Isaiah 61 · Verse 3

Isaiah 61:3

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.
Isaiah 61:3, King James Version

Isaiah 61:3 in other translations

BSBto console the mourners in Zion— to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
WEBto provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland 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.
ASVto appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland 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 Jehovah, that he may be glorified.
YLTTo appoint to mourners in Zion, To give to them beauty instead of ashes, The oil of joy instead of mourning, A covering of praise for a spirit of weakness, And He is calling to them, ‘Trees of righteousness, The planting of Jehovah--to be beautified.'
DARBYto appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, that beauty should be given unto them instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of the spirit of heaviness: that they might be called terebinths of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified.
BBETo give them a fair head-dress in place of dust, the oil of joy in place of the clothing of grief, praise in place of sorrow; so that they may be named trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, and so that he may have glory.
WebsterTo appoint to them that mourn in Zion, to give to 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.

What does Isaiah 61:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. 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, 8; Am 6:6). On occasions of grief its use was laid aside (2Sa 14:2). garment of praise--bright-colored garments, indicative of thankfulness, instead of those that indicate despondency, as sackcloth (Joh 16:20). trees of righteousness--Hebrew, terebinth trees; symbolical of men strong in righteousness, instead of being, as heretofore, bowed down as a reed with sin and calamity (Is 1:29, 30; 42:3; 1Ki 14:15; Psa 1:3; 92:12-14; Jr 17:8). planting of ... Lord--(See on Is 60:21). that he might be glorified--(Joh 15:8).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 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 instead of ashes" - In times of mourning the Jews put on sackcloth, or coarse and sordid raiment, and spread dust and ashes on their heads; on the contrary, splendid clothing and ointment poured on the head were the signs of joy. "Feign thyself to be a mourner," says Joab to the woman of Tekoah, "and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil," 2Sam 14:2. These customs are at large expressed in the Book of Judith: "She pulled off the sackcloth which she had on, and put off the garments of her widowhood, and washed her body all over with water and anointed herself with precious ointment, and braided the hair of her head, and put on a tire [mitre, marg.] upon it; and put on her garments of gladness;" chap. 10:3. - L. פאר תחת אפר peer tachath ephar, glory for ashes; a paronomasia which the prophet often uses: a chaplet, crown, or other ornament of the head (for so the Vulgate renders the word here and in the both verse; in which last place the Septuagint agree in the same rendering), instead of dust and ashes, which before covered it; and the costly ointments used on occasions of festivity, instead of the ensigns of sorrow. - L. Trees of righteousness "Trees approved" - Hebrews oaks of righteousness or truth; that is, such as by their flourishing condition should show that they were indeed "the scion of God's planting, and the work of his hands;" under which images, in the preceding chapter, Isa 60:21, the true servants of God, in a highly improved state of the Church, were represented; that is, says Vitringa on that place, "commendable for the strength of their faith, their durability, and firmness."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 61:1-3

The Messiah, his character and office. (Is. 61:1-3) His promises of the future blessedness of the church. (Is. 61:4-9) The church praises God for these mercies. (Is. 61:10,11) Verses 1-3 The prophets had the Holy Spirit of God at times, teaching them what to say, and causing them to say it; but Christ had the Spirit always, without measure, to qualify him, as man, for the work to which he was appointed. The poor are…

Read the full comment on Isaiah 61:1-3 →

Isaiah 61:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לָשׂ֣וּם\׀la.Sumto putH7760
לַאֲבֵלֵ֣יla.'a.ve.Leito [the] mourners ofH57
צִיּ֗וֹןtzi.YonZionH6726
לָתֵת֩la.Tetto giveH5414
לָהֶ֨םla.Hemto <the> them
פְּאֵ֜רpe.'Era turbanH6287
תַּ֣חַתTa.chatin place ofH8478
אֵ֗פֶר'E.ferash[es]H665
שֶׁ֤מֶןShe.menoil ofH8081
שָׂשׂוֹן֙sa.sOnjoyH8342
תַּ֣חַתTa.chatin place ofH8478
אֵ֔בֶל'E.velmourningH60
מַעֲטֵ֣הma.'a.Teha mantle ofH4594
תְהִלָּ֔הte.hi.LahpraiseH8416
תַּ֖חַתTa.chatin place ofH8478
ר֣וּחַRu.acha spiritH7307
כֵּהָ֑הke.HahfaintH3544
וְקֹרָ֤אve.ko.Ra'and it will be calledH7121
לָהֶם֙la.Hemto <the> them
אֵילֵ֣י'ei.Lei[the] oaks ofH352
הַצֶּ֔דֶקha.Tze.dek<the> righteousnessH6664
מַטַּ֥עma.Ta'[the] planting ofH4302
יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahwehH3068
לְהִתְפָּאֵֽר\׃le.hit.pa.'Erto glorify himselfH6286

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 61:3

  • Psalms 30:11

    Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

  • Jeremiah 17:7-8

    Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

  • John 16:20

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

  • Isaiah 61:10

    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.

  • Psalms 45:7

    Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:8

    Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

  • 1 Peter 2:9

    But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

  • Psalms 23:5

    Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

  • Isaiah 60:20-21

    Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

  • Ezekiel 16:8-13

    Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine. Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. …

  • 1 Corinthians 6:20

    For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

  • Zechariah 3:5

    And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
beauty.
12:1; Es 4:1-3; 8:15; 9:22; Ps 30:11; Eze 16:8-13
the oil.
Ps 23:5; 45:7; 104:15; Ec 9:8; Joh 16:20
the garment.
10; Zec 3:5; Lu 15:22; Re 7:9-14
called.
60:21; Ps 92:12-15; Jer 17:7,8; Mt 7:17-19
that he.
Mt 5:16; Joh 15:8; 1Co 6:20; Php 1:11; 2Th 1:10; 1Pe 2:9; 4:9-11,14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Isaiah 61:2

    To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

  • Isaiah 61:3

    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.

  • Isaiah 61:4

    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.

Read all of Isaiah 61

Isaiah 61:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		A ordenar á Sión á los enlutados, para darles gloria en lugar de ceniza, óleo de gozo en lugar del luto, manto de alegría en lugar del espíritu angustiado; y serán llamados árboles de justicia, plantío de Jehová, para gloria suya.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		pour mettre et donner à ceux de Sion qui mènent deuil l’ornement au lieu de la cendre, l’huile de joie au lieu du deuil, un vêtement de louange au lieu d’un esprit abattu, afin qu’ils soient appelés térébinthes de justice, le plant de l’ Éternel pour qu’il soit glorifié.
German
Elberfelder 1871		um den Trauernden Zions aufzusetzen und ihnen zu geben Kopfschmuck statt Asche, Freudenöl statt Trauer, ein Ruhmesgewand statt eines verzagten Geistes; damit sie genannt werden Terebinthen der Gerechtigkeit, eine Pflanzung Jehovas, zu seiner Verherrlichung.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		ut ponerem lugentibus Sion, et darem eis coronam pro cinere, oleum gaudii pro luctu, pallium laudis pro spiritu mœroris; et vocabuntur in ea fortes justitiæ, plantatio Domini ad glorificandum.