Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 66:12
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.
12. I will extend (cf. Gen 39:21) peace like a river ] See ch. Isa 48:18.
the glory of the Gentiles ] the wealth of nations. Cf. ch. Isa 60:5, Isa 61:6.
borne upon the side (see on Isa 60:4) the knees ] So R.V. The insertion of “her” is misleading. As in Isa 60:4 (Isa 49:22) the children of Zion are represented as carried and nursed by the Gentiles.
dandled ] the passive of the verb rendered “play” in ch. Isa 11:8; “delight” in ch. Isa 66:7 (R.V. marg.) is a cognate noun.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
12 14. A promise of prosperity to Jerusalem and her inhabitants.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For thus saith the Lord – This verse contains a promise of the conversion of the Gentiles, and the fact that what constituted their glory would be brought and consecrated to the church of God.
I will extend – The word rendered, I will extend ( natah) means properly to stretch out, as the hand or a measure; then to spread out or expand, as a tent is spread out, to which it is often applied Gen 12:8; Gen 26:5; or to the heavens spread out over our heads like a tent or a curtain Isa 40:22. Here it may mean either that peace would be spread out over the country like the Nile or Euphrates spread out over a vast region in an inundation; or it may mean, as Gesenius supposes, I will turn peace upon her like a river; that is, as a stream is turned in its course. To me it seems that the former is the correct interpretation; and that the idea is, that God would bring prosperity upon Zion like a broad majestic river overflowing all its banks, and producing abundant fertility.
Peace – A general word denoting prosperity of all kinds – a favorite word with Isaiah to describe the future happiness of the church of God (see Isa 9:6-7; Isa 26:12; Isa 32:17; Isa 45:7; Isa 48:18; Isa 52:7; Isa 54:13; Isa 55:12; Isa 57:19).
Like a river – That is, says Lowth like the Euphrates. So the Chaldee interprets it. But there is no evidence that the prophet refers particularly to the Euphrates. The image is that suggested above – of a river that flows full, and spreads over the banks – at once an image of sublimity, and a striking emblem of great prosperity. This same image occurs in Isa 48:18. See the note at that place.
And the glory of the Gentiles – (See the notes at Isa 60:5, Isa 60:11).
Like a flowing stream – Like the Nile, says Vitringa. But the word nachal is not commonly applied to a river like the Nile; but to a torrent, a brook, a rivulet – either as flowing from a perennial fountain, or more commonly a stream running in a valley that is swelled often by rain, or by the melting of snows in the mountain (see Relands Palestine, chapter xlv.) Such is the idea here. The peace or prosperity of Zion would be like such a swollen stream – a stream overflowing ( shoteph) its banks.
Then shall ye suck – Isa 66:11.
Ye shall be borne upon her sides – See this phrase explained in the notes at Isa 60:4.
And be dandled upon her knees – As a child is by its nurse or mother. The idea is, that the tenderest care would be exercised for the church; the same care which an affectionate mother evinces for her children. The insertion of the word her here by our translators weakens the sense. The meaning is, not that they should be borne upon the sides and dandled upon the knees of Zion or of the church; but that God would manifest to them the feelings of a parent, and treat them with the tenderness which a mother evinces for her children. As a mother nurses her children at her side (compare the notes at Isa 60:4), so would God tenderly provide for the church; as she affectionately dandles her children on her knees, so tenderly and affectionately would he regard Zion.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Isa 66:12
For thus saith the Lord, Behold I will extend peace to her like a river
The Church in peace and prosperity
The members of the Church can then revel in peace and wealth, like a child on its mothers breast; the world belongs entirely to the Church, for the Church belongs entirely to God.
(F. Delitzsch, D. D.)
The peace of the river
The illustrations which Grace borrows from Nature are strikingly appropriate. The history of this appropriateness is that Nature and Grace proceed from one and the same Hand, are children of one and the same Parent. You have in the text two objects compared and put side by side–the peace of Gods Church and a river. The quietness of a river is perhaps the most obvious ground of the comparison. The peace of Gods Church resembles a river–
I. IN ITS SOURCE. The source of a river is hidden. It wells up from the fountains of the great deep beneath the earth. And even the spot where it first rises is often inaccessible, being situated in the heart of tangled brushwood, or beneath the perilous vault of an ice-cave. The source of peace to Gods children is God Himself. And God is a God who hides Himself–a God who is apprehended only by those into whose hearts the light of the glorious Gospel has shined. And the spot, too, whence the peace of Gods children takes its rise lies not open to the scrutiny of mans eye, or the passage of mans footstep. That spot is the heart, the inmost spirit. Accordingly, men can see that peace only in its effects. And there is yet another sense in which the source of the Christian peace is hidden. The events, the great historical facts, which lie at the root of it–the means by which God ministers it–are by-gone and accomplished. The great central facts of the death and resurrection of Jesus are now, if I may say so, buried and out of sight, and centuries are piled upon them, like rocks and icebergs on the soot where some mighty river takes its rise. But these events, nevertheless, are Gods instruments, whereby He exerts a mighty influence on many a heart even at the present day.
II. IN THE METHOD OF ITS NOURISHMENT. It is true that rivers are fed perpetually by their springs. But an external nourishment is also supplied to them by occasional rains and land floods. The river of the Christians peace–I do not say flows from, but is augmented by contrition. Strangeparadox this, that what seems to destroy peace should promote it! But so it is.
III. IN ITS COURSE.
1. A river in its course is quietly progressive. Its quietness is not the quietness of stagnation, but of advancement. The Christians peace is a peace of progress in grace. It is not a peace which leaves him where it found him, but a peace which bears him on silently towards the bosom of his God.
2. It is exceeding deep. And the peace of God is said to pass all understanding. This may be understood in two ways. The nature and character of this peace is unintelligible to those who have not tasted it, and by those who have tasted it its depth is unfathomable.
3. It is fertilizing and enriching. The country smiles with plenty along its banks. It is also the great medium of commerce and traffic, whereby men are made rich and their estate and substance is increased. It is a means of communication for those who live on its margin with the ocean and with one another. The peace of God is at the root of all holy fruitfulness. Many people accept the truth that the fruit of righteousness is peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever, while they discard the truth–equally important and Scriptural–that peace is the root, as well as the fruit of righteousness, and that the Lord Jesus Christ promises to give rest to the weary and heavy laden, before they can and in order that they may, submit themselves to His yoke. At the root of the Christians love is peace–at the root of his joy is peace–at the root of his long-suffering, gentleness and goodness is peace–at the root of his meekness and temperance is peace. Peace it is which, like the broad bosom of a fair river, quietly undulates along and ministers nourishment to the roots of all these graces, nor is it possible that the leaf of any of them should be green, were the streams of this river diverted another way. This peace is enriching as well as fertilizing, because it opens into the ocean; it is the medium of communicating with God and with the saints of God. It is on the broad bosom of this peace–even because it is through Jesus Christ alone that our prayers float towards our heavenly Father. And I need not tell you what a peculiarly rich traffic is the traffic with heaven. Then, again, this peace of God is enriching, in that it is a medium of communication between us and those who have obtained like precious faith with ourselves. It is a pleasant river, on whose margin both I and my brother dwell–and which conveys from me to him sympathies, and prayers, and outgoings of the heart, and brings back the same from him to me. And when my prayers and missives are sent forth on their way towards heaven, my brothers meet and join them–and both perform the voyage side by side–and no sooner shall both return than he shall send me notice of the treasure he hath acquired, and demand on his part an account of mine. Such is in a figure that doctrine which we profess, when we say/ I believe in the communion of saints.
