Isaiah 60:16

16 1You shall suck the milk of nations; you shall nurse at the breast of kings; and you shall know that 2I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, 3the Mighty One of Jacob.

Isaiah 60:16 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 60:16

Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles
Partake of their riches and wealth; so the Targum,

``and ye shall be satisfied with the substance of the people:''
or drink of the sincere milk of the word of the Gospel, which Gentiles have been favoured with for many ages; for this seems to have regard to Jewish converts, though not to them only, but as they, with the converted Gentiles, will make up one church state, and partake of the same privileges: and shall suck the breast of kings;
who shall now be converted in various places, come into the church, and be nursing fathers to it; help and assist the people of God with their riches to carry on divine worship in an honourable manner; and to protect and defend them with their power; see ( Psalms 72:9 Psalms 72:10 ) ( Isaiah 49:23 ) ( 60:11 ) . The Targum is,
``in the spoil of kings ye shall delight yourselves;''
and it may also design the breasts of consolation, the ordinances of the Gospel, such as Christian kings will suck, and Jews and Gentiles shall do the same, ( Isaiah 66:11 ) , and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer,
the mighty One of Jacob;
the Jews, being called, shall seek the Lord their God, the true Messiah, and shall look unto him by faith, whom they have pierced; shall know, own, and acknowledge him to be their Redeemer and Saviour; who must be fit and qualified for such an office and work, and equal to it, being the mighty One of Jacob, whom before they and their ancestors rejected and despised.

Isaiah 60:16 In-Context

14 The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending low to you, and all who despised you shall bow down at your feet; they shall call you the City of the LORD, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15 Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, with no one passing through, I will make you majestic forever, a joy from age to age.
16 You shall suck the milk of nations; you shall nurse at the breast of kings; and you shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
17 Instead of bronze I will bring gold, and instead of iron I will bring silver; instead of wood, bronze, instead of stones, iron. I will make your overseers peace and your taskmasters righteousness.
18 Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.

Cross References 3

  • 1. [Isaiah 49:23; Isaiah 66:11, 12]
  • 2. Isaiah 43:3; Isaiah 49:26; [Isaiah 47:4]
  • 3. Genesis 49:24; Psalms 132:2
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.