Isaiahchapter 58

14 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 262 cross-references outward and receives 359 — heaviest partner: Isaiah.

Chapter summary

Fasting is the chapter's battleground. Jehovah commands the prophet to lift his voice like a trumpet and declare Jacob's sins: the people seek God daily and ask why their fasts go unseen, yet on fast days they pursue their own pleasure, exact labor, and strike with the fist (vv. 1-4). Jehovah redefines the fast he chooses: loosing the bonds of wickedness, breaking every yoke, sharing bread with the hungry, housing the outcast poor, clothing the naked (vv. 6-7). Then light breaks forth like the morning, Jehovah answers "Here I am," the people become a watered garden and an unfailing spring, ancient ruins are rebuilt, and they are named "The repairer of the breach" (vv. 8-12). A sabbath promise closes the chapter: those who call the sabbath a delight will ride the high places of the earth and feed on Jacob's heritage (vv. 13-14).

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Prophecy · Isaiah — see the Isaiah overview for the book's full setting.

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

2 Yet 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 righteous judgments; they delight to draw near unto 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 your own pleasure, and exact all your labors.

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

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

6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, 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 thy healing shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of Jehovah shall be thy rearward.

9 Then shalt thou call, and Jehovah will answer; thou shalt cry, and he will say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedly;