Interpretation of the Bible / Isaiah 61:10

Verse 10 of Isaiah 61 presents us with a vivid picture of joy and happiness in God. The prophet expresses his great joy and his soul rejoices in the grace that God has given him. This joy is based on the fact that God has clothed him with the “robe of salvation” and surrounded him with the “mantle of righteousness”. These two expressions point to the divine provision for the salvation and justice of men. He has been rescued from the bondage of sin and declared righteous before God.

The image of the robe of salvation is used to describe the atoning work of Christ. Salvation is not only the proclamation of forgiveness of sins, but it also involves a complete transformation of the human being. As the apostle Paul describes in Ephesians 4:24, “and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness”. That is, salvation leads us to a new life in Christ, a life of righteousness and holiness before God.

On the other hand, the “mantle of righteousness” refers to justification, which is achieved by faith in Jesus Christ. Justification means that, although we are sinners, God declares us righteous through the work of His Son. This is possible because Christ took upon Himself our guilt and our transgressions. According to the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God”. The final image of the adorned and adorned bride describes the beauty that God bestows upon those who are saved and justified. That is, God sees us as a beautiful and radiant bride, adorned with the most precious jewels. This means that our relationship with God is not only a relationship of salvation and justice, but also a relationship of love and devotion.