Isaiah 61:1 (MT) in Hebrew:
Hebrew Text (MT):
רוּחַ אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה עָלַי, יַעַן מָשַׁח יְהוָה אֹתִי לְבַשֵּׂר עֲנָוִים; שְׁלָחַנִי לַחֲבֹשׁ לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי-לֵב, לִקְרֹא לִשְׁבוּיִם דְּרוֹר, וְלַאֲסוּרִים פְּקַח-קוֹחַ.
Translation (MT):
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”
Key Differences: Jesus' quotation in Luke includes additional phrases that are not in this Hebrew text. For example, “recovering of sight to the blind” is not found in the MT of Isaiah 61:1.
Isaiah 61:2 (MT):
Hebrew Text (MT):
לִקְרֹא שְׁנַת-רָצוֹן לַיהוָה וְיוֹם נָקָם לֵאלֹהֵינוּ, לְנַחֵם כָּל-אֲבֵלִים.
Translation (MT):
“To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.”
Key Differences: In Luke, Jesus reads “to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” but stops short of mentioning “the day of vengeance of our God.” This selective quoting might indicate a deliberate choice by Jesus to emphasize God’s grace in that moment rather than judgment.
Isaiah 58:6 (MT) (potentially referenced):
Hebrew Text (MT):
הֲלוֹא זֶה, צוֹם אֶבְחָרֵהוּ--פַּתֵּחַ חַרְצֻבּוֹת רֶשַׁע, הַתֵּר אֲגֻדּוֹת מוֹטָה; וְשַׁלַּח רְצוּצִים חָפְשִׁים, וְכָל-מוֹטָה תְּנַתֵּקוּ.
Translation (MT):
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?”
Key Differences: Jesus includes “to set at liberty them that are bruised,” which is similar in theme to Isaiah 58:6, though the exact phrase is not found in the MT text of Isaiah 61. This suggests He might be combining phrases from both passages or quoting from a source similar to the LXX.
Summary of the Evidence
In the Septuagint (LXX), Isaiah 61:1-2 is closer in language to what Jesus quotes in Luke 4:18-19, though His exact words do not perfectly match either the LXX or MT. This blending indicates that Jesus might have been drawing from memory, blending verses, or quoting from a version closer to the LXX that incorporates themes from both Isaiah 61 and Isaiah 58.
Thus, Jesus’ use of Scripture here shows both intentional selection and a knowledge of different versions of the Hebrew text. His combination of passages emphasizes His mission of healing, liberation, and grace, and reveals a unique interpretive approach that highlights the central themes of His ministry.
Would you agree
@praise_yeshua?
J.
