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Isaiah 61

Isaiah 61 announces God’s restoration of Zion, joining freedom and comfort with justice, renewed service, and praise before the nations.

An unnamed, Spirit-anointed speaker announces good news to the humble and freedom to captives, with comfort for those mourning in Zion. Ruined cities will be rebuilt, and a shamed people will receive honor and serve as YHWH’s priests. YHWH declares his love of justice and promises an everlasting covenant. A closing voice, whose identity is unstated, rejoices in God’s salvation. The chapter ends with God causing righteousness and praise to grow before the nations.

griefinjustice and angerpraise and worship
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1The Lord GOD’s Spirit is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to those who are bound,
2to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
3to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.
4They will rebuild the old ruins. They will raise up the former devastated places. They will repair the ruined cities that have been devastated for many generations.
5Strangers will stand and feed your flocks. Foreigners will work your fields and your vineyards.
6But you will be called the LORD’s priests. Men will call you the servants of our God. You will eat the wealth of the nations. You will boast in their glory.
7Instead of your shame you will have double. Instead of dishonor, they will rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they will possess double. Everlasting joy will be to them.
8“For I, the LORD, love justice. I hate robbery and iniquity. I will give them their reward in truth and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9Their offspring will be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge them, that they are the offspring which the LORD has blessed.”
10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD! My soul will be joyful in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11For as the earth produces its bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
Isaiah 61:1The opening verse grounds the messenger’s work in God’s Spirit and commission, directing good news toward the humble and bound.
Isaiah 61:10The closing song pictures salvation and righteousness as clothing God provides, making his gift the reason for rejoicing.
Isaiah 61:3The exchange of mourning for praise leads to lasting righteousness, with the restored people pictured as God’s planting for his glory.
Where this chapter reaches

Luke records Jesus reading the opening proclamation of Isaiah 61 and declaring its fulfillment in the hearing of his audience. The priestly identity promised here connects with 1 Peter’s description of God’s people, while Revelation shares the imagery of garments and a bride.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

Which image of restoration stands out to you, and what makes it stand out?

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How does God’s declared love of justice shape your reading of the comfort promised to Zion?

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Questions people ask about Isaiah 61

Who is speaking in Isaiah 61?

The opening speaker is an unnamed person anointed by YHWH’s Spirit and sent to announce restoration. Luke identifies Jesus with this mission when he reads the passage and declares its fulfillment. In verses 8–9, YHWH speaks. The identity of the rejoicing voice in verses 10–11 is unstated.

What does the garland for ashes mean in Isaiah 61:3?

Ashes mark mourning, while a garland is a festive head covering. The verse places this exchange beside oil of joy and a garment of praise, picturing the reversal of Zion’s grief. Its final image, trees planted by YHWH, shows that restoration includes enduring righteousness that brings him glory.

What are the year of YHWH’s favor and the day of vengeance?

These phrases announce God’s gracious restoration and his judgment. They appear together within the messenger’s commission, followed by comfort for mourners. The chapter does not give calendar dates or explain how long either period lasts. God’s stated love of justice and hatred of robbery and iniquity help explain their connection.

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Isaiah · 66 chapters
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What the Bible says about grief →What the Bible says about anger →What the Bible says about worship →

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).