New King James Version
Isaiah 61:3
3To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty 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 the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
- English Standard Version (ESV)to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
- New Living Translation (NLT)To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.
Context of Isaiah 61:3
1“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty 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 the Lord, that He may be glorified.” 4And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations. 5Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
Read all of Isaiah 61Isaiah 61:3 word by word
לָשׂ֣וּם׀ לַאֲבֵלֵ֣י צִיּ֗וֹן לָתֵת֩ לָהֶ֨ם פְּאֵ֜ר תַּ֣חַת אֵ֗פֶר שֶׁ֤מֶן שָׂשׂוֹן֙ תַּ֣חַת אֵ֔בֶל מַעֲטֵ֣ה תְהִלָּ֔ה תַּ֖חַת ר֣וּחַ כֵּהָ֑ה וְקֹרָ֤א לָהֶם֙ אֵילֵ֣י הַצֶּ֔דֶק מַטַּ֥ע יְהוָ֖ה לְהִתְפָּאֵֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- To appointשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
- unto them that mournאָבֵל'âbêl · mourningH57
- in Zionצִיּוֹןtsîyôn · ZionH6726
- to giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- unto them beautyפְּאֵרpe'êr · headdressH6287
- for ashesאֵ֫פֶר'êpher · ashesH665
- the oilשֶׁ֫מֶןshemen · oilH8081
- of joyשָׂשׂוֹןώâώôn ώâώôn · rejoicingH8342
- for mourningאֵ֫בֶל'êbel · mourningH60
- the garmentמַעֲטֶהma‛ăţeh · mantleH4594
- of praiseתְּהִלָּהtehillâh · praiseH8416
- for the spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
- of heavinessכֵּהֶהkêheh · faintH3544
- that they might be calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call byH7121
- treesאַ֫יִל'ayil · terebinthH352
- of righteousnessצֶ֫דֶקtsedeq · righteousnessH6664
- the plantingמַטָּעmaţţâ‛ · plantationH4302
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- that he might be glorifiedפָּאַרpâ'ar · to beautifyH6286
Cross-references for Isaiah 61:3
- Isaiah 12:1And in that day you will say: “O Lord, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.
- Esther 4:1When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry.
- Esther 8:15So Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
- Esther 9:22as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.
- Psalms 30:11You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
- Ezekiel 16:8“When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,” says the Lord God.
- Psalms 23:5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
- Psalms 45:7You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
- Psalms 104:15And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, And bread which strengthens man’s heart.
- Ecclesiastes 9:8Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil.
- John 16:20Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
- Isaiah 61:10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall 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 ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
- Zechariah 3:5And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.
- Luke 15:22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.
- Revelation 7:9After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
- Isaiah 60:21Also your people shall all be righteous; They shall inherit the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified.
Commentaries on Isaiah 61:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3To 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3To appoint unto them - Hebrew, To place;‘ that is, to place happiness before them; to give them joy arid consolation. That mourn in Zion - (See the notes at Isaiah 1:8). The mourners in Zion mean those who dwelt in Jerusalem; then all those who are connected with the church of God - his poor and afflicted people. To give unto them beauty for ashes - In the Hebrew there is here a beautiful paronomasia, which cannot be transferred to our language - אפר תחת…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3Putting ashes on one's head showed mourning (note the change from the judgment in Isaiah 3:16–25). Mourning would turn into joy. In Hebrew, the words for crown of beauty and ashes form a wordplay. oil of joy: A face covered with oil showed blessing and well-being (see Psalms 45:8; 133:2). The remnant would begin as small shoots. They would seem weak and unimportant at first. But over time, they would grow strong and large, like great oak trees (see Isaiah…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. To appoint ... to give--The double verb, with the one and the same accusative, imparts glowing vehemence to the style. beauty for ashes--There is a play on the sound and meaning of the Hebrew words, peer, epher, literally, "ornamental headdress" or tiara (Eze 24:17), worn in times of joy, instead of a headdress of "ashes," cast on the head in mourning (2Sa 13:19). oil of joy--Perfumed ointment was poured on the guests at joyous feasts (Psa 23:5; 45:7…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 61:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 61
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries