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.

ISAIAH 61:10KJV
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Isaiah 61:10 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 61:10 mean?

Isaiah 61:10 describes someone expressing deep joy and gratitude to God, saying that God has dressed them in salvation and righteousness, like a bridegroom or bride beautifully adorned for a wedding. The verse uses the image of special clothing to show how God has honored and transformed the speaker’s life.

The speaker in Isaiah 61:10 is often understood as either the prophet Isaiah or the personified nation of Israel, responding to God’s promises of restoration after suffering. The verse comes in a section where God’s servant announces good news and renewal for people who have experienced loss and shame, using wedding imagery to highlight the beauty and dignity God gives.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 61:10

  • "Garments" (בֶּגֶד, beged; H899) and "robe" (מְעִיל, me'il; H4598) both refer to special outer clothing, often used in the Hebrew Bible to symbolize honor, status, or a new identity. Here, these words stress that salvation and righteousness are not just inward feelings but are as visible and significant as festive clothing.
  • "Salvation" (יְשׁוּעָה, yeshu'ah; H3468) means rescue or deliverance. The verse pictures salvation as something God wraps around the speaker, emphasizing protection and a new start.
  • "Righteousness" (צְדָקָה, tsedaqah; H6666) refers to being made right or just. The "robe of righteousness" suggests God has given the speaker a new, honorable standing.
  • "Bridegroom" (חָתָן, chatan; H2860) and "bride" (כַּלָּה, kallah; H3618) highlight the joy, beauty, and celebration of a wedding, showing how complete and public God’s transformation is.

Why Isaiah 61:10 matters

  • Isaiah 61:10 clears up the idea that salvation and righteousness are only private or invisible; the verse shows these are as real and noticeable as special clothing at a wedding.
  • The verse emphasizes that the joy and honor come entirely from God’s action, not the speaker’s own effort or worthiness.
  • This verse connects to the wider chapter’s theme of God restoring dignity and hope to people who have suffered, using vivid images to show how thorough and joyful that restoration is.

Where else these words appear

“ornaments” Hebrew H6287 · used in 7 verses

  • Exodus 39:28 And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen,
  • 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.
  • Ezekiel 24:23 And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.

“adorneth” Hebrew H5710 · used in 10 verses

  • Job 28:8 The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
  • Jeremiah 4:30 And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.
  • Ezekiel 16:13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.

“bridegroom” Hebrew H2860 · used in 19 verses

  • Genesis 19:12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:
  • 1 Samuel 18:18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
  • Isaiah 62:5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

“decketh” Hebrew H3547 · used in 23 verses

  • Exodus 28:1 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
  • Exodus 31:10 And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office,
  • Numbers 3:3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.