The Year of the Lord's Favor and Joyful Restoration
Isaiah 61:1-11
Isa.61.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- רוח: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- עלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- יען: CONJ
- משח: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אתי: PRON,1,sg
- לבשר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ענוים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- שלחני: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- לחבש: VERB,qal,inf
- לנשברי: PREP+ADJ,m,pl,abs
- לב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לקרא: VERB,qal,infc
- לשבוים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- דרור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולאסורים: CONJ+PREP+ADJ,m,pl,abs
- פקח: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- קוח: VERB,qal,inf
Parallels
- Luke 4:18-19 (quotation): Jesus reads Isaiah 61:1–2 in the Nazareth synagogue and applies the passage to himself: 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me...' (direct quotation and application).
- Isaiah 11:2 (verbal): Both verses describe the Spirit of the LORD resting/on someone (messianic figure); Isaiah 11:2 lists the Spirit's attributes that empower the coming leader, paralleling the Spirit-driven mission in 61:1.
- Isaiah 42:1-4 (allusion): The 'servant' motif—God's anointed upheld by the Spirit, sent to bring justice and restoration—echoes Isaiah 61's portrayal of an anointed agent sent to heal and liberate.
- Isaiah 58:6 (thematic): Isaiah 58 emphasizes 'loosening the bonds' and undoing oppression — a close thematic parallel to 61:1's proclamation of freedom for captives and release for the oppressed.
- Luke 7:22 (thematic): In reporting Jesus' works to John the Baptist (healings, liberation, good news to the poor), Luke 7:22 frames Jesus' ministry as the fulfillment of Isaiah's promises embodied in 61:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me— to bring good news to the poor; 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 Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to those who are bound,
Isa.61.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לקרא: VERB,qal,infc
- שנת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- רצון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ליהוה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויום: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נקם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאלהינו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+SUFF,1,pl
- לנחם: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- כל: DET
- אבלים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Luke 4:18-19 (quotation): Jesus reads Isaiah 61:1–2 in the Nazareth synagogue, applying the proclamation of 'the year of the Lord’s favor' (and in some texts the related lines) to his ministry — a direct New Testament citation of Isaiah 61.
- Isaiah 63:4 (verbal): Uses the same motif and near-verbatim language about 'the day of vengeance' and divine recompense, echoing Isaiah 61:2's emphasis on God’s vindication.
- Isaiah 34:8 (verbal): Speaks of 'the day of the LORD’s vengeance' and 'the year of recompense,' closely paralleling the paired phrases in Isaiah 61:2 (year/day; favor/vengeance).
- Jeremiah 46:10 (thematic): Declares 'a day of the Lord God of hosts' as a day of vengeance — thematically aligned with Isaiah 61:2’s announcement of divine recompense against enemies.
Alternative generated candidates
- to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;
- to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;
Isa.61.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לשום: VERB,qal,inf
- לאבלי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- ציון: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- לתת: VERB,qal,inf
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- פאר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תחת: PREP
- אפר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שמן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ששון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תחת: PREP
- אבל: CONJ
- מעטה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תהלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תחת: PREP
- רוח: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כהה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- וקרא: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- אילי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- הצדק: NOUN,m,sg,def
- מטע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- להתפאר: VERB,hitpael,inf
Parallels
- Luke 4:18-19 (quotation): Jesus reads Isaiah 61 and applies its mission to himself—direct quotation/allusion to the liberty-and-comfort program that includes the reversal motifs of 61:3 (mourning to joy, vindication).
- Psalm 30:11-12 (verbal): Speaks of God turning mourning into dancing and removing sackcloth for gladness—close verbal and thematic parallel to 'ששון תחת אבל' and 'מעטה תהלה' in Isa 61:3.
- Isaiah 60:21 (structural): Promises God's people as the 'branch/planting' of the LORD and that he will be glorified—parallels Isa 61:3's 'מטע יהוה להתפאר' and the language of being established in righteousness for God's glory.
- Isaiah 62:3 (thematic): Describes Zion as a 'crown of beauty' and 'royal diadem'—echoes the replacement of ashes with splendour/'פאר תחת אפר' and the vindication and exaltation of the people.
- Jeremiah 23:6 (thematic): Uses the language of divine righteousness ('The LORD is our righteousness'), resonating with Isa 61:3's designation of the restored as 'אילי/אֵלֵי־הַצְּדָקָה' (figures of righteousness) and the theme of communal vindication.
Alternative generated candidates
- to grant to those who mourn in Zion— beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit— that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.
- to give those who mourn in Zion a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, a robe of praise instead of a faint spirit—so that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.
Isa.61.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ובנו: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- חרבות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- עולם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שממות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ראשנים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- יקוממו: VERB,hiph,impf,3,m,pl
- וחדשו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ערי: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- חרב: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שממות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- דור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ודור: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 58:12 (verbal): Uses very similar language about rebuilding ancient ruins and raising up the foundations of many generations; close verbal and thematic parallel to the promise of restoration.
- Isaiah 51:3 (thematic): Speaks of the LORD comforting Zion and transforming her wastes into Eden and restoring the ruins of Jerusalem—similar imagery of divine restoration of ruined places.
- Ezekiel 36:8-11 (structural): God promises to bring the Israelites back, repopulate the land, and rebuild ruined cities—a structural parallel in prophecy about national restoration and urban renewal.
- Zechariah 8:4-8 (thematic): Foretells people living again in the streets and rebuilt cities as God returns his people—echoes the renewal and habitation theme of Isaiah 61:4.
- Jeremiah 30:18 (thematic): Promises that the LORD will build and restore, raising up and repairing ruins—another prophetic assurance of renewal across generations.
Alternative generated candidates
- They shall rebuild the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.
- They shall rebuild the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall renew the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.
Isa.61.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועמדו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- זרים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ורעו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- צאנכם: NOUN,m,sg,suff
- ובני: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- נכר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אכריכם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+2mp
- וכרמיכם: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs+ps2mp
Parallels
- Isaiah 14:1 (thematic): Promises that the LORD will have compassion on Israel and that 'strangers shall be joined with them' — similar motif of foreigners becoming attached to and serving Israel in the restored order.
- Isaiah 49:23 (thematic): Speaks of kings and nations bowing down and becoming servants to Israel; parallels the image of Gentiles serving Israel (shepherding flocks, plowing, vinedressing).
- Ruth 2:2 (thematic): A foreign woman (Ruth) works in an Israelite field and is welcomed/protected by an Israelite landowner — a concrete instance of foreigners laboring within Israel's agrarian economy, echoing the vocational service in Isa 61:5.
- Zechariah 8:23 (thematic): Foretells that ten men of different nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying 'Let us go with you' — reflects the reversal where nations seek out and attach themselves to Israel, similar to foreigners serving Israel in Isa 61:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- Strangers shall stand and shepherd your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers.
- Strangers shall stand and shepherd your flocks; foreigners shall till your fields and dress your vineyards.
Isa.61.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואתם: CONJ+PRON,2,pl
- כהני: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- תקראו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- משרתי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- אלהינו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:1,pl
- יאמר: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- חיל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גוים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- תאכלו: VERB,qal,impf,2,mp
- ובכבודם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,pl
- תתימרו: VERB,hitpael,impf,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Exodus 19:6 (thematic): Israel is designated a priestly people ('a kingdom of priests, a holy nation'), providing the background concept of the whole people serving as priests to YHWH.
- Isaiah 60:5 (verbal): Speaks of 'the wealth of the nations' coming to Israel and their rejoicing — a close verbal and thematic echo within Isaiah of nations' riches bestowed on God's people.
- 1 Peter 2:9 (allusion): Applies the identity 'royal priesthood' to believers, echoing the Israelite/servant-priest motif of Isaiah 61 and Exodus 19 in a Christian context.
- Revelation 1:6 (quotation): Declares that Christ 'has made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father,' explicitly echoing the priestly identity language applied to God's people.
- Revelation 5:10 (quotation): Speaks of believers being made 'a kingdom and priests' who will 'reign on the earth,' paralleling Isaiah's promise of honor, service, and sharing in nations' wealth.
Alternative generated candidates
- But you shall be called priests of the LORD; they shall name you ministers of our God. You shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast.
- But you shall be called priests of the LORD; you shall be named ministers of our God. You shall eat the riches of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast.
