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

ISAIAH 61:2KJV
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Isaiah 61:2 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 61:2 mean?

Isaiah 61:2 describes a speaker announcing that the LORD is acting on behalf of people who have suffered. The announcement joins a welcome time of God’s favor with a day when God will deal with wrong, and it includes comfort for those who mourn.

The speaker’s task continues from verse 1, where the LORD’s spirit is upon him. The verse sets a “year” beside a “day,” using measures of time to describe God’s actions. The people addressed include those grieving over the suffering of Zion, the city of Jerusalem, as verse 3 makes clear.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 61:2

  • “acceptable” — רָצוֹן (rāṣôn): This word can mean favor or goodwill. The “acceptable year” is a time marked by the LORD’s favor, rather than merely a year that people find satisfactory.
  • “vengeance” — נָקָם (nāqām): This word refers to taking vengeance or repaying a wrong. Here, the day belongs to “our God,” presenting the response to wrong as God’s action.
  • “comfort” — נָחַם (nāḥam): In this form, the word means to console or bring comfort. The speaker’s task includes addressing grief, not only announcing what God will do.

Why Isaiah 61:2 matters

  • The announcement holds favor and judgment together. The “acceptable year of the LORD” stands alongside “the day of vengeance of our God.”
  • The verse addresses people in grief, not just people facing an enemy. Verse 3 names “them that mourn in Zion” and describes their sorrow through images of ashes and mourning.
  • The speaker’s announcement is part of a larger commission. After listing the speaker’s tasks, verse 3 continues with the purpose that the mourners may become “trees of righteousness,” a picture of a restored people.

Where else these words appear

“mourn” Hebrew H57 · used in 8 verses

  • Genesis 37:35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.
  • Job 29:25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
  • Isaiah 57:18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.

“vengeance” Hebrew H5359 · used in 17 verses

  • Leviticus 26:25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.
  • Psalms 58:10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
  • Isaiah 59:17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

“acceptable” Hebrew H7522 · used in 56 verses

  • Genesis 49:6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.
  • Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
  • Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

“comfort” Hebrew H5162 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 5:29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.
  • Job 29:25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
  • Jeremiah 18:10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.