Commentary for Isaiah 61:3
לָשׂ֣וּם ׀ לַאֲבֵלֵ֣י צִיּ֗וֹן לָתֵת֩ לָהֶ֨ם פְּאֵ֜ר תַּ֣חַת אֵ֗פֶר שֶׁ֤מֶן שָׂשׂוֹן֙ תַּ֣חַת אֵ֔בֶל מַעֲטֵ֣ה תְהִלָּ֔ה תַּ֖חַת ר֣וּחַ כֵּהָ֑ה וְקֹרָ֤א לָהֶם֙ אֵילֵ֣י הַצֶּ֔דֶק מַטַּ֥ע יְהוָ֖ה לְהִתְפָּאֵֽר׃
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, To give unto them a garland for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The mantle of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they might be called terebinths of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, wherein He might glory.
Rashi on Isaiah
the elms of righteousness Heb. אֵילֵי, an expression of trees (אִילָנוֹת). Comp. (supra 1:29) “of the elms (מֵאֵילִים) that you desired.” This is evidenced by the end of the verse, “the planting of the Lord etc.”
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Ibn Ezra on Isaiah
To appoint unto them that mourn for Zion that which the text is going to enumerate2aThe words לתת להם to give unto them, are accordingly a mere repetition of the phrase לשום לאבלי ציון to appoint unto them that mourn for Zion.. Beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning. The mourner does not anoint with oil, as may be gathered from the story of the woman of Tekoa. (2 Sam. 14:2).
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Ibn Ezra on Isaiah
כהה Weak.3A. V., Heaviness. It is an adjective of the same root as the verb בהה (Lev. 13:6) which is rendered by some is become dark, but by me hath decreased, as it is contrasted with פׁשהֹ spread.4Comp. I. E. on 42:3, and on Levit. 13:6.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Ibn Ezra on Isaiah
אילי Trees. Comp. אילים oaks (1:29);5The same explanation is given by Rashi; but the Chaldæan translation renders it רברבי the great. the words which follow, the planting of the Lord, support this explanation.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy