Isaiah 66:12

12 For why the Lord saith these things, Lo! I shall bow down on it, as a flood of peace, and as a flowing stream, the glory of heathen men, which ye shall suck; ye shall be borne at teats, and (when they shall take you) on (their) knees, they shall speak pleasantly to you. (For the Lord saith these things, Lo! I shall bring peace upon it, like a river, and the wealth of the heathen, like a flowing stream; and this ye shall suck when ye shall be carried at the breast, and when they shall take you upon their knees, and they shall speak pleasantly to you.)

Isaiah 66:12 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 66:12

For thus saith the Lord, behold, I will extend peace to her
like a river
As the river Euphrates, so the Targum; or as the Nile, which overflowed Egypt, and made it fruitful; or as any flowing river, large and spreading, continuing to flow, and brings blessings with it where it comes; and so denotes the abundance of this peace, the perpetuity of it, and its blessed effects. This respects not the first times of the Gospel; for though Christ the peacemaker came and made peace by his blood, and went and preached peace to Jews and Gentiles, and many enjoyed spiritual peace in believing, flowing from his blood and righteousness, yet there was very little outward peace to the churches of Christ; and when at any time had, did not last long: but, in the latter day, not only spiritual peace, which passeth all understanding, and joy unspeakable and full of glory, will be extended unto and possessed by the saints; but outward peace in great abundance, and of lasting continuance, with all kind of prosperity, temporal and spiritual, ( Psalms 72:7 ) ( Isaiah 2:4 ) ( 48:18 ) : and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream; like the Nile, that overflows; meaning either the vast number of converts, from among the Gentiles, that shall flow into the church, and especially many of their great men, princes, nobles, even kings and queens, who shall be nursing fathers and nursing mothers to her; see ( Isaiah 60:3 Isaiah 60:5 Isaiah 60:10 ) ( 49:23 ) , or their riches, which are the honour and glory they shall bring with them to the church in great abundance, and shall cheerfully and freely expend them in the service and worship of God, ( Isaiah 60:6 ) ( Psalms 72:10 ) so Kimchi interprets it of their wealth and substance: then shall ye suck;
the milk of the Gentiles, and the breasts of kings; that is, partake of their good things, ( Isaiah 60:16 ) or the church's breasts of consolation, the sincere milk of the word and ordinances, ( Isaiah 60:11 ) , this is spoken to the friends of Zion, and lovers of Jerusalem, newly converted persons, ( Isaiah 66:10 ) : ye shall be borne upon her sides,
or "side" ^F25; children being carried by parents or nurses on one side of them in their arms; it denotes the affectionate care and regard the church has to young converts, who are said to be nursed at her side, ( Isaiah 60:4 ) she supporting and supplying them with everything in her power, by means of the word and ordinances: and be dandled upon her knees:
as darling children are, who are taken into the lap, and played with, and are the delight, the exceeding great delight, of their parents; and where they delight to be, as the word

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 used signifies. All shows that young converts are and should be made much of, and tenderly used; the day of small things should not be despised, or the bruised reed broken, or the smoking flax quenched; but these lambs should be gathered into the arms, and carried in the bosom, like sucking children.
F25 (du le) "ad latus", Vitringa; "super latus", Calvin, Pagninus, Montanus.
F26 (wevevt Mykrb le) "super genua oblectabimini", Montanus; "delectabiliter fovebimini", Munster, Vitringa.

Isaiah 66:12 In-Context

10 Be ye glad with Jerusalem, and all ye that love that, make full out joy therein; all ye that mourn on that Jerusalem, make ye joy with it in joy; (Be ye happy with Jerusalem, and all ye who love that city, rejoice there; all ye who have mourned over Jerusalem, now make ye joy with it;)

11 that both ye suck, and be [ful]filled of the teats and comfort thereof (that ye may suck, and be fulfilled by the breasts that give comfort there), (and) that ye milk (out), and flow in delights, of all manner glory thereof.

12 For why the Lord saith these things, Lo! I shall bow down on it, as a flood of peace, and as a flowing stream, the glory of heathen men, which ye shall suck; ye shall be borne at teats, and (when they shall take you) on (their) knees, they shall speak pleasantly to you. (For the Lord saith these things, Lo! I shall bring peace upon it, like a river, and the wealth of the heathen, like a flowing stream; and this ye shall suck when ye shall be carried at the breast, and when they shall take you upon their knees, and they shall speak pleasantly to you.)

13 As if a mother speaketh fair to any child (Like when a mother speaketh softly to her child), so I shall comfort you, and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

14 Ye shall see, and your heart shall have joy, and your bones shall burgeon as an herb. And the hand of the Lord shall be known in his servants, and he shall have indignation to his enemies. (Ye shall see, and your heart shall have joy, and your bones shall burgeon like the herbs. And the hand, or the power, of the Lord shall be known, or shall be seen, among his servants, and he shall have anger toward his enemies.)