Isaiah 61:3
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to console the mourners in Zion— to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
In this chapter, I. We are sure to find the grace of Christ, published by himself to a lost world in the everlasting gospel, under the type and figure of Isaiah's province, which was to foretel the deliverance of the Jews out of Babylon (Isa 61:1-3). II. We think we find the glories of the church of Christ, its spiritual glories, described under the type and figure of the Jews' prosperity after their return out of their captivity 1. It is promised that they decays of the church shall be repaired (Isa 61:4). 2. That those from without shall be made serviceable to the church (Isa 61:5). 3. That the church shall be a royal priesthood, maintained by the riches of the Gentiles (Isa 61:6). 4. That she shall have honour and joy in lieu of all her shame and sorrow (Isa 61:7). 5. That her affairs shall prosper (Isa 61:8). 6. That prosperity shall enjoy these blessings (Isa 61:9). 7. That righteousness and salvation shall be the eternal matter of the church's rejoicing and thanksgiving (Isa 61:10, Isa 61:11). If the Jewish church was ever thus blessed, much more shall the Christian church be so, and all that belong to it.
Open source ↗61:3 Putting ashes on one’s head was a sign of mourning (note the reversal of the judgment stated in 3:16-25). Mourning would be replaced by joy. The words translated crown of beauty and ashes form a wordplay in Hebrew. • joyous blessing (literally oil of gladness): A face covered with oil was a sign of blessing and well-being (see Pss 45:8; 133:2). • The remnant would start out as small offshoots but would grow into great oaks (see Isa 60:21).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
You turned my mourning into dancing; You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
I will rejoice greatly 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, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you above your companions with the oil of joy.
Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.
Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So a clean turban was placed on his head, and they clothed him, as the angel of the LORD stood by.
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.