Isaiah 56:1
in Isaiah 56This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for My salvation is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Thus saith Jehovah, Keep ye justice, and do righteousness; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
KJV
Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
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This verse in Isaiah 56
Commentary
11 notes on this verseIt is because "the righteousness of the Lord approaches to us," that we, on our part, ought to draw near to him. The Lord calls himself "righteous," and declares that this is "his righteousness," not because he keeps it shut up in himself, but because he pours it out on men. In like manner he calls it "his salvation," by which he delivers men from destruction.
This site's exposition
Maintain justice and do what is right
on Isaiah 56:1-2
The command “Maintain justice and do what is right” rests on a promise: “for My salvation is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed”. Justice toward others and the keeping of the Sabbath stand together, and Barnes sets the chapter at the return from exile.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Therefore, this is the man, and the son of the inner man, of whom it is frequently said in Leviticus: "Man, man": in him is blessedness, because he accomplishes the first and grasps these things: judgment, namely, and justice, and the salvation of the Lord, which is near, and is to be revealed to all nations: so that he not only does what is commanded, but holds fast with a strict hand; and keeps the Sabbath, lest he defile it.
The inspired prophets spoke not only of things to come but also gave dogmatic and ethical instruction. And they announced both judgment and salvation to those of former times, so that by the promise of good things and by the warning of pains they might …
(Chapter 56, Verse 1) Thus says the Lord: Keep justice, and do righteousness, for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. The Seventy, instead of righteousness, have translated mercy, the rest likewise. With the prophecy of the nations being fulfilled, which speaks of the coming of the word of God, changing the thorn and the nettle into cypress and myrtle, Isaiah speaks to the listeners of that time, urging them to do all that is right and prepare for the coming of the Savior, for He is the justice and mercy of God. For if the thoughts of the Saints are judgments: and we should have trained senses to discern between good and evil, why do we not always hold judgment, so that we do not despise the person of the poor in judgment, nor be intimidated by the power of the rich: but rather judge great as small, knowing according to Moses that the judgment of the Lord is, who judges the judges (Deut. I); according to which it is also read in the psalm: God stands in the congregation of the gods: but judges among the gods (Ps. LXXXI, 1). This that is now said: Keep judgment, and do justice, is similar to: Blessed are they that keep judgment, and do justice at all times (Psalm 105:3); so that they may justly pursue what is just. Although in the name of justice, every place seems to signify to me that whoever has done one justice is said to have fulfilled all the virtues that follow one another and adhere to one another: so that whoever has one, has them all, and whoever lacks one, lacks them all. This is what the fourteenth psalm signifies: He who walks blamelessly, and works righteousness (Ps. XIV, 2). And elsewhere it is written: Learn righteousness, you who dwell on the earth (Isai. XXVI, 9). And the words of the saints testify that the Savior, who became our righteousness, holiness, and redemption, is the mercy of God (I Cor. […]
The Medieval Church1 voice
Thus says the Lord. Here, after he had promised liberation from evils, he begins to promise salvation in the conferring of goods. And this is divided into three parts: in the first part, the preparation of salvation is set out; in the second, the promise …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He tells us what are his expectations of duty from us, in consideration thereof. Say not, "We see the salvation near, and therefore we may live as we list, for there is no danger now of missing it or coming short of it;" that is turning the grace of God into wantonness. But, on the contrary, when the salvation is near double your guard against sin.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Thus saith the Lord, keep ye judgment, and do justice,....
Great encouragement given to strangers that were willing to come under the bonds of the covenant, assuring them of the blessings of the covenant,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
So it shall be before the second coming (Mal 4:4-6). near to come-- (Mt 3:2; 4:17), also as to the second coming (Isa 62:10, 11; Heb 10:25). righteousness--answering to "salvation" in the parallel clause; therefore it means righteousness which bringeth salvation (Isa 46:13;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Thus saith the Lord - That is, in view of the fact that the kingdom of God was to come at no distant period. Yahweh states what was necessary to prepare themselves for it, and what was the character which he demanded of those who were disposed to embrace its offers, and who would be admitted to its privileges. Keep ye judgment - Margin, ‘Equity.’ Break off your sins, and be holy.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כֹּ֚ה | koh | thus | H3541 → | 577 times |
| אָמַ֣ר | ʾamar | he says | H559 → | 5305 times |
| יְהוָ֔ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| שִׁמְר֥וּ | shimru | keep | H8104 → | 468 times |
| מִשְׁפָּ֖ט | mishpat | justice | H4941 → | 422 times |
| וַעֲשׂ֣וּ | vaasu | and do | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| צְדָקָ֑ה | tzedakah | righteousness | H6666 → | 157 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| קְרוֹבָ֤ה | kerovah | [is] near | H7138 → | 77 times |
| יְשֽׁוּעָתִי֙ | yeshuati | salvation my | H3444 → | 78 times |
| לָב֔וֹא | lavo' | to come | H935 → | 2568 times |
| וְצִדְקָתִ֖י | vetzidkati | and righteousness my | H6666 → | 157 times |
| לְהִגָּלֽוֹת׃ | lehigalot | to be revealed | H1540 → | 186 times |
כֹּ֚הthus
kohH3541 →577 times
אָמַ֣רhe says
ʾamarH559 →5305 times
יְהוָ֔הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
שִׁמְר֥וּkeep
shimruH8104 →468 times
מִשְׁפָּ֖טjustice
mishpatH4941 →422 times
וַעֲשׂ֣וּand do
vaasuH6213 →2628 times
צְדָקָ֑הrighteousness
tzedakahH6666 →157 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
קְרוֹבָ֤ה[is] near
kerovahH7138 →77 times
יְשֽׁוּעָתִי֙salvation my
yeshuatiH3444 →78 times
לָב֔וֹאto come
lavo'H935 →2568 times
וְצִדְקָתִ֖יand righteousness my
vetzidkatiH6666 →157 times
לְהִגָּלֽוֹת׃to be revealed
lehigalotH1540 →186 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 1:17For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
it leads to
- Habakkuk 2:4
Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright—but the righteous will live by faith—
- Galatians 3:11
Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
- Hebrews 10:38
But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.”
- Philippians 3:9
and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
- Hebrews 11:6–7
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
- Habakkuk 2:4
Through
Matthew 3:2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
it leads to
- Matthew 4:17
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
- Mark 1:15
“The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”
- Matthew 4:17
Through
Psalms 85:9Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.
it leads to
- Isaiah 46:13
I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.
- Isaiah 46:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Isaiah
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 18:56.1 and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.