Isaiah
Isaiah 58:2–6
2For day after day they seek Me
and delight to know My ways,
like a nation that does what is right
and does not forsake the justice of their God.
They ask Me for righteous judgments;
they delight in the nearness of God.”
3“Why have we fasted,
and You have not seen?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and You have not noticed?”
“Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please,
and you oppress all your workers.
4You fast with contention and strife
to strike viciously with your fist.
You cannot fast as you do today
and have your voice be heard on high.
5Is this the fast I have chosen:
a day for a man to deny himself,
to bow his head like a reed,
and to spread out sackcloth and ashes?
Will you call this a fast
and a day acceptable to the LORD?
6Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen:
to break the chains of wickedness,
to untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and tear off every yoke?
Word by word
Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.
Isaiah 58:2
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For | וְאוֹתִ֗י | wə·’ō·w·ṯî | Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker; first person common singular | H853 mark of the accusative |
| day | י֥וֹם | yō·wm | Noun - masculine singular | H3117 day |
| after day | יוֹם֙ | yō·wm | Noun - masculine singular | H3117 day |
| they seek Me | יִדְרֹשׁ֔וּן | yiḏ·rō·šūn | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural; Paragogic nun | H1875 resort to, seek |
| and delight | יֶחְפָּצ֑וּן | yeḥ·pā·ṣūn | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural; Paragogic nun | H2654 delight in |
| to know | וְדַ֥עַת | wə·ḏa·‘aṯ | Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct | H1847 knowledge |
| My ways | דְּרָכַ֖י | də·rā·ḵay | Noun - common plural construct; first person common singular | H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner |
| like a nation | כְּג֞וֹי | kə·ḡō·w | Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular | H1471 nation, people |
| that | אֲשֶׁר־ | ’ă·šer- | Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| does | עָשָׂ֗ה | ‘ā·śāh | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H6213 do, make |
| what is right | צְדָקָ֣ה | ṣə·ḏā·qāh | Noun - feminine singular | H6666 righteousness |
| and does not | לֹ֣א | lō | Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| forsake | עָזָ֔ב | ‘ā·zāḇ | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H5800 leave, forsake, loose |
| the justice | וּמִשְׁפַּ֤ט | ū·miš·paṭ | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct | H4941 judgment |
| of their God | אֱלֹהָיו֙ | ’ĕ·lō·hāw | Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular | H430 God |
| They ask Me | יִשְׁאָל֙וּנִי֙ | yiš·’ā·lū·nî | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural; first person common singular | H7592 ask, inquire |
| for righteous | צֶ֔דֶק | ṣe·ḏeq | Noun - masculine singular | H6664 rightness, righteousness |
| judgments | מִשְׁפְּטֵי־ | miš·pə·ṭê- | Noun - masculine plural construct | H4941 judgment |
| they delight | יֶחְפָּצֽוּן׃ | yeḥ·pā·ṣūn | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural; Paragogic nun | H2654 delight in |
| in the nearness | קִרְבַ֥ת | qir·ḇaṯ | Noun - feminine singular construct | H7132 approach |
| of God | אֱלֹהִ֖ים | ’ĕ·lō·hîm | Noun - masculine plural | H430 God |
Isaiah 58:3
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Why | לָ֤מָּה | lām·māh | Interrogative | H4100 what? how? aught |
| have we fasted | צַּ֙מְנוּ֙ | ṣam·nū | Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural | H6684 abstain from food, fast |
| and You have not | וְלֹ֣א | wə·lō | Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| seen | רָאִ֔יתָ | rā·’î·ṯā | Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | H7200 see |
