Isaiah 66:11 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Isaiah 66:11 kjv
That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
Isaiah 66:11 nkjv
That you may feed and be satisfied With the consolation of her bosom, That you may drink deeply and be delighted With the abundance of her glory."
Isaiah 66:11 niv
For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance."
Isaiah 66:11 esv
that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance."
Isaiah 66:11 nlt
Drink deeply of her glory
even as an infant drinks at its mother's comforting breasts."
Isaiah 66 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 49:10 | "They shall not hunger nor thirst...for he that has mercy on them..." | God as source of sustenance and comfort. |
| Isa 49:13 | "Shout for joy, O heavens... for the LORD comforts his people..." | Divine comfort and joy for God's chosen. |
| Isa 54:1 | "Sing, O barren one... for more are the children of the desolate..." | Zion as a fruitful mother, receiving multitude. |
| Isa 60:4-5 | "Your sons come from afar... then you shall see and be radiant..." | Nations flocking to Zion, bringing prosperity/joy. |
| Isa 60:16 | "You shall suck the milk of nations... and know that I am the LORD..." | Zion nourished by the nations. |
| Isa 66:12 | "For thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse and be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees.'" | Direct continuation of maternal imagery and comfort. |
| Isa 66:13 | "As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you..." | God's motherly comfort for Jerusalem. |
| Pss 23:5 | "You prepare a table before me... you anoint my head with oil..." | God's abundant provision and blessings. |
| Pss 36:8 | "They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from the river of your delights." | Abundant spiritual nourishment from God. |
| Pss 65:4 | "We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house..." | Satisfaction found in God's dwelling. |
| Pss 145:16 | "You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing." | God's comprehensive provision for all creation. |
| Joel 2:26 | "You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name..." | Fulfillment, satisfaction after divine restoration. |
| Zech 8:3 | "I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem..." | God's promised presence brings blessings to Zion. |
| Zeph 3:17 | "The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save..." | Joy and delight in God's presence. |
| Jer 31:12-14 | "...their soul shall be like a well-watered garden... satisfied..." | Abundant provision and soul satisfaction. |
| Hos 11:3-4 | "I taught Ephraim to walk... I led them with cords of kindness..." | God's tender, parental care for Israel. |
| Matt 5:6 | "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." | Spiritual satisfaction for those who seek God. |
| Gal 4:26-27 | "But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother... for the desolate has many more children..." | New Jerusalem as the spiritual mother of believers. |
| Heb 12:22 | "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem..." | Believers connected to the spiritual Jerusalem. |
| Rev 7:17 | "For the Lamb... will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear." | Ultimate comfort, nourishment, and end of sorrow. |
| Rev 21:3-4 | "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man... he will wipe away every tear..." | Full and ultimate consolation in the New Jerusalem. |
| Rev 21:6 | "To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment." | Freely given, abundant spiritual refreshment. |
Isaiah 66 verses
Isaiah 66 11 meaning
Isaiah 66:11 conveys a powerful promise of profound comfort, satisfaction, and delight for those who mourned over Zion. It uses vivid maternal imagery to illustrate the abundant spiritual blessings that will flow from the restored Jerusalem (representing God's dwelling place and people), likening the experience to a child drawing deeply from a mother's nourishing breasts. This satisfaction will be complete, extending from inward contentment to outward joy derived from God's full manifestation of peace and glory.
Isaiah 66 11 Context
Isaiah chapter 66 is the concluding chapter of the prophetic book, serving as a powerful climax to Isaiah's message. It weaves together themes of divine judgment, the true nature of worship, the gathering of all nations, and the glorious restoration of Zion/Jerusalem in the new heavens and new earth. Leading into verse 11, verse 10 issues an invitation: "Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her." This sets the stage for the profound reasons for joy described in verse 11. The preceding verses (v. 7-9) speak of Zion giving birth to a nation in a day, an almost instantaneous and miraculous fulfillment of prophecy, painting Zion as a mother. Historically, Jerusalem and its people had experienced deep suffering and desolation through exile. The promise in verse 11 would have resonated powerfully with an audience longing for physical and spiritual comfort and the reestablishment of their national and religious identity. It depicts an era of unparalleled divine favor and nurture for the repentant and faithful.
Isaiah 66 11 Word analysis
- That ye may suck (מִינֹק, miy•nōq): Derived from the root ינק (yanaq), meaning "to suck" or "to nurse." This implies a deep, dependent, and intimate drawing of nourishment, similar to an infant receiving sustenance directly from its mother. It suggests complete and natural absorption.
