Isaiah 61

Isaiah 60–62 forms a unit celebrating the glory of a restored Zion. After Isaiah 60 describes the light and glory shining upon Zion, chapter 61 opens in the voice of an "I" who has been sent to announce the news of that restoration.

Structure

• Verses 1–3: The speaker, upon whom the Spirit of the Lord GOD rests, is anointed. He brings good tidings to the poor and liberty to the captives, and he proclaims the acceptable year of the LORD and the day of vengeance. To those who mourn in Zion he gives a garland instead of ashes.
• Verses 4–7: The long-desolate cities are rebuilt. While strangers and foreigners tend the flocks and work the fields, "ye" are called the priests of the LORD. Instead of shame, the people receive double.
• Verses 8–9: The LORD, who loves justice, makes an everlasting covenant. The people's offspring are acknowledged among the nations as a seed the LORD has blessed.
• Verses 10–11: The speaker rejoices at being clothed with the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness, likening that joy to a bridegroom and a bride. As the earth brings forth its bud, so the LORD causes righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Key Verses

• Isaiah 61:1: "The LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek." Isaiah 61:1–3 serves as the chapter's declaration of mission.
• Isaiah 61:6: "But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD." This verse calls the entire restored people priests.
• Isaiah 61:10: "For he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation." This is a well-known image that portrays salvation as being clothed.

Figures and Places

• The speaker ("I"): One who has received anointing and been sent; he is not named.
• Zion: A name for Jerusalem. It appears as the place where those who mourn are comforted.
• Strangers and foreigners: People of the nations who serve the restored people.

Points for Reflection

• Who is the speaker? Some identify him as the prophet himself, others as the same figure as the Suffering Servant of chapters 40–55, and still others as the Messiah who is to come. Many critical scholars treat chapters 56–66 as a separate unit, so-called "Third Isaiah." Traditionally, the entire Book of Isaiah is regarded as the work of the prophet Isaiah.
• Connection to the New Testament: In Luke 4, Jesus reads verses 1–2 of this chapter in the synagogue at Nazareth and says, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Luke 4:21). He reads only as far as "the acceptable year of the Lord" and stops before "the day of vengeance." Some preachers interpret this as distinguishing between the first and second comings of Christ.
• The acceptable year: A widely known interpretation links this expression to the Jubilee regulations of Leviticus 25.
• A priestly people: Verse 6 recalls the "kingdom of priests" of Exodus 19:5–6. Protestants sometimes read it in connection with the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers.
• Translation: In Korean Bibles, the phrase in verse 2 that the older Korean Revised Version renders "day of vindication" appears in the New Korean Revised Version as "day of vengeance," and the older version's term for "the Spirit of the LORD" in verse 1 is replaced in the New Korean Revised Version by the more common Korean word for "Spirit."

In the Korean Church

• Together with Luke 4, this chapter is frequently cited in sermons on the church's service and mission to the poor and the oppressed.
• The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) assigns a portion of this chapter as the Old Testament reading for the Third Sunday of Advent in Year B, so churches that follow the lectionary read it during that season.