Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Study Note
Study Note
The Servant announces his anointing to bring good news to the afflicted, freedom to the captive, and the year of the Lord's favor — language drawn from Leviticus 25's Jubilee legislation and applied to a new, spiritual liberation. Jesus reads this text in the Nazareth synagogue in Luke 4:18-19 and declares 'today this scripture is fulfilled,' making it his defining self-description. The verse has therefore shaped Christian understandings of the gospel as holistic liberation — not merely spiritual but social and physical — and has fueled liberation theology and social justice movements across centuries.
Other Translations
The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> on me, Because Jehovah did anoint me To proclaim tidings to the humble, He sent me to bind the broken of heart, To proclaim to captives liberty, And to bound ones an opening of bands.
The spirit of the Lord is on me, because I am marked out by him to give good news to the poor; he has sent me to make the broken-hearted well, to say that the prisoners will be made free, and that those in chains will see the light again;
Cross References
For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this …
As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My spirit that is upon thee, and my …
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high …
Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath …
But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the …
Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed …
Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time …
To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out …
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: …