- and be satisfied (וּשְׂבַעְתֶּם, ūśevat•tem): From שבע (sāḇaʿ), meaning "to be satisfied, filled, sated." It speaks of a profound state of contentment where all hunger and longing cease. This isn't a partial filling but a complete abundance, a cessation of any lack.
- with the breasts (מִשֹּׁד, miś•śōd): From שֹׁד (shod), "breast" or "udder." The preposition "mi-" signifies "from." The use of "breasts" (dual in Hebrew) emphasizes an abundant source, a continuous and ample supply of nourishment and comfort. It's the most direct and purest source of life.
- of her consolations (תַּנְחֻמֹתֶיהָ, taḵhūmōtêhā): From תַּנְחֻמוֹת (tanḥumot), meaning "comforts" or "consolations." The plural form intensifies the meaning, indicating multifaceted, overflowing, and perpetual comfort, not just a singular relief. These are the deep, spiritual comforts emanating from the restored Zion.
- that ye may milk out (לִמְצֹץ, lim•ṣōṣ): From מצץ (māṣaṣ), which also means "to suck" or "to drain," but can carry a nuance of drawing out more actively and fully, taking deep draughts until nothing is left, indicating full access and appropriation.
- and be delighted (וְהִתְעַנַּגְתֶּם, vehitetanāgettem): From ענג (ʿānag), meaning "to delight oneself, take pleasure in, be pampered." This goes beyond mere satisfaction to an experience of luxurious pleasure and joy. It implies a sense of well-being, softness, and indulgence, signifying deep, overflowing spiritual joy.
- with the abundance (מִזִּיז, miz•zîz): From זִיז (zīz), meaning "fullness, abundance, profusion." This word suggests something vigorous, blooming, and flourishing. It implies an overwhelming quantity and rich outflow of blessings, signifying bountiful provision.
- of her glory (כְּבוֹדָהּ, kəvōdāh): From כבוד (kābōd), which means "glory, honor, weight, splendor." In this context, it refers to the manifest presence, majesty, and radiant blessings of God as displayed through Zion. It’s the inherent honor and magnificent reputation of the Lord made evident in His restored people and city.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations": This phrase paints a picture of ultimate relief and contentment after spiritual deprivation. The passive imagery of "sucking" from the intimate source of "breasts" emphasizes God's nurturing care given through Zion, leading to complete spiritual and emotional "satisfaction." It evokes the restoration of deepest needs, addressing all sorrow and mourning.
- "milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory": This builds upon the previous phrase, introducing a more active engagement ("milk out") and an even greater depth of joy and prosperity. "Delighted" suggests not just being filled but reveling in luxurious enjoyment. This delight comes from the "abundance" and "glory" of Zion, representing God's manifest splendor and generous outpouring of blessings that transcend mere sufficiency, moving into overflowing joy and magnificence.
Isaiah 66 11 Bonus section
The imagery of Zion as a nurturing mother giving birth and providing sustenance is a recurring motif in Isaiah, significantly strengthening the symbolic power here (cf. Isa 49:21, 54:1). This metaphorical "mother Zion" is spiritually realized in the New Testament as the "Jerusalem above" (Gal 4:26), which is the mother of all believers. The double phrasing—"suck and be satisfied" followed by "milk out and be delighted"—serves to amplify and ensure the promise, underscoring both the fullness of satisfaction and the luxurious nature of the coming joy. It describes a time when every form of lament over the state of Jerusalem will be replaced by ultimate peace and joyous participation in God's redemptive work and glorious presence.
Isaiah 66 11 Commentary
Isaiah 66:11 provides a tender yet powerful prophetic vision of the deep comfort and profound joy awaiting those who love Zion in God's future redemption. The chosen imagery is fundamentally maternal: Zion as a nursing mother providing inexhaustible comfort and sustenance. The promise is not merely of basic needs met, but of a complete satiation (satisfied) and an exuberant, luxurious pleasure (delighted). "Her consolations" speak to the divine solace provided through Jerusalem, embodying God's care. "Her glory" points to the majestic presence and blessings of God, emanating from His renewed dwelling place. This verse assures the mourning believers that their sorrow will transform into unparalleled joy and spiritual prosperity as God fully restores His people and kingdom, providing nurture as tenderly and generously as a mother provides for her child. It foreshadows the heavenly Jerusalem, a source of unending comfort and life.