Isaiah 58:6-14

6 "Is not this the fast that I choose: ¹to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps ²of the yoke, to let the oppressed^[a] go free, and to break every yoke?

7 Is it not ³to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, ⁴and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 ⁵Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, ⁶and your healing shall spring up speedily; ⁷your righteousness shall go before you; ⁸the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away ⁹the yoke from your midst, ¹⁰the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

10 ¹¹if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, ¹²then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

11 And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be ¹³like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

12 ¹⁴And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.

13 ¹⁵"If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure^[b] on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking ¹⁶your own pleasure,^[c] or talking idly;^[d]

14 then you shall take delight in the LORD, ¹⁷and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;^[e] ¹⁸I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, ¹⁹for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

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Isaiah 58:6-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 58

From the wicked and antichristian party the prophet is bid to turn to the professors of the true religion, and openly, boldly, and sharply, reprove them for their sins, particularly their hypocrisy and formality in worship, Isa 58:1,2, who yet were angry, and complained that the Lord took no notice of their religious services, particularly their fasting, which is put for the whole; the reason of which was, because they did not fast aright; it was attended with much cruelty, strife, and wickedness, and only lay in external appearances, Isa 58:3-5, when they are directed how to keep a fast, and are shown what a true fast is, and what works and services are acceptable to God, Isa 58:6,7 on doing of which, light, health, prosperity, and hearing of their prayers, are promised, provided the yoke of oppression is taken away, and compassion shown to the poor, Isa 58:8-10, yea, a very fruitful and flourishing estate of the soul is promised, and a rebuilding of waste places, delight in the Lord, and great honour and dignity; so be it that the sabbath of the Lord, or public worship, is attended to in a proper manner, Isa 58:11-14.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 19

1. See Nehemiah 5:10-12
2. ver. 9
3. ver. 10; Ezekiel 18:7; [Matthew 25:35]
4. Nehemiah 5:5
5. [Job 11:17]
6. Jeremiah 30:17
7. Psalms 85:13
8. [Isaiah 52:12]
9. ver. 6
10. Proverbs 6:13
11. ver. 7, 8
12. [See ver. 8 above]
13. Jeremiah 31:12
14. Isaiah 61:4; Isaiah 65:21; [Ezra 6:14; Nehemiah 4:6]
15. Isaiah 56:2; See Nehemiah 13:15-21
16. ver. 3
17. Deuteronomy 32:13
18. Jeremiah 50:19
19. Isaiah 1:20

Footnotes 5

[a]. Or bruised
[b]. Or business
[c]. Or pursuing your own business
[d]. Hebrew or speaking a word
[e]. Or of the land

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.