| have we humbled | עִנִּ֥ינוּ | ‘in·nî·nū | Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common plural | H6031 be occupied, busied with |
| ourselves | נַפְשֵׁ֖נוּ | nap̄·šê·nū | Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common plural | H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion |
| and You have not | וְלֹ֣א | wə·lō | Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| noticed | תֵדָ֑ע | ṯê·ḏā‘ | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | H3045 know |
| Behold | הֵ֣ן | hên | Interjection | H2005 lo! behold |
| on the day | בְּי֤וֹם | bə·yō·wm | Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct | H3117 day |
| of your fast | צֹֽמְכֶם֙ | ṣō·mə·ḵem | Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine plural | H6685 fasting, fast |
| you do | תִּמְצְאוּ־ | tim·ṣə·’ū- | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | H4672 attain to, find |
| as you please | חֵ֔פֶץ | ḥê·p̄eṣ | Noun - masculine singular | H2656 delight, pleasure |
| and you oppress | תִּנְגֹּֽשׂוּ׃ | tin·gō·śū | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | H5065 press, drive, oppress, exact |
| all | וְכָל־ | wə·ḵāl | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| your workers | עַצְּבֵיכֶ֖ם | ‘aṣ·ṣə·ḇê·ḵem | Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine plural | H6092 toiler |
Isaiah 58:4
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You fast | תָּצ֔וּמוּ | tā·ṣū·mū | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | H6684 abstain from food, fast |
| with contention | לְרִ֤יב | lə·rîḇ | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular | H7379 strife, dispute |
| and strife | וּמַצָּה֙ | ū·maṣ·ṣāh | Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular | H4683 strife, contention |
| to strike | וּלְהַכּ֖וֹת | ū·lə·hak·kō·wṯ | Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | H5221 smite |
| viciously | רֶ֑שַׁע | re·ša‘ | Noun - masculine singular | H7562 wickedness |
| with your fist | בְּאֶגְרֹ֣ף | bə·’eḡ·rōp̄ | Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct | H106 fist |
| You cannot | לֹא־ | lō- | Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| fast | תָצ֣וּמוּ | ṯā·ṣū·mū | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | H6684 abstain from food, fast |
| as you do today | כַיּ֔וֹם | ḵay·yō·wm | Preposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine singular | H3117 day |
| and have your voice | קוֹלְכֶֽם׃ | qō·wl·ḵem | Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine plural | H6963 sound, voice |
| be heard | לְהַשְׁמִ֥יעַ | lə·haš·mî·a‘ | Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | H8085 hear |
| on high | בַּמָּר֖וֹם | bam·mā·rō·wm | Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4791 height |
Isaiah 58:5
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is | יִֽהְיֶה֙ | yih·yeh | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be |
| this | הֲכָזֶ֗ה | hă·ḵā·zeh | Pg, Preposition-k; Pronoun - masculine singular | H2088 this, that |
| the fast | צ֣וֹם | ṣō·wm | Noun - masculine singular | H6685 fasting, fast |
| I have chosen | אֶבְחָרֵ֔הוּ | ’eḇ·ḥā·rê·hū | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular; third person masculine singular | H977 choose |
| a day | י֛וֹם | yō·wm | Noun - masculine singular | H3117 day |
| for a man | אָדָ֖ם | ’ā·ḏām | Noun - masculine singular | H120 man, mankind |
| to deny | עַנּ֥וֹת | ‘an·nō·wṯ | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | H6031 be occupied, busied with |
| himself | נַפְשׁ֑וֹ | nap̄·šōw | Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion |
| to bow | הֲלָכֹ֨ף | hă·lā·ḵōp̄ | Preposition; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H3721 bend, bend down, be bent, bowed |