Isa.61.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- תחת: PREP
- בשתכם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,pl
- משנה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וכלמה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ירנו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- חלקם: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- לכן: ADV
- בארצם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def,poss:3mp
- משנה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יירשו: VERB,qal,impf,3,mp
- שמחת: NOUN,f,sg,cstr
- עולם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תהיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,f,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Isaiah 61:1-3 (structural): Immediate context: the chapter frames restoration language (comfort, reward, a 'double' portion and everlasting joy); v.7 is part of this program of consolation and vindication.
- Isaiah 35:10 (verbal): Contains the phrase 'everlasting joy' and the theme of the redeemed returning with singing—close verbal and thematic parallel to v.7's 'everlasting joy' for the restored.
- Zechariah 9:12 (verbal): Speaks of restoring 'double' to the prisoners of hope—a direct verbal echo of Isaiah 61:7's promise of receiving a double portion.
- Jeremiah 31:13 (thematic): Promises turning mourning into joy and gladness for God's people—the same reversal of shame to joy and inheritance found in Isaiah 61:7.
- Psalm 126:5-6 (thematic): Images of sowing in tears and reaping with joy reflect the motif of reversal from sorrow to lasting rejoicing present in Isaiah 61:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- For your shame you shall have a double portion, and for dishonor they shall rejoice at their lot; therefore they shall possess a double portion in their land, everlasting joy shall be theirs.
- For your shame you shall have a double portion, and for humiliation they shall shout for joy; therefore in their land they shall possess a double share, everlasting joy shall be theirs.
Isa.61.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אהב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- משפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שנא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- גזל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בעולה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ונתתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- פעלתם: NOUN,f,pl,abs+3mp
- באמת: ADV
- וברית: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עולם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אכרות: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Psalm 33:5 (verbal): Direct language parallels—God 'loves righteousness and justice,' echoing Isa 61:8's 'I the LORD love justice.' Both affirm divine love for justice as a character trait.
- Psalm 37:28 (verbal): Affirms that the LORD loves justice and will not abandon his faithful ones; resonates with Isa 61:8's link between God's love of justice and his faithful dealing with the righteous (reward/covenant).
- Micah 6:8 (thematic): Summarizes what God requires—'to do justice, and to love kindness'—matching Isaiah's emphasis on God's love of justice and opposition to wrongdoing.
- Amos 5:24 (thematic): Calls for justice to flow like water rather than empty ritual; thematically parallels Isaiah's denunciation of robbery and insistence on true justice and faithful recompense.
- Exodus 34:6-7 (allusion): God's covenantal character—steadfast love, justice, and faithfulness—is prominent here and underlies Isa 61:8's promise to give recompense faithfully and to establish an everlasting covenant.
Alternative generated candidates
- For I the LORD love justice; I hate robbery and wrong. I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make with them an everlasting covenant.
- For I the LORD love justice and hate robbery and wrong; I will give them their recompense faithfully, and I will make with them an everlasting covenant.
Isa.61.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ונודע: VERB,niphal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- בגוים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- זרעם: NOUN,m,sg,abs,PRON,3,pl
- וצאצאיהם: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs+3mp
- בתוך: PREP
- העמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- כל: DET
- ראיהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3mp
- יכירום: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl+3mp
- כי: CONJ
- הם: PRON,personal,3,m,pl
- זרע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ברך: VERB,qal,inf,NA,NA,NA,NA
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 61:6-7 (structural): Immediate context: promises restoration, honor, and that God's people will possess double and be established as a priestly/servant people—prepares the claim that their offspring will be known among the nations.
- Isaiah 54:3 (thematic): Speaks of expansion and the nations' inheritance of Israel's offspring—similar theme of descendants and nations recognizing/receiving God's people.
- Genesis 22:18 (thematic): God's pledge that 'in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed' links the idea of a blessed seed whose status extends and is known among the nations.
- Zechariah 8:23 (thematic): Foretells foreigners recognizing and clinging to an Israelite because 'God is with you,' parallel to nations acknowledging God's blessed seed.
- Psalm 87:4 (verbal): Speaks of peoples saying 'This one was born there' about Zion's citizens—echoes the motif of being known and acknowledged among the nations.
Alternative generated candidates
- Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them—that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.
- Their descendants shall be known among the nations, their offspring among the peoples; all who see them will acknowledge them: “This is the seed blessed by the LORD.”
