Isaiah 66 13

Isaiah 66:13 kjv

As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 66:13 nkjv

As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem."

Isaiah 66:13 niv

As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."

Isaiah 66:13 esv

As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 66:13 nlt

I will comfort you there in Jerusalem
as a mother comforts her child."

Isaiah 66 verses

Isaiah 66 13 meaning

Isaiah 66:13 promises a profound and personal comfort from God to His people. Likening His solace to the tender, deep, and intimate comfort a mother provides her child, the verse assures His enduring care. This divine consolation will specifically manifest in Jerusalem, signifying restoration, peace, and renewed fellowship in the city of God.

Isaiah 66 13 Context

Isaiah chapter 66 serves as the climactic conclusion to the entire book of Isaiah, intertwining themes of divine judgment, universal salvation, and the ultimate restoration of Zion/Jerusalem. Preceding this verse, God denounces empty ritualism and the idolatrous practices of the rebellious, declaring that He looks upon those who are humble and tremble at His word (Is 66:1-6). Verses 7-9 then speak of the miraculous, sudden rebirth and growth of a nation, likely referring to the future restoration of Israel and the influx of Gentiles into God's kingdom. Following this, verses 10-12 specifically invite those who mourn over Zion's desolation to rejoice, promising that they will "suck and be satisfied from her comforting breasts," and drink deeply of her glory. Isaiah 66:13 then directly delivers God's personal, tender promise of comfort to His restored people, emphasizing the intimacy and specific location of this divine care after a period of tribulation and exile.

Isaiah 66 13 Word analysis

• כְּאִישׁ (kə'îš) - "As one," or literally "like a man/person." The prefixed particle 'כְּ' (kə) signifies "as" or "like," initiating a simile. This comparison immediately establishes the quality of comfort God intends to give.
• אֲשֶׁר ('ăšer) - "whom," a relative pronoun connecting the 'one' to the subsequent action.
• אִמּוֹ ('immô) - "his mother." The Hebrew word for mother, 'אֵם' ('ēm), with the pronominal suffix for "his" ('-ô'). A mother's bond with her child is universally recognized as one of the most tender, empathetic, and protective forms of love, particularly in times of distress. This evokes deep emotional resonance.
• תְּנַחֲמֶנּוּ (tənaḥăménnū) - "comforts him." From the Hebrew root נחם (N-Ḥ-M), in the Piel imperfect conjugation. This root carries a range of meanings: to lament, repent, feel sorrow, or, as here in the Piel, to comfort, console, or have compassion. The Piel form implies intense, active, and profound consoling.
• כֵּן (kēn) - "so," "thus." This word acts as the fulcrum of the comparison, asserting that what follows matches the intensity and quality of the preceding analogy.
• אָנֹכִי ('ānōḵî) - "I." This is an emphatic first-person singular pronoun. Its use emphasizes that it is God Himself, personally and directly, who will perform this act of comfort, underscoring its divine authority and reliability.
• אֲנַחֶמְכֶם ('ănaḥémḵem) - "I will comfort you (plural)." Again, the root נחם (N-Ḥ-M), in the Piel imperfect, but this time first person singular subject ("I") with a second-person plural object ("you"). This directly applies the "mother's comfort" standard to God's action toward His people, promising intense, personal, and effective consolation for the entire community.
• וּבִירוּשָׁלַ‍ִם (ūvîrûšāláyim) - "and in Jerusalem." The conjunction 'וּ' (ū) means "and"; 'בְּ' (bə) means "in." יְרוּשָׁלַ‍ִם (Yərūšāláyim) is Jerusalem, the sacred city. This specifies the location where this divine comfort will be tangibly experienced and manifest. It roots the promise in a historical, geographical, and eschatological center of God's redemptive plan.
• תְּנֻחָמוּ (tēnūḥāmû) - "you (plural) shall be comforted." This is the Nifal imperfect conjugation of the root נחם (N-Ḥ-M). The Nifal voice is typically passive, signifying that the comfort will be received or experienced by the plural "you." It strongly reiterates and seals the promise, emphasizing the certainty and the state of profound solace the recipients will attain in Jerusalem.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "As one whom his mother comforts" (כְּאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אִמּוֹ תְּנַחֲמֶנּוּ): This phrase sets the most tender and intimate standard for comfort imaginable. It evokes deep empathy, security, and a protective presence, implying that the one being comforted is vulnerable and deeply in need of solace. The bond is one of profound, instinctive care.
• "so will I comfort you" (כֵּן אָנֹכִי אֲנַחֶמְכֶם): This segment applies the ultimate standard of comfort directly to God. The "I" (אָנֹכִי) is emphatic, asserting divine authority and capacity to perfectly fulfill this tender promise. It conveys God's personal involvement and commitment to bringing solace that is unmatched by any human experience.
• "and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem" (וּבִירוּשָׁלַ‍ִם תְּנֻחָמוּ): This part anchors the promised comfort both geographically and eschatologically. Jerusalem, symbolizing the restored covenant community, becomes the stage for this divine action. The passive voice ("you shall be comforted") emphasizes the certain outcome: His people will receive this comfort fully and finally in His holy city, indicating a new era of peace and flourishing.

Isaiah 66 13 Bonus section

The comparison of God's comfort to that of a mother's, while unique in its explicit statement in this verse, resonates with broader biblical themes of God's tender and compassionate nature, often transcending gendered human descriptions. This maternal image emphasizes God's ability to heal deep wounds, to nurture, and to provide unconditional love and protection that can be felt in moments of profound vulnerability. It finds spiritual echoes in the New Testament concept of the Holy Spirit as the "Paraclete" (Comforter, Helper, Advocate in Greek), who is sent by Christ to dwell with believers and provide continuous solace, guidance, and strengthening in their spiritual journey. This promise also points to the ultimate eschatological fulfillment in the New Heavens and New Earth, specifically the New Jerusalem, where God will definitively wipe away every tear and His comforting presence will remove all pain and sorrow for eternity.

Isaiah 66 13 Commentary

Isaiah 66:13 beautifully culminates the prophetic vision with a promise of God's intimate, comprehensive comfort, drawing upon the most poignant human analogy: a mother's solace. This imagery transcends common paternal metaphors, highlighting the deep, intuitive, and unwavering empathy a mother offers her child in distress. God, as the supreme Comforter, pledges to meet the profound needs of His people, particularly after periods of judgment and suffering. This isn't mere alleviation but a restoration to deep peace and joy. The promise is specifically localized "in Jerusalem," signifying the renewed spiritual and physical dwelling place of God, a symbol of ultimate reconciliation and flourishing for the gathered remnant and those who cleave to Him. It foreshadows the glorious, final establishment of God's kingdom where all sorrow will be banished and divine comfort will reign supreme, bringing profound solace to those who mourned for Zion and trembled at His word.