Isaiah 61

Chapter Overview

What happens in Isaiah 61

The anointed one declares his mission: to bring good news to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, free the captives, and proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. This is the passage Jesus read aloud in the synagogue at Nazareth and declared fulfilled in himself. God promises beauty instead of ashes, joy instead of mourning, and praise instead of despair.

Scripture

The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon Me

Study note

These verses describe the mission of the anointed one. 'The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me' indicates divine calling and empowerment. The mission includes preaching good news to the poor, healing the brokenhearted, announcing freedom for captives and prisoners, proclaiming the year of the Lord's favor and the day of God's justice, and comforting all who mourn. In Luke 4, Jesus stood up in the synagogue in Nazareth, read this very passage aloud, and then said, 'Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.' The 'year of the Lord's favor' may point to the Year of Jubilee, when debts were canceled and slaves were freed. The anointed one transforms grief into beauty, mourning into joy, and heaviness into praise. Those who receive this transformation are called 'trees of righteousness,' planted by the Lord for his glory.

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn. To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3 To comfort those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Rebuilding and Restoration

Study note

The restored people will rebuild the ancient ruins and repair cities that have been destroyed for generations. Foreigners will tend their flocks and work their fields and vineyards. Israel will be called priests of the Lord and ministers of God. Instead of their former shame, they will receive a double portion of blessing and everlasting joy. God loves justice and hates dishonest offerings. He will make an everlasting covenant with them, and their descendants will be recognized by all nations as a people whom the Lord has blessed.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places that were wrecked long ago. They will repair the destroyed cities that have been sitting empty for generations. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

5 Foreigners will step up to tend your flocks, and people from other countries will plow your fields and look after your vineyards. And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

6 But you will be called priests of the Lord. People will call you servants of our God. You will enjoy the riches of nations and take pride in their wealth. But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

7 Instead of shame, you will receive a double share of blessings. Instead of disgrace, you will celebrate your inheritance. You will possess twice as much in your land, and joy that lasts forever will be yours. For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

8 "For I, the Lord, love justice. I hate robbery and dishonest offerings. I will faithfully reward my people and make a promise to them that will last forever." For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 Their descendants will be famous among the nations, and their children will be known among all peoples. Everyone who sees them will recognize that they are the people the Lord has blessed. And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.

A Song of Praise

Study note

The chapter closes with a joyful song of praise. The speaker celebrates being clothed with the clothing of salvation and wrapped in the robe of righteousness, like a bridegroom decorated with a garland and a bride adorned with jewels. Just as the earth brings up new growth and a garden causes seeds to sprout, so the Lord God will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. This is a picture of unstoppable, God-driven renewal and blessing.

10 I overflow with joy because of the Lord! My whole being celebrates because of my God! He has dressed me in the clothing of salvation and wrapped me in the robe of righteousness — like a groom wearing a magnificent garland and a bride sparkling with her jewels. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

11 The earth makes plants push up through the soil. A garden makes seeds sprout. In the same way, the Lord God will make what is right spring up. Every nation will see it. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Key Themes

Themes in Isaiah 61

The anointed one's mission to the broken and captiveThe year of the Lord's favor proclaimedBeauty for ashes, joy for mourningThe redeemed as trees of righteousness

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

Isaiah 61:1-2 Luke 4:18-21

Jesus reads this passage in the Nazareth synagogue and declares, 'Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing,' identifying himself as the anointed one sent to bring good news, heal the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty.

Isaiah 61:1 Matthew 11:5

When John the Baptist's disciples ask if Jesus is the expected one, Jesus points to his fulfillment of these very signs: the poor hear good news, the blind see, and the captives are freed.

Apply This Today

Living Isaiah 61

This is the passage Jesus chose to announce His ministry, and He stopped reading mid-sentence, omitting 'the day of vengeance.' In His first coming, Jesus proclaimed the year of favor; the day of vengeance awaits His return. His mission is to transform: beauty for ashes, gladness for mourning, praise for despair. Whatever wreckage sin has left in your life, the Anointed One has come to make it beautiful.

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