Isaiah 66:11

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 66:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 66

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11that 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.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breast of her consolations, &c.] This, according to our version, expresses the end of the church’s friends being called together to rejoice with her, that they might partake of her joys and comforts, delights and pleasures: but the words may be better rendered, either, according to Kimchi’s sense, “therefore shall ye suck”f1301, &c.; because ye have mourned for her, and because ye have rejoiced with her; or rather, as Noldiusf1302, “because ye suck”, &c.; partake of her privileges and ordinances, so give a reason why they should rejoice with her. “Breast” is put for “breasts”, as Jarchi observes; for as the church is represented as a woman, and as…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“suck-- (Isa 60:5, Isa 60:16; Isa 61:6; Isa 49:23). abundance--Hebrew, "the ray-like flow of her opulence," that is, with the milk spouting out from her full breasts (answering to the parallel, "breast of her consolations") in ray-like streams [GESENIUS].”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“That ye may suck - The same figure occurs in Isaiah 60:16; and substantidally in Isaiah 49:23. See the note at those places. That ye may milk out - The image is an obvious one. It means that they who sympathized with Zion would be nourished by the same truth, and comforted with the same sources of consolation. And be delighted with the abundance of her glory - Margin, ‘Brightness.’ Lowth renders this, ‘From her abundant stores.’ Noyes, ‘From the fullness of her glory.’ Jerome (the Vulgate), ‘And that you may abound with delights from every kind of her glory.’ The Septuagint, ‘That sucking ye may be nourished from the commencement’ (Thompson); ‘or the entrance of her glory’ (ἀπὸ εἰσόδου…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Consolations - The gospel doctrine was their breasts of consolation. Her glory - Christ was the glory of the people of Israel, though he was also a light to the Gentiles. Isaiah 66:12”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“ye may suck: Isa 60:5, Isa 60:16; Psa 36:8; Joe 3:18; Pe1 2:2 abundance: or, brightness Isaiah 66:12”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification