Consolation of Israel

The Consolation of Israel was the messianic hope cherished by devout Jews during the Second Temple period — the expectation that God would send his promised deliverer to comfort and restore his suffering people. The phrase is explicitly attributed to Simeon in Luke 2:25, who is described as a righteous and devout man who was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and upon whom the Holy Spirit rested. When Simeon took the infant Jesus in his arms, he recognized in him the fulfillment of that hope, declaring the Nunc Dimittis — that his eyes had seen God's salvation prepared for all peoples.

The theological background lies in the comfort prophecies of Isaiah 40–66, which open: Comfort, comfort my people (Isaiah 40:1), and promise that God will console Zion and restore her fortunes (Isaiah 49:13). The coming one who would bring this consolation was understood as both servant and king — the one who would heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to captives, and bring the acceptable year of the LORD. Jesus's reading of Isaiah 61 in the Nazareth synagogue (Luke 4:18–21) claimed this consolation as fulfilled in his ministry.