4. It is clean and cleansing. And we need not to be told that the peace of Gods Church is a clean and holy (because a living) peace–clear as crystal and perfectly alien from all defilement. The slightest allowed filthiness of flesh or spirit is abhorrent to the nature of this peace. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. And as this peace is clean, so also it makes clean. As soon as it enters into the conscience, it cleanses it:5. It bears burdens. Barges and ships of many tons weight float on its bosom down to the ocean. It is one of the most delightful characteristics of the Christians peace that its buoyancy supports many and grievous burdens. Into Gods bosom they are carried in the exercise of confession and faithful repentance; in His breast they must be lodged, if we desire them to be finally obliterated and annulled. But surely, if it were not for His peace within, we could neither have courage to lodge them there, nor strength to support the burden of them ourselves.
IV. AT ITS MOUTH It expands. For the last few miles of its progress, the distance between its banks becomes wider, till at length it pours itself with a full flood into the ocean. So it is as a matter of fact in the Christians experience. The peace of the true believer is enlarged as he draws near to the heavenly goal, and accordingly the country of his soul is more abundantly fertilized. Who shall say how wide its flood may not extend, when it pours itself into His bosom in eternity, from whom it issued forth in time? (Dean Goulburn, D. C. L.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 12. Like a river, and – like a flowing stream – “Like the great river, and like the overflowing stream”] That is, the Euphrates, (it ought to have been pointed cannahar, ut fluvius ille, as the river,) and the Nile.
Then shall ye suck – “And ye shall suck at the breast”] These two words al shad, at the breast, seem to have been omitted in the present text, from their likeness to the two words following; al tsad, at the side. A very probable conjecture of Houbigant. The Chaldee and Vulgate have omitted the two latter words instead of the two former. See Clarke on Isa 60:4.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That this promise respects the times of the Messias seems plain, not only from the consideration that no history giveth us any account of any great or long peace or prosperity the Jews had before that time, nor indeed then, if we understand it not of a spiritual gospel
peace, which Christ preached to them that were nigh as well as to those afar off, Eph 2:17. It also appears from the mention of the glory of the Gentiles as a flowing stream, which can hardly be understood of any thing but Christ, and the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles. But I leave it to the issues of Providence to expound and determine whether the prophecy of this text doth not relate to a further conversion and calling of the Jews than hath yet been seen. When Christ was revealed to the Jews, not those only of the Gentiles, but those of the Jews who belonged to Gods election sucked gospel doctrine; the Gentiles were borne upon the sides of Jerusalem, and dandled upon her knees, as first hearing from the apostles, who were some of the daughters of Jerusalem, members of the Jewish church, the glad tidings of salvation.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. extendI will turnpeace (prosperity) upon her, like a river turned in its course[GESENIUS]. Or, “Iwill spread peace over her as an overflowingriver” [BARNES], (Isa48:18).
flowing streamas theNile by its overflow fertilizes the whole of Egypt.
borne upon . . . sides(Seeon Isa 60:4).
her . . . herIf “ye”refers to the Jews, translate, “ye shall be borne upon theirsides . . . their knees,” namely, those of the Gentiles,as in Isa 49:22; and as “suck”(Isa 60:16) refers to the Jewssucking the Gentile wealth. However, English Versiongives a good sense: The Jews, and all who love Jehovah (Isa66:10), “shall suck, and be borne” by her as amother.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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, Ps 72:7: 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 Isa 60:3, 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, Isa 60:6 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, Isa 60:16 or the church’s breasts of consolation, the sincere milk of the word and ordinances,
Isa 60:11, this is spoken to the friends of Zion, and lovers of Jerusalem, newly converted persons, Isa 66:10:
ye shall be borne upon her sides, or “side” y; 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, Isa 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 z 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.
