Isaiah 61:1-8

Exaltation of the Afflicted

1 The 1Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To 2bring good news to the 3afflicted; He has sent me to 4bind up the brokenhearted *, To 5proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;
2 To 6proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the 7day of vengeance of our God; To 8comfort all who mourn,
3 To 9grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The 10oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called 11oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
4 Then they will 12rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations; And they will repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.
5 13Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks, And foreigners * will be your farmers and your vinedressers.
6 But you will be called the 14priests of the LORD; You will be spoken of as 15ministers of our God. You will eat the 16wealth of nations, And in their riches you will boast.
7 Instead of your 17shame you will have a 18double portion, And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, 19Everlasting joy will be theirs.
8 For I, the LORD, 20love justice, I hate robbery in the burnt offering; And I will faithfully give them their recompense And make an 21everlasting covenant with them.

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Isaiah 61:1-8 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.

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Cross References 21

  • 1. Isaiah 11:2; Isaiah 48:16; Luke 4:18
  • 2. Matthew 11:5; Luke 7:22
  • 3. Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 29:19; Isaiah 32:7
  • 4. Isaiah 57:15
  • 5. Isaiah 42:7; Isaiah 49:9
  • 6. Isaiah 49:8; Isaiah 60:10
  • 7. Isaiah 2:12; Isaiah 13:6; Isaiah 34:2, 8
  • 8. Isaiah 57:18; Jeremiah 31:13; Matthew 5:4
  • 9. Isaiah 60:20
  • 10. Psalms 23:5; Psalms 45:7; Psalms 104:15
  • 11. Isaiah 60:21; Jeremiah 17:7, 8
  • 12. Isaiah 49:8; Isaiah 58:12; Ezekiel 36:33; Amos 9:14
  • 13. Isaiah 14:2; Isaiah 60:10
  • 14. Isaiah 66:21
  • 15. Isaiah 56:6
  • 16. Isaiah 60:5, 11
  • 17. Isaiah 54:4
  • 18. Isaiah 40:2; Zechariah 9:12
  • 19. Psalms 16:11
  • 20. Isaiah 5:16; Isaiah 28:17; Isaiah 30:18
  • 21. Genesis 17:7; Psalms 105:10; Isaiah 55:3; Jeremiah 32:40

Footnotes 7

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