The Proclamation of Glad Tidings to Zion i. _Isa 61:1-3_. The speaker (see below) introduces himself as the herald of the coming salvation. Anointed with the spirit of the Lord, he is commissioned to cheer and comfort the distressed people of God by the announcement of a day of spiritual emancipati... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Spirit … upon me_ Cf. Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 48:16 (Isaiah 59:21). _because the Lord hath anointed me_ The abiding possession of the spirit is the consequence of this consecrating act of Jehovah. "Anoint" is used, as often, in a metaphorical sense. The idea that prophets were actually anointed wi... [ Continue Reading ]
The prophet as Evangelist.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the acceptable year of the Lord_ Rather, A YEAR OF JEHOVAH'S FAVOUR (ch. Isaiah 49:8); and so in the next line, A DAY OF OUR GOD'S VENGEANCE (cf. Isaiah 63:4, ch. Isaiah 34:8). _vengeance_ i.e. on the oppressors of Israel, perhaps also on the sinful members of the nation (Isaiah 59:16 ff.). _to co... [ Continue Reading ]
_them that mourn in Zion_ Lit. "the mourners of Zion," which may mean either "those that mourn _for_Zion" (as Isaiah 66:10) or those who mourn in her. _beauty for ashes_ R.V. A GARLAND (but it. "a turban") FOR ASHES. Ashes sprinkled on the head were a sign of mourning (2 Samuel 13:19); these shall... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. ch. Isaiah 49:8; Isaiah 58:12; Isaiah 60:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the sons of the alien_ Render with R.V. ALIENS (as ch. Isaiah 56:3).... [ Continue Reading ]
Israel's priesthood among the nations, and the services rendered to it by the latter. The meaning of course is not that all Israelites shall minister in the Temple or that a separate sacerdotal order shall not exist (see on the contrary ch. Isaiah 66:21) but simply that in relation to the Gentiles,... [ Continue Reading ]
_the riches of the Gentiles_ THE WEALTH OF NATIONS, as ch. Isaiah 60:5; Isaiah 60:11. _in their glory shall you boast yourselves_ So the chief Ancient Versions. Another rendering is TO THEIR GLORY SHALL YE SUCCEED (R.V. marg.); the exact idea being that Israel and the heathen shall "exchange places... [ Continue Reading ]
The first half of the verse is harsh in construction; and the text as it stands is corrupt. The general sense, however, is sufficiently established by the second half: the prosperity of the future shall be a twofold recompense for the miseries of the past and the present. _the double_ in the same s... [ Continue Reading ]
Jehovah's righteousness demands this reversal of the present relations of Israel and the heathen. _I hate robbery &c._ Render with R.V. I HATE ROBBERY WITH INIQUITY, AND I WILL GIVE THEM THEIR RECOMPENSE IN TRUTH (i.e. faithfully). Instead of שׂלָה (burnt-offering) we must point עו̇לָה (iniquity).... [ Continue Reading ]
In virtue of this everlasting covenant the blessing of Jehovah descends on their offspring (cf. ch. Isaiah 65:23), compelling the admiration of the world. For _Gentiles … people_render with R.V., NATIONS … PEOPLES.... [ Continue Reading ]
According to the Targum and some critics the speaker here is the Zion of the future; while Delitzsch and others, who assign the preceding words to the Servant of Jehovah, suppose that he is still the speaker. If the prophet is the speaker he transports himself to a future standpoint, and there is no... [ Continue Reading ]
_as the earth &c._ i.e. as surely as the seed germinates in the earth, so surely will Jehovah bring to pass the great redemption here promised through the self-fulfilling power of His word. Cf. ch. Isaiah 55:10; Isaiah 42:9; Isaiah 43:19; Isaiah 58:8.... [ Continue Reading ]