As a mother comforts her sonThis phrase draws on the intimate and nurturing relationship between a mother and her child, highlighting God's tender care and compassion. In ancient Israel, the family unit was central, and the mother's role was crucial in providing emotional and physical support. This imagery is used to convey God's deep love and personal involvement with His people. The metaphor of God as a nurturing figure is also seen in other scriptures, such as
Psalm 131:2, where the psalmist describes his soul as being like a weaned child with its mother, indicating peace and contentment.
so will I comfort you
Here, God promises to provide the same level of comfort and reassurance to His people as a mother does to her child. This reflects God's commitment to His covenant with Israel, offering solace and restoration. The context ofIsaiah 66 is one of hope and renewal after judgment, where God reassures the faithful remnant of His presence and support. This promise of comfort is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus speaks of sending the Holy Spirit as the Comforter (John 14:16), indicating the ongoing presence of God with His people.
and you will be consoled over Jerusalem.
This phrase addresses the specific context of Jerusalem, which had experienced destruction and exile. The promise of consolation over Jerusalem signifies the restoration and renewal of the city, both physically and spiritually. Jerusalem holds a central place in biblical prophecy as the city of God, and its restoration is a recurring theme in the prophets. This consolation is not only for the physical city but also for the people of God, who are to find peace and hope in God's redemptive plan. The ultimate fulfillment of this promise is seen in the New Jerusalem described inRevelation 21, where God dwells with His people, wiping away every tear.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
IsaiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah's ministry spanned the reigns of several kings of Judah. He is known for his prophecies concerning both judgment and redemption.
2.
JerusalemThe capital city of Judah, Jerusalem holds significant spiritual and historical importance as the center of Jewish worship and the location of the Temple.
3.
GodThe speaker in this verse, God is portrayed as a comforting presence, akin to a nurturing mother.
4.
MotherUsed metaphorically to describe God's comforting nature, emphasizing tenderness and care.
5.
SonRepresents the people of Israel, who are recipients of God's comfort and consolation.
Teaching Points
God's Comfort is Personal and IntimateJust as a mother knows her child intimately, God knows us and provides comfort tailored to our needs.
Divine Comfort in Times of DistressIn moments of sorrow or difficulty, we can rely on God's promise to console us, much like a mother comforts her child.
The Role of Jerusalem in God's PlanJerusalem is not only a physical location but also a symbol of God's enduring promise and presence with His people.
The Maternal Aspect of God's NatureWhile God is often referred to in paternal terms, this verse highlights the nurturing and compassionate aspects of His character.
Hope and Restoration for God's PeopleThe promise of comfort over Jerusalem points to a future hope and restoration for God's people, encouraging us to trust in His plans.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Isaiah 66:13?
2.How does Isaiah 66:13 illustrate God's comforting nature like a mother's love?
3.What actions can we take to experience God's comfort as described here?
4.How does Isaiah 66:13 connect with Jesus' promise of peace in John 14:27?
5.In what ways can we reflect God's comforting nature to others daily?
6.How does understanding God's comfort in Isaiah 66:13 strengthen your faith journey?
7.How does Isaiah 66:13 reflect God's nature as a comforting parent?
8.What historical context influenced the message of Isaiah 66:13?
9.How does Isaiah 66:13 relate to the theme of divine comfort in the Bible?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 66?
11.Is the concept of a heavenly mother biblical?
12.What defines a godly mother?
13.Is there a concept of God as a Mother?
14.How does God comfort those who mourn?What Does Isaiah 66:13 Mean
As a mother comforts her sonThe opening picture is warm, familiar, and deeply personal.
• A mother’s embrace is instinctive, tender, and constant; it calms fear and dries tears (compareIsaiah 49:15 andHosea 11:3-4).
• Scripture regularly uses parental imagery to convey God’s character—seePsalm 103:13, where a father’s compassion mirrors the Lord’s.
• Paul adopts the same tone when he says, “We were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children” (1 Thessalonians 2:7).
By choosing a mother’s comfort, God highlights not raw strength but nurturing closeness, assuring us that His care is never distant or formal.
So will I comfort youThe comparison shifts from illustration to promise.
• The Lord Himself—not merely circumstances or human helpers—takes the role of Comforter (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 calls Him “the God of all comfort”).
• This comfort is comprehensive, addressing grief, fear, and loss (Psalm 23:4;John 14:16 where Jesus speaks of “another Helper,” the Spirit).
• It is also covenantal: because God’s word is sure, His comfort is guaranteed to all who belong to Him (Isaiah 51:3).
Just as a mother does not ration consolation, neither does God offer partial relief; He pledges full, ongoing restoration.
And you will be consoled over JerusalemThe promise lands in a specific place and time.
• Jerusalem had known siege, exile, and ruin; God declares those sorrows temporary (Isaiah 40:1-2; 66:10-14).
• The phrase points forward to the city’s physical renewal after captivity (Nehemiah 12:43 records great joy at the rebuilt walls).
• Ultimately it stretches to the messianic and eternal hope, when “the New Jerusalem” descends and “He will wipe away every tear” (Revelation 21:2-4).
• For believers today, Jerusalem stands as a sign that God finishes what He starts, transforming places of pain into centers of praise (Psalm 122:6-9).
summaryIsaiah 66:13 paints God’s comfort in three strokes: the tenderness of a mother, the direct promise of the Lord Himself, and the future healing of Jerusalem. Taken literally, the verse assures every child of God that His compassionate heart, personal involvement, and redemptive plan will turn mourning into everlasting joy.
(13)
One whom his mother comforteth . . .--The image of maternal love, with which the prophet's mind is full, is presented in yet another aspect. The love which Zion
gives,the love which her children receive from the nations, are both but shadows of the infinite tenderness of Jehovah. In this instance the object of the mother's love that comforts is not the child at the breast, but the full-grown man, returning, like the prodigal, to his home after long years of exile. The words are characteristic at once of the special tie which unites the son to the mother, almost more than to the father, in most Eastern nations, and, perhaps also, of the prophet's personal memories of his own mother's love.
Verse 13. -
As one; literally,
as a man. Israel is now looked upon as grown up, and receiving comfort from God himself in Jerusalem.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
As a motherאִמּ֖וֹ(’im·mōw)Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 517:A mother, )comforts her son,תְּנַחֲמֶ֑נּוּ(tə·na·ḥă·men·nū)Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5162:To sigh, breathe strongly, to be sorry, to pity, console, rue, to avengesoכֵּ֤ן(kên)Adverb
Strong's 3651:So -- thusIאָֽנֹכִי֙(’ā·nō·ḵî)Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595:Iwill comfort you,אֲנַ֣חֶמְכֶ֔ם(’ă·na·ḥem·ḵem)Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5162:To sigh, breathe strongly, to be sorry, to pity, console, rue, to avengeand you will be consoledתְּנֻחָֽמוּ׃(tə·nu·ḥā·mū)Verb - Pual - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5162:To sigh, breathe strongly, to be sorry, to pity, console, rue, to avengeover Jerusalem.וּבִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֖ם(ū·ḇî·rū·šā·lim)Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389:Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel
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OT Prophets: Isaiah 66:13 As one whom his mother comforts so (Isa Isi Is) 
