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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 61:1-3

He that is the best expositor of scripture has no doubt given us the best exposition of these verses, even our Lord Jesus himself, who read this in the synagogue at Nazareth (perhaps it was the lesson for the day) and applied it entirely to himself, saying, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears (Luke 4:17, 18, 21); and the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, in the opening of this text, were admired by all that heard them. As Isaiah was authorized and directed to... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 61:4-9

Promises are here made to the Jews now returned out of captivity, and settled again in their own land, which are to be extended to the gospel church, and all believers, who through grace are delivered out of spiritual thraldom; for they are capable of being spiritually applied. I. It is promised that their houses shall be rebuilt (Isa. 61:4), that their cities shall be raised out of the ruins in which they had long lain, and be fitted up for their use again: They shall build the old wastes;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 61:3

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion ,.... Or, "to the mourners of Zion" F21 לאבלי ציון "lugentibus Sionis", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator Vitrtnga. So Syr. ; such who are of Zion, belong to the church of God, and mourn for the corruptions in Zion's doctrines; for the perversion, abuse, and neglect of Zion's ordinances; for the disorders and divisions in Zion; for the declensions there, as to the exercise of grace, and the power of godliness; for the few instances of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 61:4

And they shall build the old wastes ,.... The captives set at liberty, and who are called trees of righteousness, and the planting of the Lord; righteous and good men, who shall be employed in the spiritual building of the church in Gospel times, and especially in the latter day; for here begins an account of the benefits and blessings the church of Christ should partake of, particularly at the time of the calling and conversion of the Jews: after having described the work and office of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 61:3

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion "To impart gladness to the mourners of Zion" - A word necessary to the sense is certainly lost in this place, of which the ancient Versions have preserved no traces. Houbigant, by conjecture, inserts the word ששון sason , gladness, taken from the line next but one below, where it stands opposed to אבל ebel , sorrow or mourning, as the word lost here was to אבלי abeley , mourners: I follow him. - L. Beauty for ashes "A beautiful crown... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 61:4

"And they that spring from thee" - A word is lost here likewise. After ובנו ubanu , "they shall build," add ממך mimmecha , they that spring from thee. Four MSS. have it so, (two of them ancient), and one of mine has it in the margin, and it is confirmed by Isaiah 58:12 , where the sentence is the very same, this word being here added. Kimchi makes the same remark: "the word ממך mimmecha is omitted here; but is found in Isaiah 58:12 ." The desolations of many generations - ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:1-3

THE MISSION OF THE SERVANT OF THE LORD . The words of our Lord in Luke 4:21 , "This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears," preclude the application of this passage to any other than the Lord himself. It is simply astonishing that some Christian commentators (Ewald, Hitzig, Knobel) have not seen the force of this argument, but, with the Jews, imagine the prophet to be speaking of his own ministry. It is contrary to the entire spirit of Isaiah's writings so to glorify... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:1-3

The purposes of Messiah's mission. We are not to suppose that the prophet unfolds to us in the present passage the whole purpose of God in sending his Son into the world. Such logical exactness is alien to the spirit of prophecy, and especially unsuited to the rhetorical tone which everywhere characterizes Isaiah. Still, as the subject is one of transcendent interest, and as our Lord himself cites the passage as descriptive of his mission, it may be useful to note how many, and what... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:1-9

Message of grace to Zion. I. THE ANOINTING OF THE MESSENGER . Under the Law, the priests were anointed ( Exodus 29:7 ; Le 7:36), and also the kings ( 1 Samuel 9:16 ; 1 Samuel 10:1 ; 1 Samuel 16:13 ). It was the sign of appointment to a high office or commission from God. Hence, by a figure, it is applied to the appointment of Elisha to the prophetic office ( 1 Kings 19:16 ), and to the designation of Cyrus as the instrument of the purpose of Jehovah. Similarly, in 1 John... read more

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