1The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon Me; because Jehovah has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2to proclaim the acceptable year of Jehovah and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the mantle of praise for the spirit of heaviness; so that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that He might be glorified. 4And they shall rebuild the old wastes, they shall raise up what was formerly desolated. And they shall repair the waste cities, what lay desolate for many generations. 5And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. 6But you shall be named, The Priests of Jehovah; and they shall call you, Ministers of our God. You shall eat the riches of the nations, and you shall revel in their glory. 7Instead of your shame you shall have double; and instead of reproach they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their own land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs. 8For I, Jehovah, love justice; I hate stolen things for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the people; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed Jehovah has blessed. 10I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garment of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness like a bridegroom adorns himself with ornaments, and like a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11For as the earth brings forth its bud, and as the garden causes that which is sown to grow; so the Lord Jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 MESSIAH'S OFFICES: RESTORATION OF ISRAEL. (
Isa 61:1-
Isa 61:11)
is upon me; because . . . hath anointed me--quoted by Jesus as His credentials in preaching (
Luke 4:18-
Luke 4:21). The Spirit is upon Me in preaching, because Jehovah hath anointed Me from the womb (
Luke 1:35), and at baptism, with the Spirit "without measure," and permanently "abiding" on Me (
Isa 11:2;
John 1:32;
John 3:34;
Ps 45:7; with which compare
1Kgs 1:39-40;
1Kgs 19:16;
Exod 29:7). "Anointed" as Messiah, Prophet, Priest, and King.
good tidings--as the word "gospel" means.
the meek--rather, "the poor," as
Luke 4:18 has it; that is, those afflicted with calamity, poor in circumstances and in spirit (
Matt 11:5).
proclaim liberty-- (
John 8:31-
John 8:36). Language drawn from the deliverance of the Babylonian captives, to describe the deliverance from sin and death (
Heb 2:15); also from the "liberty proclaimed" to all bond-servants in the year of jubilee (
Isa 61:2;
Lev 25:10;
Jer 34:8-
Jer 34:9).
opening of the prison--The Hebrew rather is, "the most complete opening," namely, of the eyes to them that are bound, that is, deliverance from prison, for captives are as it were blind in the darkness of prison (
Isa 14:17;
Isa 35:5;
Isa 42:7) [EWALD]. So
Luke 4:18 and the Septuagint interpret it;
Luke 4:18, under inspiration, adds to this, for the fuller explanation of the single clause in the Hebrew, "to set at liberty them that are bruised"; thus expressing the double "opening" implied; namely, that of the eyes (
John 9:39), and that of the prison (
Rom 6:18;
Rom 7:24-
Rom 7:25 Heb 2:15). His miracles were acted parables.
2 acceptable year--the year of jubilee on which "liberty was proclaimed to the captives" (
Isa 61:1 2Cor 6:2).
day of vengeance--The "acceptable time of grace" is a "year"; the time of "vengeance" but "a day" (so
Isa 34:8;
Isa 63:4;
Mal 4:1). Jesus (
Luke 4:20-
Luke 4:21) "closed the book" before this clause; for the interval from His first to His second coming is "the acceptable year"; the day of vengeance" will not be till He comes again (
2Thess 1:7-9).
our God--The saints call Him "our God"; for He cometh to "avenge" them (
Rev 6:10;
Rev 19:2).
all that mourn--The "all" seems to include the spiritual Israelite mourners, as well as the literal, who are in
Isa 61:3 called "them that mourn in Zion," and to whom
Isa 57:18 refers.
3 To appoint . . . to give--The double verb, with the one and the same accusative, imparts glowing vehemence to the style.
beauty for ashes--There is a play on the sound and meaning of the Hebrew words, peer, epher, literally, "ornamental headdress" or tiara (
Ezek 24:17), worn in times of joy, instead of a headdress of "ashes," cast on the head in mourning (
2Sam 13:19).
oil of joy--Perfumed ointment was poured on the guests at joyous feasts (
Ps 23:5;
Ps 45:7-
Ps 45:8;
Amos 6:6). On occasions of grief its use was laid aside (
2Sam 14:2).
garment of praise--bright-colored garments, indicative of thankfulness, instead of those that indicate despondency, as sackcloth (
John 16:20).
trees of righteousness--Hebrew, terebinth trees; symbolical of men strong in righteousness, instead of being, as heretofore, bowed down as a reed with sin and calamity (
Isa 1:29-
Isa 1:30;
Isa 42:3;
1Kgs 14:15;
Ps 1:3;
Ps 92:12-
Ps 92:14;
Jer 17:8).
planting of . . . Lord--(See on
Isa 60:21).
that he might be glorified-- (
John 15:8).
4 old wastes--Jerusalem and the cities of Judah which long lay in ruins (see on
Isa 58:12).
5 stand--shall wait on you as servants (
Isa 14:1-
Isa 14:2;
Isa 60:10).
6 But ye--as contrasted with the strangers. Ye shall have no need to attend to your flocks and lands: "strangers" will do that for you; your exclusive business will be the service of Jehovah as His "priests" (
Exod 19:6, which remains yet to be realized; compare as to the spiritual Israel,
Isa 66:21;
1Pet 2:5,
1Pet 2:9;
Rev 1:6;
Rev 5:10).
Ministers-- (
Ezek 44:11).
eat . . . riches of . . . Gentiles-- (
Isa 60:5-
Isa 60:11).
in their glory . . . boast yourselves--rather, "in their splendor ye shall be substituted in their stead"; ye shall substitute yourselves [MAURER].
7 double--Instead of your past share, ye shall have not merely as much, but "double" as much reward (
Isa 40:2;
Zech 9:12; compare the third clause in this verse).
confusion--rather, "humiliation," or "contumely."
rejoice--They shall celebrate with jubilation their portion [MAURER]. Transition from the second to the third person.
in their land--marking the reference to literal Israel, not to the Church at large.
everlasting joy-- (
Isa 35:10).
8 judgment--justice, which requires that I should restore My people, and give them double in compensation for their sufferings.
robbery for burnt offering--rather, from a different Hebrew root, the spoil of iniquity [HORSLEY]. So in
Job 5:6. Hating, as I do, the rapine, combined with iniquity, perpetrated on My people by their enemies, I will vindicate Israel.
direct . . . work in truth--rather, "I will give them the reward of their work" (compare
Isa 40:10, Margin;
Isa 49:4, Margin;
Isa 62:11, Margin).
9 known--honorably; shall be illustrious (
Ps 67:2).
people--rather, "peoples."
seed . . . blessed-- (
Isa 65:23).
10 Zion (
Isa 61:3) gives thanks for God's returning favor (compare
Luke 1:46-
Luke 1:47;
Hab 3:18).
salvation . . . righteousness--inseparably connected together. The "robe" is a loose mantle thrown over the other parts of the dress (
Ps 132:9,
Ps 132:16;
Ps 149:4;
Rev 21:2;
Rev 19:8).
decketh himself with ornaments--rather "maketh himself a priestly headdress," that is, a magnificent headdress, such as was worn by the high priest, namely, a miter and a plate, or crown of gold worn in front of it [AQUILA, &c.]; appropriate to the "kingdom of priests," dedicated to the offering of spiritual sacrifices to God continually (
Exod 19:6;
Rev 5:10;
Rev 20:6).
jewels--rather, "ornaments" in general [BARNES].
11 (
Isa 45:8,
Isa 55:10-
Isa 55:11;
Ps 72:3;
Ps 85:11).
bud--the tender shoots.
praise-- (
Isa 60:18;
Isa 62:7).