y “ad latus”, Vitringa; “super latus”, Calvin, Pagninus, Montanus. z “super genua oblectabimini”, Montanus; “delectabiliter fovebimini”, Munster, Vitringa.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The reason is now given, why the church of the future promises such abundant enjoyment to those who have suffered with her. “For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I guide peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like an overflowing stream, that ye may suck; ye shall be borne upon arms, and fondled upon knees.” Jehovah guides or turns (Gen 39:21) peace to Jerusalem, the greatest of all inward blessings, and at the same time the most glorious of all the outward blessings, that are in the possession of the Gentile world ( kabhod as in Isa 56:6), both of them in the richest superabundance (“like a river,” as in Isa 48:18), so that ( perf. cons.) “ye may be able to suck yourselves full according to your heart’s desire” (Isa 60:16). The figure of the new maternity of Zion, and of her children as quasimodogeniti , is still preserved. The members of the church can then revel in peace and wealth, like a child at its mother’s breasts. The world is now altogether in the possession of the church, because the church is altogether God’s. The allusion to the heathen leads on to the thought, which was already expressed in a similar manner in Isa 49:22 and Isa 60:4: “on the side (arm or shoulder) will ye be carried, and fondled ( , pulpal of the pilpel , Isa 11:8) upon the knees,” viz., by the heathen, who will vie with one another in the effort to show you tenderness and care (Isa 49:23).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
12. I cause peace to flow on her like a river. He continues his metaphor, and compares the children of God to infants, that are carried in the arms, and warmed in the bosom of their mothers, who even play with them. And in order that he may express more strongly his affection toward us, he compares himself to a mother, whose love, as we have formerly seen, ( page 30,) exceeds every other by a wide interval. (Isa 49:15.) The Lord wishes to be to us in the room of a mother, that, instead of the annoyances, reproaches, distresses, and anxieties, which we have endured, he may treat us gently, and, as it were, fondle us in his bosom. By the word “peace” he means prosperity.
And the glory of the Gentiles as an overflowing torrent. The word “glory” contains a repetition, by which he denotes every kind of riches, so that nothing is wanting to full and perfect peace; for, since the Gentiles had formerly lived luxuriously, and had enjoyed a vast abundance of everything desirable, he affirms that all riches, and everything that belongs to a happy life, shall be possessed by believers, as the rivers run into the sea. By “constant flowing” he denotes continuance; for, since God is an inexhaustible fountain, his peace differs widely from the peace of the world, which quickly passes away and is dried up. Whenever therefore we behold the sad and melancholy condition of the Church, let us remember that these promises relate to us not less than to that people. Seeing that the Lord has rivers of peace which he wishes to cause to flow into his Church, let us not despair even amidst the fiercest wars; but, in our distresses and straits, let us cheer our hearts and rejoice. When he takes pleasure in us as infants, and not as men of mature age, we ought to acknowledge our condition, that we may be satisfied with such consolations. And indeed it is a token of remarkable condescension that he thus bears with our weakness.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(12) Ye shall be borne upon her sides.Better, upon the side, or upon the knee, or hip. (See Note on Isa. 60:4.) The outward figure is now presented as in an inverted form, to express a new spiritual fact. The children of Zion will find a maternal tenderness and care at the hands of the heathen nations, who are to be as their nursing mothers. (Comp. 60:16.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
12. Peace like a river Her unbroken spiritual prosperity is to be as an ever-full and sometimes an overflowing stream, like the Nile, or the Euphrates, each in its sphere the chief of oriental rivers. The words, I will extend peace to her like, etc., lead some to render the phrase: “I will extend, or cause to spread over her, an overwhelming prosperity (‘peace,’ a synonyme for prosperity) like an overflowing stream.” In this way the figure is changed somewhat more than the Hebrew can admit, except tropically; but the idea seems more forcible, and equally beautiful.
Shall ye suck These words resume the figure of the preceding verse, denoting Zion-Jerusalem as the figuratively original source of revealed knowledge respecting the great salvation to be shared by all. The objects of address in this speech are the sons of Zion, to be gathered out of all nations.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 66:12. Beheld, &c. Behold, I will diffuse peace over her like the river [Euphrates], and the glory of the Gentiles as the flowing Nile: Ye shall suck, ye shall be carried at her side, &c.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Isa 66:12 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.
