Isaiah 66:11 Meaning: God’s Satisfying Comfort Like a Mother
that you may nurse and be satisfied at the comforting breasts; that you may drink deeply, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.”
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.
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.
So that ye suck, and have been satisfied, From the breast of her consolations, So that ye wring out, and have delighted yourselves From the abundance of her honour.
because ye shall suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; because ye shall drink out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
Meaning in one sentence
Isaiah 66:11 meaning: God offers His people comfort as satisfying as a mother’s milk. Learn the depth of His consolation through this maternal image.
Context
This verse sits near the end of Isaiah, in a chapter that turns from judgment to glorious restoration. Jerusalem, once childless and mourning, suddenly gives birth to a whole nation. God calls everyone who loves her to rejoice with her, because they too will be nourished by her comfort. The image is deeply maternal: nursing, being satisfied, drinking deeply, delighting. But the source is God Himself, who promises to comfort His people like a mother (v.13). This is not just a return from exile; it points to the final comfort of God’s new creation.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight of this verse. Tanchum (consolation) comes from the same root as Isaiah 40:1: “Comfort, comfort my people.” This is not casual ease; it is divine comfort that replaces grief after judgment.
Ziz is a rare word translated “abundance” here. Some scholars think it means “udder” or “nipple,” parallel to “breast” earlier. Others picture milk spouting out in ray-like streams. Either way, it speaks of more than enough, a supply that keeps flowing.
Anog (delight) appears again in Psalm 37:4: “Delight yourself in the Lord.” Here it is intensified: to take exquisite pleasure. God does not just want you to be okay. He wants you to be fully, happily satisfied in His goodness.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions see this verse as a promise of spiritual nourishment. John Wesley (Methodist) wrote that “the gospel doctrine was their breasts of consolation.” Matthew Henry (Reformed) connected the image to the church’s enlargement and the comfort of God’s people. The Cambridge Bible (Anglican) notes the parallel with Isaiah 60:16, where Jerusalem’s children nurse from royal breasts. Adam Clarke (Methodist) discusses the textual difficulty of “ziz,” suggesting it means “stores” or abundance. All agree: the comfort flows from God and satisfies the soul.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this verse as a promise of material prosperity, assuming the abundance refers to wealth or ease. In fact, the word “glory” (kabod) here points to God’s presence and goodness, not earthly riches. The comfort comes from God’s own consolation, the same word used in Isaiah 40:1. This is a promise of deep spiritual satisfaction, not a comfortable life.
Living This Out
If you are mourning over your church, your community, or your own spiritual dryness, this verse invites you to receive God’s comfort like a nursing child. This week, instead of rushing past your sadness, come to the Lord quietly and expect to be filled. Let yourself linger over a passage of Scripture that speaks of His goodness. Let His promises sink in slowly. The image calls you not just to get by, but to be satisfied, even delighted.
Main takeaway: God’s comfort satisfies like mother’s milk and invites us to take deep, delighted satisfaction in His abundance.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
This verse says God’s comfort is like when a mommy feeds her baby. When you are sad, God gives you love that makes you feel full and happy.
For ages 9, 12
In Isaiah 66, God uses a picture of a baby nursing to show how much He wants to satisfy us. When you feel disappointed or hurt, remember that God wants to fill you with His comfort until you are completely happy. He doesn’t give just a little; He gives enough to make you delighted.
Questions People Ask
What does 'breasts of her consolations' mean in Isaiah 66:11?
It is a metaphor. Jerusalem is pictured as a mother whose breasts produce 'consolations' (tanchum). This word comes from the same root as Isaiah 40:1, 'Comfort, comfort my people.' The image shows that God's comfort nourishes His people as fully as a mother's milk nourishes her baby.
Who are the 'you' in Isaiah 66:11?
The 'you' refers back to 'all you who love Jerusalem' and 'all you who mourn over her' from verse 10. This includes the Jewish exiles who returned to rebuild Jerusalem and, by extension, all believers who love God's people and long for His comfort. The New Testament sees this fulfilled in the new Jerusalem (Galatians 4:26).
Does Isaiah 66:11 promise material prosperity?
Not primarily. While the verse uses words like 'satisfied' and 'abundance,' the context focuses on spiritual restoration and God's presence. The 'glory' (kabod) here points to the goodness of God Himself. The picture is about deep joy in relationship with God, not simply a comfortable life.
How does this verse connect to the new creation?
Isaiah 66 describes a new heaven and a new earth (vv.22-23). Verse 11 fits into that vision: God's people will enjoy perpetual comfort and satisfaction in the restored Jerusalem. It is a picture of the final state where God dwells with His people and wipes away every tear (Revelation 21:4).
Is the nursing imagery in Isaiah 66:11 meant literally?
No, it is a powerful metaphor. The surrounding verses (vv.12-13) make clear that God Himself is the one who comforts like a mother. The language is poetic, drawing on the intimacy and sufficiency of a mother feeding her child to describe how completely God meets our deepest needs.
For pastors & researchers
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