Isaiah 61:1

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 with oil is supported only by 1 Kings 19:16, and even there the sense may be metaphorical since (as Cheyne observes) we do not read that the act was performed.

to preach good tidings The verb is bassçr(εὐαγγελίσασθαι), on which see the notes to Isaiah 40:9 and Isaiah 52:7. It is to be remarked that in ch. 40 55 the mĕbassçr(or mebasséreth) is an ideal personage or company, whose function is quite distinct from that of the prophet or the Servant.

to bind up(i.e. heal) the broken-hearted Cf. Psalms 147:3; Psalms 34:18; Psalms 51:17.

The terms "meek" and "broken-hearted" denote the religiousqualities which characterise the recipients of the prophet's Evangel. How far the following designations, "captives," "bound," "mourners," are to be understood in a spiritual sense is doubtful. It is not unlikely that the immediate reference is to the social evils whose redress is already demanded in ch. Isaiah 58:6; Isaiah 58:9.

to proclaim liberty a suggestive expression, shewing that the idea of the year of salvation is based on the institution of the Jubilee; see Leviticus 25:10; and cf. Jeremiah 34:8; Jeremiah 34:15; Jeremiah 34:17; Ezekiel 46:17. These, indeed, are the only occurrences of the word for "liberty," which is thus seen to denote always a universal emancipation by public decree.

the opening of the prison The rendering "opening of the eyes" (R.V. marg.) does not suit the context, though it is true that the word is generally used of the opening of eyes (once of ears). [In the Heb. read pĕqaḥqôaḥas a single word, = "opening."]