Isaiah 66:10
“Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her;
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse doesn't just invite celebration, it calls for a double kind of joy: ecstatic delight for those who already love Jerusalem, and a profound, tearful gladness for those who have been mourning its state. This highlights that God's restoration isn't just about future glory, but also about transforming deep sorrow into profound joy for those who have carried its pain.
The prophet concludes his message by shifting from judgment to a message of comfort and future glory for Jerusalem. After denouncing the hypocrisy and rejection of God's word by the nation, he turns to those who are faithful, promising them divine intervention and vindication. This verse invites all who love and grieve over Jerusalem's current state to anticipate and share in its future restoration and expansion.
Imagine the profound relief and happiness when a long period of suffering finally gives way to celebration. This verse invites us into that emotional space.
Isaiah 66:10 calls out to all who love Jerusalem, the symbolic heart of God's people. It’s a call to participate in her joy. The imagery here is deeply relational. Just as friends and neighbors share in the happiness of a new mother after childbirth, so too should those connected to Jerusalem celebrate her restoration.
But notice the beautiful duality: 'rejoice with her, all you who love her; rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her.' This isn't just for those who have only seen Jerusalem thrive. It’s especially for those who have wept over her struggles, who have felt the pain of her desolation. Their shared mourning now transforms into shared joy. This shows God's deep care for the emotional well-being of His people, inviting a full spectrum of experience into communal celebration.
What does true, lasting comfort look like after a season of deep distress? This passage paints a picture that goes beyond mere temporary relief.
The invitation to 'rejoice for joy' with Jerusalem isn't just about an emotion; it’s about receiving the source of that joy. The subsequent verses (though not in this specific passage) speak of 'sucking' and being 'satisfied with the breasts of her consolations' and delighted with 'the abundance of her glory.' This points to an inexhaustible wellspring of comfort and blessing flowing from Jerusalem, now restored.
This isn't just a feel-good moment; it’s a profound theological truth. God's restoration brings a peace and glory so abundant it's likened to a river. It’s a divine provision designed to satisfy the deepest needs of His people, transforming mourning into lasting gladness. This abundance isn’t just for Jerusalem alone; it’s meant to be shared, drawing others into her joyous experience.
Understand the original words
abal · Hebrew Verb
A state of deep sorrow, repentance, or grief, often associated with longing for God’s restoration of His people or the consequences of sin.
This passage speaks to the hopes of those who mourned Jerusalem's destruction and exile. It promises a future restoration so glorious that it will be a source of joy not only for loyal Judeans but also for the nations, highlighting God's ultimate plan for global redemption centered in His renewed people.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonian army, under Nebuchadnezzar II, conquers Jerusalem, destroys Solomon's Temple, and deports a significant portion of the population to Babylon.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great overthrows the Babylonian Empire, opening the way for the exiled Judeans to return to their homeland.
c. 538 BC
First Return of Exiles to Judah
Under the decree of Cyrus, the first wave of Jewish exiles returns to Jerusalem and begins the arduous task of rebuilding the Temple and the city.
c. 516 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
The rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem is finally dedicated, marking a significant moment of restoration, though it is far less grand than Solomon's original.
This passage echoes the invitation to rejoice with Jerusalem, promising God's presence and a future flourishing for Zion.
Psalm 102:13-14This psalm expresses a longing for Zion's restoration and speaks of God's favor and the servants of God taking pleasure in her stones, mirroring the sentiment of loving Jerusalem in Isaiah.
Luke 15:10This parable about the lost sheep highlights that there is 'joy in heaven over one sinner who repents,' reflecting the great joy in Jerusalem's flourishing mentioned in Isaiah.
Galatians 4:26-27Paul uses the metaphor of the heavenly Jerusalem being our mother and the barren woman rejoicing more than the one with many children, connecting to the idea of a renewed and joyful Jerusalem.
Romans 12:15This verse directly commands believers to 'Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep,' capturing the essence of the empathetic joy called for in Isaiah 66:10.
ellicottIsaiah 66:10: "Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:"
(10) Rejoice ye with Jerusalem . . . —The holy city is still thought of as a mother rejoicing in her new-born child; friends and neighbours ( i e., the nations friendly to Israel) who had shown pity for her sufferings are now invited to participate in her joy.
henryIsaiah 66:5-14: "Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed."
66:5-14 The prophet turns to those that trembled at God's word, to comfort and encourage them. The Lord will appear, to the joy of the humble believer, and to the confusion of hypocrites and persecutors. When the Spirit was poured out, and the gospel went forth fr…
The verse doesn't just invite celebration, it calls for a double kind of joy: ecstatic delight for those who already love Jerusalem, and a profound, tearful gladness for those who have been mourning its state. This highlights that God's restoration isn't just about future glory, but also about transforming deep sorrow into profound joy for those who have carried its pain.
The prophet concludes his message by shifting from judgment to a message of comfort and future glory for Jerusalem. After denouncing the hypocrisy and rejection of God's word by the nation, he turns to those who are faithful, promising them divine intervention and vindication. This verse invites all who love and grieve over Jerusalem's current state to anticipate and share in its future restoration and expansion.
The prophet concludes his message by shifting from judgment to a message of comfort and future glory for Jerusalem. After denouncing the hypocrisy and rejection of God's word by the nation, he turns to those who are faithful, promising them divine intervention and vindication. This verse invites all who love and grieve over Jerusalem's current state to anticipate and share in its future restoration and expansion.
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c. 458 BC - 432 BC
Ezra and Nehemiah's Reforms
The prophets Ezra and Nehemiah lead further waves of returnees and implement religious and social reforms aimed at restoring covenant faithfulness.
c. 540-530 BC— this verse
Isaiah's Prophecies of Future Restoration
During and after the Babylonian exile, prophets like Isaiah offer visions of a future, glorious restoration of Jerusalem, surpassing its past splendor.
"“Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her;" — The verse doesn't just invite celebration, it calls for a double kind of joy: ecstatic delight for those who already love Jerusalem, and a profound, tearful gladness for those who have been mourning…
