Jerusalem as God's eternal dwelling |
| Rev 21:4 | And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow. | Ultimate end of mourning, eternal joy |
| Pss 97:12 | Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. | General call to righteous joy in God |
| Zeph 3:14-17 | Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart. | Exuberant joy for Zion's restoration |
| Jer 31:12-13 | Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion… for I will turn their mourning into joy. | Joy for the restored exiles |
| Neh 12:43 | Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy. | Historical instance of great corporate joy |
| Lk 6:21 | Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. | Blessing on those who experience present sorrow |
| Jn 16:20-22 | Your sorrow shall be turned into joy… your joy no man taketh from you. | Believers' joy through Christ, overcoming sorrow |
| Rom 15:10 | And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. | Gentile inclusion in God's people's joy |
| Phil 4:4 | Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. | Command to continuous Christ-centered joy |
| Isa 52:9 | Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people. | Comfort and joy for desolated Jerusalem |
| Gal 4:26 | But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. | Heavenly Jerusalem, mother of believers |
| Heb 12:22-23 | But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. | Believers' present connection to heavenly Zion |
| Ps 30:5 | Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. | Transition from transient sorrow to enduring joy |
| Mt 5:4 | Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. | Christ's beatitude for mourners |
| Joel 2:23 | Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God. | Prophetic call to rejoice in the Lord |
| Isa 25:8 | He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces. | Ultimate triumph over death and sorrow |
Isaiah 66 verses
Isaiah 66 10 meaning
Isaiah 66:10 is a prophetic invitation to universal joy and celebration over the impending comfort, prosperity, and glorification of Jerusalem. It calls for all who identify with God's chosen city and people, whether they have shown steadfast love for her or lamented her desolation, to fully participate in her renewed delight and well-being. This rejoicing marks a divine turning point from past sorrows to profound, lasting joy, indicative of God's covenant faithfulness and His ultimate redemptive plan for His people.
Isaiah 66 10 Context
Isaiah chapter 66 is the concluding chapter of the entire book of Isaiah, summarizing its grand themes. It portrays the Lord's universal judgment on the wicked and His ultimate restoration and blessing of the righteous, often symbolized by Zion and Jerusalem. The chapter contrasts true worship—a humble and contrite heart—with ritualistic or idolatrous practices. It announces new heavens and new earth, implying a radical new era. Amidst these themes of cosmic renewal and divine judgment, verse 10 stands as a joyous invitation to partake in the glorious future awaiting Jerusalem, signifying the spiritual restoration and expansion of God's people. This call to rejoice would have resonated profoundly with an audience familiar with Jerusalem's historical sufferings, anticipating its promised glory.
Isaiah 66 10 Word analysis
- Rejoice ye (שִׂמְחוּ - sim'khu): This is a plural imperative, an active command to participate in joy. The root (שמח - samach) denotes a general state of happiness and often a communal celebration in response to God's actions. It implies an internal gladness that should be expressed.
- with Jerusalem (אֶת־ יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם - et Yerushalayim): The invitation to joy is intimately linked with Jerusalem, signifying a shared experience. Jerusalem here functions metonymically, representing not just the physical city but also God's people, the spiritual community, and the center of divine activity, particularly in its restored and glorified state.
- and be glad (גִּילוּ - gilu): Another plural imperative, intensifying the command for joy. The root (גיל - gil) conveys a more exuberant, outward, and triumphant joy, often associated with shouting, singing, or dancing. It demands an enthusiastic expression of happiness.
- with her: Reinforces the idea of shared, empathetic rejoicing, emphasizing that the joy is for and because of Jerusalem's blessing.
- all ye that love her (כָּל־ אֹהֲבֶיהָ - kol ohavei'ha): Refers to all those who demonstrate deep affection, loyalty, and commitment to Jerusalem and, by extension, to God's covenant people. Their love implies a solidarity with Zion in her prosperity and peace.
- rejoice for joy (שִׂישׂוּ אִתָּהּ מָשׂוֹשׂ - sisu ittah masos): This is an emphatic construction, literally "rejoice a rejoicing with her." The imperative (שִׂישׂוּ - sisu) from the root (שוש - sus) also means to exult or rejoice with jubilation. The noun (מָשׂוֹשׂ - masos) means joy or gladness. Together, they signify a powerful, overflowing, and complete sharing in Jerusalem's inherent happiness.
- with her: Reiterates the unified nature of the rejoicing.
- all ye that mourn for her (כָּל־ הַמִּתְאַבְּלִים לָהּ - kol ha'mit'abbe'lim lah): Includes those who have profoundly grieved over Jerusalem's suffering, destruction, or desolation (from root אבל - abal, to mourn). This highlights a crucial turning point: those who empathized with her sorrow will now share in her overflowing joy, validating their faithfulness during hardship.
Isaiah 66 10 Bonus section
The repeated injunctions to "rejoice" using different Hebrew roots (שמח, גיל, שוש) underscore the comprehensiveness and overwhelming nature of the coming joy. It suggests a joy that encompasses inner gladness, outward exultation, and exuberant jubilee. This invitation anticipates the "new heavens and new earth" mentioned earlier in Isa 65 and 66, implying that Jerusalem's comfort and joy are inextricably linked to God's ultimate redemptive acts. The promise extends not only to physical Judah but symbolically to the entire believing community, encompassing both Israel and the Gentiles (as seen in later verses in Isaiah 66) who will come to worship and be comforted in the spiritual Zion. The comfort found "in Jerusalem" points to God's presence as the source of all ultimate consolation, moving from earthly symbols to heavenly reality.
Isaiah 66 10 Commentary
Isaiah 66:10 is a powerful prophetic decree, serving as an climactic invitation at the end of Isaiah's grand vision. It extends a threefold call to rejoice, escalating in intensity ("rejoice," "be glad," "rejoice for joy"), signifying a boundless and complete joy that will characterize the restored Jerusalem. This is not merely a political or earthly triumph but a divinely ordained state of profound comfort and well-being. The inclusivity of the call—encompassing both "all ye that love her" (those who perhaps experienced her prior glories or remained loyal) and "all ye that mourn for her" (those who deeply grieved her desolation and suffering)—emphasizes that God's restoration heals past wounds and unites His faithful ones in celebration. This turning of sorrow into joy is a central biblical motif of divine redemption, showing that God validates the tears of His faithful, ultimately leading them to glorious exultation. For believers, Jerusalem here expands beyond its earthly walls to embody the eschatological community of God, the Church, destined for eternal comfort and joy in the presence of the Lord. It calls for present spiritual identification with God's ultimate plan, ensuring that no genuine lover or mourner of Zion will miss her coming triumph.