Isaiah 61

1 The Spirit [breath of life, divine energy] of the Lord [Adonay, God of reverence] GOD [Yehovah] is on Me, because [as a result of, for this reason] the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has anointed [set apart, consecrated] Me to preach [proclaim, announce] good news [glad tidings, hope] to the poor [humble, meek, afflicted]. He has sent [commissioned, appointed] Me to bind up [heal, comfort] the brokenhearted [those with shattered emotions, crushed spirits], to proclaim [declare, announce] liberty [freedom, release] to the captives [prisoners, those held captive] and freedom [deliverance, liberation] to the prisoners [those in bondage, oppressed], word study 2 to proclaim the year [of divine favor, acceptable] of the LORD’s favor [acceptance, delight] and the day [a literal or figurative period] of our God’s vengeance [revenge, punishment], to comfort [show pity, sympathy] all [everything, every person] who mourn [are lamenting, in sorrow], word study 3 to console [comfort, bring solace to] the mourners [those who lament, grieve] in Zion [the city of God, Jerusalem]— to give them a crown [garland, headdress] of beauty [loveliness, splendor] for ashes [remains of the dead, worthless things], the oil [anointing, richness] of joy [rejoicing, gladness] for mourning [sorrow, lamenting], and a garment [mantle, cloak] of praise [thanksgiving, worship] for a spirit [mind, emotions] of despair [faintness, hopelessness]. So they will be called [named, known as] oaks [strong trees] of righteousness [justice, integrity], the planting [garden, cultivation] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], that He may be glorified [honored, magnified]. word study 4 They will rebuild [restore to a former state, renovate] the ancient [old, former] ruins; they will restore [reestablish, revive] the places [cities, towns] long devastated [laid waste, destroyed]; they will renew [rebuild, revitalize] the ruined [desolate, devastated] cities, the desolations [places of destruction, wastelands] of many [several, numerous] generations [periods of time, ages]. word study 5 Strangers [foreigners, non-Israelites] will stand [in a strong sense, like a guardian] and feed [care for, tend to] your flocks [sheep or goats, figurative of God’s people], and foreigners [those from a different land, aliens] will be your plowmen [farmers, agricultural workers] and vinedressers [tenders of vineyards, cultivators of grapes]. word study 6 But you [as servants of God] will be called the priests [ministers, spiritual leaders] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]; they will speak of you as ministers [servants, attendants] of our God [Elohim, the supreme God]; you will feed on [eat, consume] the wealth [riches, abundance] of nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples], and you will boast [pride yourselves, glory] in their riches [glory, splendor]. word study 7 Instead of [confusion, utter shame] shame, My people will have a double portion [inheritance], and instead of [dishonor, humiliation] humiliation, they will rejoice in their [allotted share, inheritance] share; and so they will inherit a double [blessing, reward] portion in their [promised, ancestral] land, and everlasting [age-abiding] joy will be theirs. word study 8 For I, the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], love [have affection for, delight in] justice [righteous judgment]; I hate [feel intense dislike for] robbery [plunder] and iniquity [wickedness, injustice]; in My faithfulness [truth] I will give [provide, reward] them their recompense [wages] and make [establish, cut] an everlasting [forever] covenant [promise, agreement] with them. word study 9 Their descendants [seed, offspring] will be known [recognized, acknowledged] among the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples], and their offspring [children, progeny] among the peoples [Amaw, a people or nation]. All [everything, every person] who see [behold, look upon] them will acknowledge [recognize, identify] that they are a people [nation, community] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] has blessed [praised, honored]. word study 10 I will rejoice greatly [with exceeding joy, in triumphant delight] in the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], my soul [the essence of my being, my inner self] will exult [be joyful, shout for joy] in my God [Elohim, the supreme God]; for He has clothed me [wrapped me, dressed me] with garments of salvation [righteousness, deliverance] and wrapped me [covered me, enveloped me] in a robe of righteousness [justice, virtue], as a bridegroom [son-in-law, groom] wears [puts on, decks himself with] a priestly headdress [ornaments, a garland], as a bride [daughter-in-law, wife] adorns herself [decorates herself, puts on her jewels] with her jewels [ornaments, treasures]. word study 11 For as the earth [land, soil, or ground] brings forth its growth [bud, sprout, or new life], and as a garden [place of cultivation, like the Garden of Eden] enables seed [things sown, planted] to spring up [grow, flourish], so the Lord [Adonay, the supreme God] GOD will cause righteousness [justice, virtue, moral integrity] and praise [song of praise, hymn, worship] to spring up [grow, flourish] before [in the presence of, visible to] all [every, the whole] the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples]. word study