Ver. 12. Behold, I will extend peace to her. ] This and the following promises are the delicious milk spoken of before – scil., pax copiosa et perennis, peace as a river, as the waters cover the sea; joy unspeakable and full of glory, God’s fatherly care, motherly affection, &c., all that heart can wish, or need require.
Like a river.
Like a flowing stream.
“ Qui cunctis amnibus extat
Utilior. ” – Claudian.
Ye shall be borne upon her side. ] Humanissime et suavissime tractabimini, ye shall be borne in the Church’s arms, laid to her breasts, set in her lap, dandled on her knees, &c. Hac similitudine nihil fieri potest suavius. See Num 11:12 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gentiles = nations.
then shall ye suck. The promises of Isa 49:22 and Isa 60:4 are again renewed.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I will: Isa 9:7, Isa 48:18, Isa 60:5, Psa 72:3-7
the glory: Isa 66:19, Isa 66:20, Isa 45:14, Isa 49:19-23, Isa 54:3, Isa 60:4-14
then: Isa 66:11, Isa 60:16
ye shall: Isa 60:4
Reciprocal: Deu 33:19 – suck of 1Ch 22:9 – I will give peace Job 3:12 – the knees Psa 128:6 – peace Psa 147:14 – He maketh peace Son 8:1 – sucked Isa 11:10 – to it shall Isa 19:24 – shall Isa 32:17 – the work Isa 49:18 – all these Isa 60:3 – the Gentiles Isa 61:6 – ye shall eat Isa 62:2 – the Gentiles Jer 33:6 – and will Luk 21:24 – until Act 15:3 – they caused 2Co 1:4 – comforteth Phi 3:1 – rejoice 2Th 3:16 – give Rev 21:24 – the nations Rev 22:1 – A pure
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
THE RIVER OF PEACE
Behold I will ertend peace to her like a river.
Isa 66:12
The peace of Gods Church resembles a river
I. In its source.
II. In its course.A river is (a) quietly progressive; (b) exceeding deep; (c) fertilizing and enriching; (d) clean and cleansing.
Dean Goulburn.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Isa 66:12-13. For, behold, I will extend Or am extending, peace to her That is, all good; like a river That runs in a constant stream, still increasing till it is swallowed up in the ocean. The gospel brings with it, wherever it is received in its power, peace, which proceeds forward like a river, supplying the souls of believers with all good, and making them fruitful as a river doth the lands through which it passes: such peace as the springs of this worlds comforts cannot send forth, and the dams of the worlds troubles cannot stop or drive back; such a river of peace as will carry us to the ocean of boundless and endless bliss. And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream Gentile converts shall come pouring into the church, and shall swell the river of her peace and prosperity; for they shall bring their glory with them; their wealth and honour, their power and interest shall all be devoted to the Lord and employed for the good of the church. Then shall ye suck Ye Jews also. When you see such crowding for a share in those comforts, you shall be the more solicitous, and the more earnest and diligent to secure your share; not through a fear lest you should have the less, because others come in such multitudes to partake of them, for Christ has enough for all, and enough for each; but their zeal shall provoke you to a holy jealousy. Ye shall be borne upon her sides Compare chap. 60:4, where see the note. Those that are joined to the church should be treated thus affectionately. The great Shepherd gathers the lambs in his arms, and carries them in his bosom; and so must the under shepherds, that young converts may not be discouraged. As one whom his mother comforteth, &c. That is, in the most tender and compassionate way. So will I comfort you I will not only use rational arguments to comfort you, such as a prudent father uses toward his child in distress, but I will manifest toward you such tender affections and compassions, as a loving mother feels toward her afflicted infant. And ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem In the favours bestowed on the church, which you shall partake of; and in the thanksgivings offered by the church, which you shall concur with.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
66:12 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend {m} peace to her like a river, and the glory of the {n} Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye be nursed, ye shall be {o} borne upon [her] sides, and be dandled upon [her] knees.
(m) I will give her happiness and prosperity in great abundance.
(n) Read Isa 60:16 .
(o) You will be cherished as her dearly beloved children.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
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.