The Meaning of Isaiah 66:12 Explained

Isaiah 66:12

KJV: For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.

YLT: For thus said Jehovah: 'Lo, I am stretching out to her peace as a river, And as an overflowing stream the honour of nations, And ye have sucked, on the side ye are carried, And on the knees ye are dandled.

Darby: For thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing torrent; and ye shall suck, ye shall be carried upon the side, and be dandled upon the knees.

ASV: For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and ye shall suck thereof ; ye shall be borne upon the side, and shall be dandled upon the knees.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For thus saith  the LORD,  Behold, I will extend  peace  to her like a river,  and the glory  of the Gentiles  like a flowing  stream:  then shall ye suck,  ye shall be borne  upon [her] sides,  and be dandled  upon [her] knees. 

What does Isaiah 66:12 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord would extend peace (Heb. shalom) to Israel as a constantly flowing river. He would bring glory from the nations to her, glory that she had sought in the wrong ways in the past, and Israel would enjoy preferential treatment from Him.

Context Summary

Isaiah 66:1-14 - God's People Made A Blessing
The prophet forecasts the advent of a new day, when places and rites would be comparatively unimportant compared with the condition of the heart, Isaiah 66:1-4. The opening words were quoted by Stephen, when announcing the substitution of spiritual worship for the effete system which it superseded. See Acts 7:48-49. What is the outward rite to God, when the spirit has fled? It was all one to Him, whether a man killed a lamb in the Temple, or broke a dog's neck on his farm. His chosen home is not in ornate temples but in contrite hearts!
The blessedness of God's people is depicted in glowing words, Isaiah 66:5-14. God will appear, to the joy of His people and the recompense of their foes. Those times will be characterized by great revivals, and souls will be easily born into the heavenly kingdom. The Jew and Gentile will meet like confluent streams in one blessed channel. But, above all, we shall become aware of the mother-side in God's nature. As one whom his mother comforteth, Isaiah 66:13. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 66

1  The glorious God will be served in humble sincerity
5  He comforts the humble by showing the confusion of their enemies
7  With the marvelous growth
10  And the gracious benefits of the church
15  God's severe judgments against the wicked
18  The Gentiles shall have an holy church
24  And see the damnation of the wicked

What do the individual words in Isaiah 66:12 mean?

For thus says Yahweh behold I will extend to her like a river peace and like a stream flowing the glory of the Gentiles then you shall feed On [her] sides shall you be carried and on [her] knees be dandled
כִּֽי־ כֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה הִנְנִ֣י נֹטֶֽה־ אֵ֠לֶיהָ כְּנָהָ֨ר שָׁל֜וֹם וּכְנַ֧חַל שׁוֹטֵ֛ף כְּב֥וֹד גּוֹיִ֖ם וִֽינַקְתֶּ֑ם עַל־ צַד֙ תִּנָּשֵׂ֔אוּ וְעַל־ בִּרְכַּ֖יִם תְּשָׁעֳשָֽׁעוּ

כֹ֣ה ׀  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֣ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הִנְנִ֣י  behold 
Parse: Interjection, first person common singular
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
נֹטֶֽה־  I  will  extend 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
אֵ֠לֶיהָ  to  her 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
כְּנָהָ֨ר  like  a  river 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָהָר  
Sense: stream, river.
שָׁל֜וֹם  peace 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
וּכְנַ֧חַל  and  like  a  stream 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נַחַל 
Sense: torrent, valley, wadi, torrent-valley.
שׁוֹטֵ֛ף  flowing 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁטַף  
Sense: to wash, rinse, overflow, engulf, rinse or wash off.
כְּב֥וֹד  the  glory 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כָּבֹוד  
Sense: glory, honour, glorious, abundance.
גּוֹיִ֖ם  of  the  Gentiles 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
וִֽינַקְתֶּ֑ם  then  you  shall  feed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: יָנַק 
Sense: to suckle, nurse, suck.
צַד֙  [her]  sides 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: צַד 
Sense: side.
תִּנָּשֵׂ֔אוּ  shall  you  be  carried 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
וְעַל־  and  on 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
בִּרְכַּ֖יִם  [her]  knees 
Parse: Noun, fd
Root: בֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: knee.
תְּשָׁעֳשָֽׁעוּ  be  dandled 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁעַע 
Sense: to stroke, be smeared over, be blinded.