The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
The Spirit, &c. Quoted in Luke 4:18 , Luke 4:19 . The speaker id therefore the Messiah.
Spirit. Hebrew ruach. App-9 .
the Lord. Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. See App-4 . Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, omit "Adonai".
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
anointed. Matthew 3:17 , with the Divine formula of consecration, "This is My Son", for the office of Prophet; Matthew 17:5 for the office of Priest; Psalms 2:7 and Hebrews 1:5 , for the office of King.
meek = oppressed, or lowly ones.
bind up. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia .
the opening of the prison = an opening of the understanding or heart, instead of prison doors. Occurs only here. Heb, pekah-koah , referring to the opening of the vision.
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
the acceptable year = the year of acceptance, or jubilee year (Leviticus 25:9 , Leviticus 25:10 ). We may render: - A year of good-pleasure for Jehovah, [But] A day of vengeance for our God.
and the day of vengeance. Compare Isaiah 59:17 ; Isaiah 63:4 . This is a notable example of how to rightly divide "the Word of truth", when we observe that the Messiah, in quoting this prophecy concerning Himself in Luke 4:18 , Luke 4:19 , "closed the book", and did not go on to quote further in Isa 61:20 , because the former part of the prophecy referred to the then present time, and not to the future Dispensation of judgment. The Heb, accent separates these two clauses, indicated by "[But]", above. Note that the vengeance is assigned to a "day", in contrast with "year".
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
mourn. See note on Isaiah 3:26 , and compare Matthew 5:4 .
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
To appoint = to set (as a permanent, irrevocable thing).
beauty. ashes. Note the emphasis put on this by the Figure of speech Paronomasia . pe'er. 'epher .
beauty = an ornament, or nuptial tiara.
ashes: as put on the head, as a sign of mourning (2 Samuel 13:19 ).
spirit of heaviness = heavy spirit. Hebrew. ruach . App-9 .
trees of righteousness. Reference to Isaiah 60:21 .
He. All is for Jehovah's glory.
And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
build = rebuild. Compare Amos 9:11 , Amos 9:12 .Acts 15:16 .
wastes = deserted (cities).
desolations = places of silence. See note on Isaiah 1:7 .
And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
strangers = foreigners.
the alien = an unknown people.
But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
Be shall be named, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 19:6 ).
the Ministers of our God. Reference to the technical phrase, common in the Law. See Exodus 28:35 .Numbers 16:9 . Deuteronomy 10:8 ; Deuteronomy 17:12 , &c.
the Gentile = nations.
For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
shame . . . double. Note the Alternation:
double = "double [honour]". Not as in Isaiah 40:2 . See note there.
confusion = reproach, or disgrace. everlasting joy. See note on Isaiah 44:7 .
For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
judgment = justice.
I hate robbery, &c. Showing that the sacrificial System was in operation at the time when this prophecy was given.
direct their work = make their recompense.
in truth. See note on Isaiah 10:20 .
everlasting covenant. See note on "ancient", Isaiah 44:7 .
And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.
people = peoples.
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13
with the robe. A special various reading called Sevir ( App-84 ), with some codices, one early printed edition, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read "and with a robe". This necessitates conformity with the Hebrew text: "With the garments of salvation will He, &c, And with a robe of righteousness will He", &c.
a = the.
decketh himself, &c. = adorneth himself (with a turban such as worn by priests).
For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
the LORD* GOD = Adonai Jehovah. This is one of the 134 places where the Sopherlm changed "Jehovah" of the primitive text to "Adonai"; but both words have been retained instead of the one : namely, Jehovah.
