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:

ISAIAH 66:10KJV
Know the Bible

Isaiah 66:10 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 66:10 mean?

Isaiah 66:10 calls people who care about Jerusalem to share in the city’s joy. Those who have grieved over Jerusalem are invited to celebrate because the passage pictures a change in her condition.

The verse speaks of Jerusalem as a woman whose joy others can share. After the picture of Zion giving birth in verses 7–9, God’s message turns to those who love the city and have mourned over her.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 66:10

  • “rejoice” — שׂוּשׂ (sus): This word can mean to be joyful or exult. Paired with “joy” in the phrase “rejoice for joy,” it gives special force to the call to celebrate.
  • “mourn” — אָבַל (aval): This word can describe grieving or going through a period of mourning. Here it points to the sorrow Jerusalem’s friends have felt for the city.

Why Isaiah 66:10 matters

  • The verse makes Jerusalem’s joy a shared occasion. Its repeated “with her” joins the city’s happiness to the happiness of those who care about her.
  • Those who mourned are included in the celebration. The call addresses “all ye that mourn for her,” bringing their earlier sorrow into view without treating it as a reason to stay apart.
  • Jerusalem is pictured as a mother in the surrounding passage. Verse 11 continues the image by describing those who rejoice as children comforted and fed by her.

Where else these words appear

“joy” Hebrew H4885 · used in 16 verses

  • Job 8:19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
  • Isaiah 32:13 Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city:
  • Jeremiah 49:25 How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!

“rejoice” Hebrew H7797 · used in 24 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:63 And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.
  • Psalms 68:3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
  • Isaiah 65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

“mourn” Hebrew H56 · used in 38 verses

  • Genesis 37:34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
  • Nehemiah 1:4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
  • Jeremiah 23:10 For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.

“glad” Hebrew H1523 · used in 44 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 16:31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.
  • Psalms 89:16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
  • Isaiah 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.