| his head | רֹאשׁ֗וֹ | rō·šōw | Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H7218 head |
| like a reed | כְּאַגְמֹ֜ן | kə·’aḡ·mōn | Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular | H100 rush, bulrush |
| and to spread out | יַצִּ֔יעַ | yaṣ·ṣî·a‘ | Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | H3331 lay, spread |
| sackcloth | וְשַׂ֤ק | wə·śaq | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular | H8242 sack, sackcloth |
| and ashes | וָאֵ֙פֶר֙ | wā·’ê·p̄er | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular | H665 ashes |
| Will you call | תִּקְרָא־ | tiq·rā- | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | H7121 call, proclaim, read |
| this | הֲלָזֶה֙ | hă·lā·zeh | Pg, Preposition-l; Pronoun - masculine singular | H2088 this, that |
| a fast | צ֔וֹם | ṣō·wm | Noun - masculine singular | H6685 fasting, fast |
| and a day | וְי֥וֹם | wə·yō·wm | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct | H3117 day |
| acceptable | רָצ֖וֹן | rā·ṣō·wn | Noun - masculine singular | H7522 goodwill, favour, acceptance, will |
| to the LORD | לַיהוָֽה׃ | Yah·weh | Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3068 Yahweh |
Isaiah 58:6
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isn’t | הֲל֣וֹא | hă·lō·w | Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| this | זֶה֮ | zeh | Pronoun - masculine singular | H2088 this, that |
| the fast | צ֣וֹם | ṣō·wm | Noun - masculine singular | H6685 fasting, fast |
| that I have chosen | אֶבְחָרֵהוּ֒ | ’eḇ·ḥā·rê·hū | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular; third person masculine singular | H977 choose |
| to break | פַּתֵּ֙חַ֙ | pat·tê·aḥ | Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute | H6605 open |
| the chains | חַרְצֻבּ֣וֹת | ḥar·ṣub·bō·wṯ | Noun - feminine plural construct | H2784 bond, fetter, pang |
| of wickedness | רֶ֔שַׁע | re·ša‘ | Noun - masculine singular | H7562 wickedness |
| to untie | הַתֵּ֖ר | hat·têr | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute | H5425 spring or start up |
| the cords | אֲגֻדּ֣וֹת | ’ă·ḡud·dō·wṯ | Noun - feminine plural construct | H92 band |
| of the yoke | מוֹטָ֑ה | mō·w·ṭāh | Noun - feminine singular | H4133 pole, bar (of yoke) |
| to set | וְשַׁלַּ֤ח | wə·šal·laḥ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute | H7971 send |
| the oppressed | רְצוּצִים֙ | rə·ṣū·ṣîm | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural | H7533 crush |
| free | חָפְשִׁ֔ים | ḥā·p̄ə·šîm | Adjective - masculine plural | H2670 free |
| and tear off | תְּנַתֵּֽקוּ׃ | tə·nat·tê·qū | Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | H5423 pull, draw, tear away, apart, off |
| every | וְכָל־ | wə·ḵāl | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| yoke | מוֹטָ֖ה | mō·w·ṭāh | Noun - feminine singular | H4133 pole, bar (of yoke) |
Cross-references
Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.
Isaiah 58:2 Titus 1:16 · Isaiah 29:13 · Matthew 15:7–9 · Mark 4:16–17 · James 1:21–22 · 1 Peter 2:1–2 · Hebrews 6:4–6 · Ezekiel 33:30–33 · Mark 12:14 · 1 Samuel 15:21–25
Isaiah 58:3 Luke 18:9–12 · Malachi 3:14 · Proverbs 28:9 · Matthew 20:11–12 · Leviticus 16:29 · Jonah 3:6–8 · Daniel 10:2–3 · Exodus 2:23–24 · Nehemiah 5:7
Isaiah 58:4 1 Kings 21:9–13 · Matthew 6:16–18 · Proverbs 21:27 · Isaiah 59:2
Isaiah 58:5 Daniel 9:3–19 · Zechariah 7:5 · Isaiah 49:8 · Esther 4:16 · Romans 12:2 · Isaiah 61:2 · Psalm 69:13 · 2 Chronicles 20:3 · Luke 4:19 · Leviticus 16:29 · Ezra 10:6 · Job 2:8
Isaiah 58:6 Nehemiah 5:10–12 · Isaiah 58:9 · 1 Timothy 6:1 · Jeremiah 34:8–11 · Micah 3:2–4
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.
Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.