Isaiah 61

The 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,

to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

to 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.

They 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.

Strangers will stand and feed your flocks. Foreigners will work your fields and your vineyards.

But 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.

Instead 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.

“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.

Their 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.”

I 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.

For 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.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter presents a prophetic declaration of divine anointing and mission, centered on the Servant who brings comfort, restoration, and salvation to God’s people. Set in the context of post-exilic hope, it articulates a vision of spiritual renewal, physical rebuilding, and covenantal faithfulness, culminating in exuberant praise for God’s redemptive work.

Flow.

The Servant speaks, commissioned by the Spirit to proclaim good news, liberty, and divine favor to the afflicted (vv. 1–2a).
The message shifts to comfort and transformation: mourning is replaced with joy, and God’s people are restored as righteous plantings (vv. 2b–3).
A promise of national rebuilding follows, with foreigners serving in supportive roles while God’s people are elevated as priests of the Lord (vv. 4–6).
The passage closes with promises of covenantal blessing, honor, and universal recognition, leading to a personal confession of joy in God’s salvation (vv. 7–11).

Connections. Following chapter 60, which describes the glory of Zion illuminated by the Lord and the nations streaming to her light, chapter 61 reveals the divine agent who brings that restoration about—the anointed Servant. It answers how the promised glory will come: through a Spirit-led mission of comfort and renewal. The rejoicing of the afflicted here flows directly from the dawning light of God’s presence in the prior chapter, and sets the stage for chapter 62, which calls for persistent intercession until Zion’s vindication shines forth, grounding future hope in the saving work just proclaimed.

What it teaches. The chapter reveals the work of the Messiah as one anointed by the Spirit to bring spiritual healing, liberation, and covenant fulfillment (WCF 8.6), reflecting His priestly and kingly offices in restoring both people and land. The transformation of mourning into joy and shame into double honor illustrates God’s gracious reversal of judgment according to His covenant promises (LC 193; HC LD 30). The "year of the LORD’s favor" alludes to the Jubilee, symbolizing gospel liberty (WCF 7.3), while the garments of salvation and robe of righteousness signify the imputed righteousness of Christ (WCF 11.1). The final image of righteousness springing up like planted growth reflects God’s sovereign work in causing His saving purposes to flourish before the nations (; cf. WCF 6.3).

Apply. The anointed Servant’s mission becomes the ground of lasting joy and visible transformation in those who are clothed with His salvation.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.