Read & explore together
The Year of the LORD’s Favor
Isaiah 61:1–11 is a prophetic announcement of good news, comfort, rebuilding and joy. The passage moves from the speaker’s mission, to promises for mourners and ruined places, to praise because Yahweh brings salvation and righteousness.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In this passage, a speaker says the Lord Yahweh’s Spirit is on him and that Yahweh has sent him to proclaim good news, freedom and comfort. The prophecy then describes mourning turned to joy, ruined places rebuilt, Yahweh’s justice and covenant, and rejoicing in Yahweh’s salvation and righteousness.
Isaiah 61:1–11Main takeaway
This prophecy teaches that Yahweh brings comfort, justice, restoration and righteousness so that his people may display his glory and praise.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Anointed to bring good newsThe passage begins with a speaker marked by the Lord Yahweh’s Spirit and anointed for a task.
Explanation
The passage begins with a speaker marked by the Lord Yahweh’s Spirit and anointed for a task. His work is to preach good news to the humble, bind up the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to captives and announce release. This is not merely private comfort. It is public proclamation of Yahweh’s action.
02Favour, comfort and a new nameThe message includes both the year of Yahweh’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God.
Explanation
The message includes both the year of Yahweh’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God. The text joins comfort with God’s just action. Those who mourn receive vivid exchanges: garland for ashes, oil of joy for mourning and praise instead of heaviness. They become trees of righteousness, planted for Yahweh’s glory.
03Ruins repaired and service renewedRestoration is described in practical ways. Old ruins, devastated places and ruined cities are rebuilt.
Explanation
Restoration is described in practical ways. Old ruins, devastated places and ruined cities are rebuilt. The people are also given a new identity: Yahweh’s priests and the servants of our God. The passage speaks of provision, honour and joy instead of shame and dishonour, with a double portion in their land.
04Justice, covenant and rejoicingYahweh explains his promises by his own character. He loves justice and hates robbery and iniquity.
Explanation
Yahweh explains his promises by his own character. He loves justice and hates robbery and iniquity. He promises true reward and an everlasting covenant. The people’s offspring are recognised among the nations and peoples as those Yahweh has blessed. The response is joyful praise, using pictures of beautiful clothing: garments of salvation and a robe of righteousness. At the end, Yahweh causes righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What tasks are given to the anointed speaker at the start of the passage?
List the action words in verse 1 and notice that they focus on preaching, binding up and proclaiming.
02What changes does Yahweh promise for those who mourn in Zion?
Look for the exchanged images in verse 3 and describe what replaces ashes, mourning and heaviness.
03How does the end of the passage connect Yahweh’s character with the people’s joy?
Read the statements about justice and covenant, then compare them with the rejoicing and the images of salvation and righteousness.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Isaiah 61:1–11
1The Lord Yahweh’s Spirit is on me, because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to those who are bound,
2to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
3to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified.
4They will rebuild the old ruins. They will raise up the former devastated places. They will repair the ruined cities that have been devastated for many generations.
5Strangers will stand and feed your flocks. Foreigners will work your fields and your vineyards.
6But you will be called Yahweh’s priests. Men will call you the servants of our God. You will eat the wealth of the nations. You will boast in their glory.
7Instead of your shame you will have double. Instead of dishonor, they will rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they will possess double. Everlasting joy will be to them.
8“For I, Yahweh, love justice. I hate robbery and iniquity. I will give them their reward in truth and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9Their offspring will be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge them, that they are the offspring which Yahweh has blessed.”
10I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh! My soul will be joyful in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11For as the earth produces its bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring up, so the Lord Yahweh will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.