Isaiah61
World English Bible · Public Domain
1The Lord Yahweh’s Spirit is on me, because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to those who are bound,
2to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
3to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified.
4They will rebuild the old ruins. They will raise up the former devastated places. They will repair the ruined cities that have been devastated for many generations.
5Strangers will stand and feed your flocks. Foreigners will work your fields and your vineyards.
6But you will be called Yahweh’s priests. Men will call you the servants of our God. You will eat the wealth of the nations. You will boast in their glory.
7Instead of your shame you will have double. Instead of dishonor, they will rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they will possess double. Everlasting joy will be to them.
8“For I, Yahweh, love justice. I hate robbery and iniquity. I will give them their reward in truth and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9Their offspring will be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge them, that they are the offspring which Yahweh has blessed.”
10I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh! My soul will be joyful in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11For as the earth produces its bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring up, so the Lord Yahweh will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 61.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Messiah, his character and office. (1-3). His promises of the future blessedness of the church. (4-9). The church praises God for these mercies. (10,11).
vv1-3
The prophets had the Holy Spirit of God at times, teaching them what to say, and causing them to say it; but Christ had the Spirit always, without measure, to qualify him, as man, for the work to which he was appointed. The poor are commonly best disposed to receive the gospel, James 2:5; and it is only likely to profit us when received with meekness. To such as are poor in spirit, Christ preached good tidings when he said, Blessed are the meek. Christ's satisfaction is accepted. By the dominion of sin in us, we are bound under the power of Satan; but the Son is ready, by his Spirit, to make us free; and then we shall be free indeed. Sin and Satan were to be destroyed; and Christ triumphed over them on his cross. But the children of men, who stand out against these offers, shall be dealt with as enemies. Christ was to be a Comforter, and so he is; he is sent to comfort all who mourn, and who seek to him, and not to the world, for comfort. He will do all this for his people, that they may abound in the fruits of righteousness, as the branches of God's planting. Neither the mercy of God, the atonement of Christ, nor the gospel of grace, profit the self-sufficient and proud. They must be humbled, and led to know their own character and wants, by the Holy Spirit, that they may see and feel their need of the sinner's Friend and Saviour. His doctrine contains glad tidings indeed to those who are humbled before God.
vv4-9
Promises are here made to the Jews returned out of captivity, which extend to all those who, through grace, are delivered out of spiritual thraldom. An unholy soul is like a city that is broken down, and has no walls, like a house in ruins; but by the power of Christ's gospel and grace, it is fitted to be a habitation of God, through the Spirit. When, by the grace of God, we attain to holy indifference as to the affairs of this world; when, though our hands are employed about them, our hearts are not entangled with them, but preserved entire for God and his service, then the sons of the alien are our ploughmen and vine-dressers. Those whom He sets at liberty, he sets to work. His service is perfect freedom; it is the greatest honour. All believers are made, to our God, kings and priests; and always ought to conduct themselves as such. Those who have the Lord for their portion, have reason to say, that they have worthy portion, and to rejoice in it. In the fulness of heaven's joys we shall receive more than double for all our services and sufferings. God desires truth, and therefore hates all injustice. Nor will it justify any man's robbery to say, it was for burnt-offerings; and that robbery is most hateful which is under this pretence. Let the children of godly parents be such, that all may see the fruits of a good education; an answer to the prayers for them, in the fruit of God's blessing.
vv10-11
Those only shall be clothed with the garments of salvation hereafter, that are covered with the robe of Christ's righteousness now, and by the sanctification of the Spirit have God's image renewed upon them. These blessings shall spring forth for ages to come, as the fruits of the earth. So duly, so constantly, and with such advantage to mankind, will the Lord God cause righteousness and praise to spring forth. They shall spread far; the great salvation shall be published and proclaimed, to the ends of the earth. Let us be earnest in prayer, that the Lord God may cause that righteousness to spring forth among us, which constitutes the excellence and glory of the Christian profession.
Key Words
רוּחַ: wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
אֲדֹנָי: the Lord (used as a proper name of God only)
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
מָשַׁח: to rub with oil, i.e. to anoint; by implication, to consecrate; also to paint
בָּשַׂר: properly, to be fresh, i.e. full (rosy, (figuratively) cheerful); to announce (glad news)
עָנָו: depressed (figuratively), in mind (gentle) or circumstances (needy, especially saintly)
שָׁלַח: to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
חָבַשׁ: to wrap firmly (especially a turban, compress, or saddle); figuratively, to stop, to rule
קָרָא: to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
דְּרוֹר: freedom; hence, spontaneity of outflow, and so clear
Cross References
Isaiah 61Jesus directly reads and applies this prophecy to Himself as His messianic commission.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The language of proclaiming liberty to captives alludes to the Year of Jubilee.
Supported by JFB
Explains how God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power to heal the oppressed.
The Messiah is anointed by God with the oil of gladness above His companions.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jesus cites preaching the gospel to the poor/meek as evidence of His messiahship.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Paul quotes the 'acceptable time' or 'year' as fulfilled in the gospel dispensation.
Supported by JFB
Parallel description of God's people as His planting that He might be glorified.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The national calling of Israel to be a kingdom of priests unto God.
Supported by JFB
Believers are designated as a royal priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices.
Supported by JFB
Praise to Him who has made us kings and priests unto our God.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Links the year of redemption with the day of vengeance in the Messiah's work.
Supported by JFB
Bearing fruit as 'trees of righteousness' glorifies the Father.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the building of old waste places and raising up former desolations.
Supported by JFB
The promise of receiving double compensation from God for all past shame.
Supported by JFB
God promises to restore double blessings to the prisoners of hope.
Supported by JFB