Isaiah 58

King James Version

Full text for Isaiah Chapter 58

1¶ Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

2Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

3¶ Wherefore have we fasted, [say they], and thou seest not? [wherefore] have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

4Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as [ye do this] day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

5Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? [is it] to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes [under him]? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

6[Is] not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

7[Is it] not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

8¶ Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

9Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I [am]. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

10And [if] thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness [be] as the noonday:

11And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

12And [they that shall be] of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

13¶ If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, [from] doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking [thine own] words:

14Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it].

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The prophet is commanded to expose Israel's sins despite their outward religious observances. God reveals that their fasting is hypocritical, driven by selfish desires and strife, rather than true humility. He defines the acceptable fast as acts of justice, mercy, and compassion towards the oppressed and needy. Observing this true fast and honoring the Sabbath will bring divine blessings, including light, health, guidance, and restoration.

Medium Summary

Isaiah is instructed to boldly declare the transgressions of God's people, who, despite their daily seeking of God, engage in unrighteousness. The people question why their fasting and self-affliction are not acknowledged, to which God exposes their hypocrisy. He reveals that their fasts are for personal gain, strife, and oppression, rather than genuine devotion. God then outlines the true fast He desires: to loose the bonds of wickedness, free the oppressed, feed the hungry, and care for the poor and naked. If they embrace this genuine righteousness, divine blessings will follow, including spiritual light, physical health, God's presence, answered prayers, continuous guidance, and the restoration of their land. Furthermore, honoring the Sabbath by refraining from personal pleasure and delighting in God's holy day will result in delight in the Lord and exaltation.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with a divine command to Isaiah to cry aloud and expose the transgressions and sins of the house of Jacob, despite their outward show of piety and daily seeking of God's ways. The people, perplexed, question why their fasting and self-affliction go unnoticed by the Lord. God directly confronts their hypocrisy, revealing that on their fast days, they pursue their own pleasure, exact labor, and engage in strife and debate, even smiting with wickedness. He declares that such a superficial display of humility, characterized by bowing the head and spreading sackcloth, is not the fast He has chosen or an acceptable day to Him. Instead, God defines the true, acceptable fast as one rooted in justice and compassion. This involves loosing the bands of wickedness, undoing heavy burdens, letting the oppressed go free, and breaking every yoke. It further extends to practical acts of charity: sharing bread with the hungry, bringing the homeless poor into one's house, clothing the naked, and not hiding from one's own kin. For those who embrace this genuine righteousness, profound blessings are promised. Their light will break forth as the morning, their health will spring forth speedily, righteousness will precede them, and the glory of the Lord will be their rereward. They will call upon the Lord, and He will answer, guiding them continually, satisfying their souls, and making them like a well-watered garden. Moreover, their descendants will rebuild ancient ruins, and they will be known as "The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." The chapter concludes by emphasizing the importance of honoring the Sabbath. If they turn away from their own pleasure on God's holy day, call the Sabbath a delight, and honor the Lord by refraining from their own ways and words, then they will delight in the Lord, be exalted, and inherit the heritage of Jacob, for the Lord Himself has spoken it.

Core Concepts

  • Hypocritical FastingThe chapter condemns the people's outward religious observance of fasting because it is accompanied by selfish pursuits, oppression, and strife, rather than genuine humility or devotion to God.
  • True FastingGod defines acceptable fasting not as mere ritual or outward display, but as acts of justice, mercy, and compassion, such as freeing the oppressed, feeding the hungry, and caring for the poor.
  • Divine Blessings for RighteousnessAdherence to God's true fast and righteous living promises numerous blessings, including spiritual enlightenment, physical health, divine guidance, answered prayers, and the restoration of their land and community.
  • Sabbath ObservanceThe chapter emphasizes the sanctity of the Sabbath, requiring people to refrain from their own pleasures and pursuits on this holy day, instead honoring it as a delight to the Lord.
  • Restoration and RepairAs a reward for genuine righteousness and Sabbath keeping, the people are promised to be instruments of restoration, rebuilding ancient ruins and being called "The repairer of the breach."
  • Justice and MercyThe core message underscores that God values practical acts of justice and mercy towards fellow human beings more than mere ritualistic religious practices.