Isaiah 61:5-6

5 1Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;
6 2but you shall be called the priests of the LORD; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; 3you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast.

Isaiah 61:5-6 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.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Isaiah 14:2; [Isaiah 60:10]
  • 2. Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9; [Joel 1:9]
  • 3. Isaiah 60:5, 11, 16
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.