Isaiah 24:7

Context

24:7 The new wine dries up,

the vines shrivel up,

all those who like to celebrate¹ groan.

Isaiah 33:9

Context

33:9 The land² dries up³ and withers away;

the forest of Lebanon shrivels up⁴ and decays.

Sharon⁵ is like the desert;⁶

Bashan and Carmel⁷ are parched.⁸

Isaiah 61:3

Context

61:3 to strengthen those who mourn in Zion,

by giving them a turban, instead of ashes,

oil symbolizing joy,⁹ instead of mourning,

a garment symbolizing praise,¹⁰ instead of discouragement.¹¹

They will be called oaks of righteousness,¹²

trees planted by the Lord to reveal his splendor.¹³

[24:7] ¹tn The Hebrew text reads literally, “all the joyful in heart,” but the context specifies the context as parties and drinking bouts.

[33:9] ²tn Or “earth” (KJV); NAB “the country.”

[33:9] ³tn Or “mourns” (BDB 5 s.v. I אָבַל). HALOT 6-7 lists homonyms I אבל (“mourn”) and II אבל (“dry up”). They propose the second here on the basis of parallelism. See 24:4.

[33:9] ⁴tn Heb “Lebanon is ashamed.” The Hiphil is exhibitive, expressing the idea, “exhibits shame.” In this context the statement alludes to the withering of vegetation.

[33:9] ⁵sn Sharon was a fertile plain along the Mediterranean coast. See 35:2.

[33:9] ⁶tn Or “the Arabah” (NIV). See 35:1.

[33:9] ⁷sn Both of these areas were known for their trees and vegetation. See 2:13; 35:2.

[33:9] ⁸tn Heb “shake off [their leaves]” (so ASV, NRSV); NAB “are stripped bare.”

[61:3] ³tn Heb “oil of joy” (KJV, ASV); NASB, NIV, NRSV “the oil of gladness.”

[61:3] ⁴tn Heb “garment of praise.”

[61:3] ⁵tn Heb “a faint spirit” (so NRSV); KJV, ASV “the spirit of heaviness”; NASB “a spirit of fainting.”

[61:3] ⁶tn 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.”

[61:3] ⁷tn Heb “a planting of the Lord to reveal splendor.”