Isaiah 58:10

10 and if you offer yourself^[a] to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted one, then your light will shine in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday.

Isaiah 58:10 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 58:10

And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry
Not only deal out thy bread, but thy soul also, to him; that is, give him food cheerfully, with a good will, expressing a hearty love and affection for him; do it heartily, as to the Lord; let thy soul go along with it; and this is true of affectionate ministers of the Gospel, who not only impart that, but their own souls also, ( 1 Thessalonians 2:8 ) : and satisfy the afflicted soul;
distressed for want of food; not only give it food, but to the full; not only just enough to support life, but to satisfaction; or so as to be filled with good things, or however a sufficiency of them: then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the
noonday;
in the midst of darkness of affliction, or desertion, the light of prosperity and joy shall spring up, and a dark night of sorrow and distress become a clear day of peace and comfort; see ( Psalms 112:4 ) ( Isaiah 42:16 ) , at evening time it shall be light, ( Zechariah 14:7 ) .

Isaiah 58:10 In-Context

8 Then your light will appear like the dawn, and your recovery will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the Lord's glory will be your rear guard.

9 At that time, when you call, the Lord will answer; when you cry out, He will say: Here I am. If you get rid of the yoke from those around you, the finger-pointing and malicious speaking,

10 and if you offer yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted one, then your light will shine in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday.

11 The Lord will always lead you, satisfy you in a parched land, and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring whose waters never run dry.

12 Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the foundations laid long ago; you will be called the repairer of broken walls, the restorer of streets where people live.

Footnotes

• [a]. Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr read offer your bread