Nursing Men?

Q: I was just wondering if you could tell me of any Bible quotes that speak of men lactating to feed their babies in times of stress?

A: There are no quotes about this being done physically. However, there are some places where nursing symbolizes bodily or spiritual sustenance. Moses compared himself to a nurse (Numbers 11:12) who didn’t ask for the job of feeding the children of Israel in the Wilderness. Of course, it was actually the Lord who was their “nurse,” as we see, for example, in Moses’ words in Deuteronomy 32:13-14.

Likewise, Paul speaks of himself and those who went with him as being gentle among the people, “like a nurse taking care of her children (1 Thessalonians 2:7).” Isaiah 60:16 talks of the restored Israel sucking the breast of Gentiles and of kings, a sign that even the foreign powers would be contributing to the welfare of God’s people.

Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version™, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles.

Send email to Ask the Pastor.

Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book What Do Lutherans Believe.