Isaiah 61:3

to strengthen those who mourn in Zion, by giving them a turban, instead of ashes, oil symbolizing joy, ¹  instead of mourning, a garment symbolizing praise, ²  instead of discouragement. ³  They will be called oaks of righteousness, ⁴  trees planted by the Lord to reveal his splendor. ⁵ 

Es 4:1-3; Es 8:15; Es 9:22; Ps 23:5; Ps 30:11; Ps 45:7; Ps 92:12-15; Ps 104:15; Ec 9:8; Isa 12:1; Isa 60:21; Isa 61:10; Jer 17:7,8; Eze 16:8-13; Zec 3:5; Mt 5:16; Mt 7:17-19; Lu 15:22; Joh 15:8; Joh 16:20; 1Co 6:20; Php 1:11; 2Th 1:10; 1Pe 2:9; 1Pe 4:9-11,14; Re 7:9-14

¹ tn Heb “oil of joy” (KJV, ASV); NASB, NIV, NRSV “the oil of gladness.”

² tn Heb “garment of praise.”

³ tn Heb “a faint spirit” (so NRSV); KJV, ASV “the spirit of heaviness”; NASB “a spirit of fainting.”

⁴ tn Rather than referring to the character of the people, צֶדֶק (tsedeq) may carry the nuance “vindication” here, suggesting that God’s restored people are a testimony to his justice. See v. 2, which alludes to the fact that God will take vengeance against the enemies of his people. Cf. NAB “oaks of justice.”

⁵ tn Heb “a planting of the Lord to reveal splendor.”