Isaiah 61:1-6

The Year of Yahweh’s Favor

1 [The] Spirit of the Lord Yahweh [is] upon me, because Yahweh has anointed me, he has sent me to bring good news [to the] oppressed, to bind up {the brokenhearted}, to {proclaim} release to [the] captives and liberation to those who are bound,

2 to {proclaim} [the] year of Yahweh's favor, and our God's day of vengeance, to comfort all those in mourning,

3 to {give} for those in mourning in Zion, to give them a head wrap instead of ashes, [the] oil of joy instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit. And {they will be called} oaks of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, to show his glory.

4 And they shall build [the] ancient ruins, they shall erect [the] former deserted [places]. And they shall restore [the] {devastated cities}, [the] deserted [places] of {many generations}.

5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and {foreigners} [shall be] your farmers and vinedressers.

6 But you shall be called the priests of Yahweh, {you will be called} servers of our God. You shall eat [the] wealth of [the] nations, and you shall boast in their riches.

Isaiah 61:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 61

In this chapter both Christ and the church are introduced speaking, in their turns. It begins with the words of Christ, describing his work and office; his qualifications for it; the several parts and branches of it; and the ends to be answered by it; Isa 61:1-3, the reparation of the church; the feeding it by strangers; its being a holy priesthood; its enjoying the riches of the Gentiles; its having honour and joy, instead of shame and confusion; its prosperity in the work of the Lord, and the continuance of its spiritual offspring among the Gentiles, are prophesied of in Isa 61:4-9, and then the church is represented as rejoicing in the Lord, on account of her being clothed with his righteousness, so ornamental to her, Isa 61:10 and the chapter is concluded with a promise of her righteousness and glory appearing before all the nations of the world; of which the following chapter is an illustrious prophecy, Isa 61:11.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "those broken of heart"
• [b]. Literally "call"
• [c]. Literally "call"
• [d]. Literally "place"
• [e]. Literally "it will be called to them"
• [f]. Literally "cities of devastation"
• [g]. Literally "generation and generation"
• [h]. Hebrew "flock"
• [i]. Literally "sons of a foreign country"
• [j]. Or "And"
• [k]. Literally "it shall be said of you"