Isaiah 61:3

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, &c.] Or, “to the mourners of Zion”f1206; such who are of Zion, belong to the church of God, and mourn for the corruptions in Zion’s doctrines; for the perversion, abuse, and neglect of Zion’s ordinances; for the disorders and divisions in Zion; for the declensions there, as to the exercise of grace, and the power of godliness; for the few instances of conversions there, or few additions to it; for the carelessness, ease, and lukewarmness of many professors in Zion; and for their unbecoming lives and conversations. Now one part of Christ’s work is to “appoint” comfort to such; he has appointed it in counsel and covenant from eternity; made provision…”

“To appoint . . . to give--The double verb, with the one and the same accusative, imparts glowing vehemence to the style. beauty for ashes--There is a play on the sound and meaning of the Hebrew words, peer, epher, literally, "ornamental headdress" or tiara (Eze 24:17), worn in times of joy, instead of a headdress of "ashes," cast on the head in mourning (Sa2 13:19). oil of joy--Perfumed ointment was poured on the guests at joyous feasts (Psa 23:5; Psa 45:7-8; Amo 6:6). On occasions of grief its use was laid aside (Sa2 14:2). garment of praise--bright-colored garments, indicative of thankfulness, instead of those that indicate despondency, as sackcloth (Joh 16:20). trees of…”

“To appoint unto them - Hebrew, ‘To place;’ that is, to place happiness before them; to give them joy arid consolation. That mourn in Zion - (See the notes at Isaiah 1:8). The mourners in Zion mean those who dwelt in Jerusalem; then all those who are connected with the church of God - his poor and afflicted people. To give unto them beauty for ashes - In the Hebrew there is here a beautiful paronomasia, which cannot be transferred to our language - אפר תחת פאר pe'ēr tachath 'êpher. The word rendered ‘beauty’ (פאר pe'ēr) means properly a head-dress, turban, tiara, or diadem; and the idea is, that the Redeemer would impart to his mourning people such an ornament instead of the ashes which in…”

“Ashes - By ashes understand whatever is proper for days of mourning, as by beauty whatever may become times of rejoicing. Oil of joy - He calls it oil of joy in allusion to those anointings they were wont to use in times of joy, gladness for heaviness; and it is called a garment in allusion to their festival ornaments, for they had garments appropriated to their conditions, some suitable to times of rejoicing, and some to times of mourning. Called - That they may be so. Trees - That they shall be firm, solid, and well rooted, being by faith engrafted into Christ, and bringing forth fruit suitable to the soil wherein they are planted. Isaiah 61:5”

“61:3 Putting ashes on one’s head was a sign of mourning (note the reversal of the judgment stated in 3:16-25). Mourning would be replaced by joy. The words translated crown of beauty and ashes form a wordplay in Hebrew. • joyous blessing (literally oil of gladness): A face covered with oil was a sign of blessing and well-being (see Pss 45:8; 133:2). • The remnant would start out as small offshoots but would grow into great oaks (see Isa 60:21).”

“beauty: Isa 12:1; Est 4:1-3, Est 8:15, Est 9:22; Psa 30:11; Eze 16:8-13 the oil: Psa 23:5, Psa 45:7, Psa 104:15; Ecc 9:8; Joh 16:20 the garment: Isa 61:10; Zac 3:5; Luk 15:22; Rev 7:9-14 called: Isa 60:21; Psa 92:12-15; Jer 17:7, Jer 17:8; Mat 7:17-19 that he: Mat 5:16; Joh 15:8; Co1 6:20; Phi 1:11; Th2 1:10; Pe1 2:9, Pe1 4:9-11, Pe1 4:14 Isaiah 61:4”