This verse draws on ideas found in 49.23 and 26.

You shall suck the milk of nations, you shall suck the breast of kings: These two synonymous parallel lines use the imagery of “sucking” to express the idea of draining the wealth from foreign nations The verb suck refers to draining the liquid from something. The noun milk is a figure for the wealth and resources of the foreign nations. You shall suck the breast of kings mocks the leaders of these nations. Sucking kings’ breasts is absurd, especially since the Hebrew term rendered breast refers to the female breast. Translators may wish to abandon the highly figurative language of these two lines and express their underlying meaning instead; for example, Contemporary English Version has “You will drain the wealth of kings and foreign nations.” However, most versions seem to imply that this figurative language suggests special care given to Judah by the nations. Good News Translation states this explicitly. New International Version is similar with “You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts.” But we prefer the interpretation of “draining wealth” rather than that of “taking care.”

And you shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob: See the comments on 49.26.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• You will suck the riches from the nations,
and suck the breasts of kings.
Then you will know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior and Redeemer,
the Mighty One of Jacob.

• You will drain the wealth from the nations,
sucking dry their kings.
Then you will recognize that I, the LORD, am the one who saves and redeems you,
the one who is Israel’s Mighty God.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .