Bible Strands
Isaiah 61:2
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The speaker identifies as the one upon whom the Spirit of the Lord rests and whom the Lord has anointed, delivering a prophetic commission. This declaration functions as the second half of a three-part mission directed to the Servant, not a community.
The words — רָצוֹן (ra.tzOn) literally means favor, and נָקָם (na.Kam) literally means vengeance. These terms anchor the verse’s declaration of God’s dual actions.
The thread — Luke 4:19 quotes the favor clause as fulfilled in Jesus’ ministry, while Isaiah 34:8 pairs a day of vengeance with a year of recompense. Matthew 5:4 echoes the comfort promise for those who mourn.
Why it lands — The text states that God will simultaneously grant favor and execute judgment while actively comforting mourners. It asks the reader to acknowledge that divine grace and justice operate on a set timeline and that mourning is met with direct intervention.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
Cross-references
- Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
- Isaiah 34:8 For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
- Luke 4:19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
- Isaiah 57:18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,
- 2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope,
- John 16:20 Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
- Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.
- Isaiah 35:4 Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.”
- Isaiah 49:8 This is what the LORD says: “In the time of favor I will answer You, and in the day of salvation I will help You; I will keep You and appoint You to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land, to apportion its desolate inheritances,
- Jeremiah 31:13 Then the maidens will rejoice with dancing, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy, and give them comfort and joy for their sorrow.