Charles Ellicott Commentary Isaiah 61:3

"to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified." — Isaiah 61:3 (ASV)

To appoint unto them that mourn ... —The verb (literally, to set) has no object either in the Hebrew or English, and it seems as if the prophet corrected himself in the act of writing or dictating, and substituted for a word that would have applied only to the coronet one that was better fitted for the whole context.

Beauty for ashes. —Literally, a diadem, or coronet, that is to take the place of the ashes that had been sprinkled on the head of the mourners or penitents (2 Samuel 1:2; 2 Samuel 13:19; Joshua 7:6). The assonance of the two Hebrew words, ’ epher, paer, deserves notice.

Oil of joy. —Same phrase as in Psalm 45:7.

The spirit of heaviness ... —The second noun is that used for the “smoking” or “dimly burning” flax in Isaiah 42:3, and in its figurative sense in Isaiah 42:4; Ezekiel 21:7.

That they might be called trees of righteousness ... —Strictly, terebinths, or oaks, as the symbols of perennial verdure—the “righteousness” being thought of as the gift of the Spirit of Jehovah, and, therefore, life-giving and enduring—and in their beauty and strength manifesting His glory.