Isa.61.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שוש: VERB,qal,impf,1,m,sg
- אשיש: VERB,qal,impf,1,m,sg
- ביהוה: PREP+PN,sg
- תגל: VERB,qal,impf,2,f,sg
- נפשי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1cs
- באלהי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,cstr
- כי: CONJ
- הלבישני: VERB,hiphil,perf,3,m,sg
- בגדי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- ישע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מעיל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- צדקה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יעטני: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- כחתן: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יכהן: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- פאר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וככלה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תעדה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- כליה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Zechariah 3:3-5 (verbal): The priest Joshua is stripped of filthy garments and clothed in clean robes—direct clothing imagery of removal of uncleanness and bestowal of clean garments, paralleling 'clothed with garments of salvation.'
- Revelation 19:7-8 (thematic): The marriage of the Lamb and the bride clothed in fine linen, bright and clean (the righteous deeds of the saints) echoes the bridegroom/bride and robe-of-righteousness language of Isaiah 61:10.
- Psalm 30:11-12 (thematic): Speaks of God turning mourning into dancing and clothing the psalmist with joy—parallels Isaiah's language of rejoicing because God 'clothes' with salvation and joy.
- Galatians 3:27 (allusion): Believers 'put on Christ'—uses clothing as a metaphor for participation in salvation and righteousness, resonating with Isaiah's 'clothed with garments of salvation.'
- Psalm 45:13-14 (thematic): Royal bride imagery—adornment and garments for the bride of the king—parallels Isaiah's simile of the community rejoicing 'as a bridegroom adorns a priest, and as a bride adorns herself.'
Alternative generated candidates
- I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with garments of salvation, he has wrapped me in a robe of righteousness— like a bridegroom who decks himself with a garland, like a bride who adorns herself with jewels.
- I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, like a bridegroom decked with a priestly garland and like a bride adorned with her jewels.
Isa.61.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- כארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תוציא: VERB,hiph,impf,2,m,sg
- צמחה: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3fs
- וכגנה: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- זרועיה: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3fs
- תצמיח: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- כן: ADV
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- יצמיח: VERB,hiphil,impf,3,m,sg
- צדקה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ותהלה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נגד: PREP
- כל: DET
- הגוים: NOUN,m,pl,def
Parallels
- Psalm 85:11 (Heb. 85:10) (verbal): Uses the same agricultural/earth-sprouting motif—"Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky"—linking divine activity to growth of righteousness.
- Isaiah 55:10-11 (verbal): Compares God's word to rain and snow that cause the earth to bring forth seed and bread, paralleling Isa. 61:11's image of the earth/garden producing growth by the LORD's action.
- Hosea 14:5-7 (thematic): God's restoration is pictured in horticultural terms—blossoming, spreading branches, fruitfulness—echoing Isa. 61:11's promise that the LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up.
- Zechariah 8:12 (thematic): Speaks of a fruitful sowing and abundant yield in the land as a sign of God's blessing, paralleling the promise that the LORD will bring forth righteousness and praise among the nations.
- Psalm 72:17-19 (thematic): Describes the enduring name/kingdom and praise of the ruler extending to all nations and peoples—resonant with Isa. 61:11's emphasis on righteousness and praise appearing 'before all the nations.'
Alternative generated candidates
- For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the LORD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
- For as the earth brings forth its shoots and a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the LORD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and to open the prison doors for those who are bound.
To proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vindication of our God; to comfort all who mourn.
To give those who mourn in Zion a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will raise up the former devastations; they will renew ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.
Strangers will stand and shepherd your flocks, and foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers. And you will be called priests of the LORD; you will be named ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of the nations, and in their abundance you will glory.
Instead of your shame you shall have a double portion, and instead of disgrace they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall inherit a double portion, and everlasting joy shall be theirs.
For I the LORD love justice; I hate robbery and guilt. I will give their recompense faithfully, and I will make with them an everlasting covenant.
Their offspring will be known among the nations and their descendants among the peoples; all who see them will acknowledge them—that they are a people blessed by the LORD.
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul will exult in my God, for he has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness; like a bridegroom wearing a priestly diadem of splendor, like a bride adorned with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its growth, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the LORD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up in full view of all the nations.