Isaiah 61:6
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But you will be called the priests of the LORD; they will speak of you as ministers of our God; you will feed on the wealth of nations, and you will boast in their riches.
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 ↗61:6 priests . . . ministers: The nation would fulfill its original calling (Exod 19:6).
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.
And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”
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 also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”
“And I will select some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD.
Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking like I am out of my mind, but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.
Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
For this is what the LORD says: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flowing stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm, and bounced upon her knees.
in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions. Then they will be My people and I will be their God, declares the Lord GOD.’”