Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 58

Verse 1

Cry aloud = Hebrew "call with the throat": i.e. deep down as in the oriental throat. It denotes not a wild cry, but solemnity with restraint. transgression = rebellion. Hebrew. pasha' App-44 .

the house of Jacob. See note on Isaiah 2:6 .

Verse 2

forsook. See note on Isaiah 1:4 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim.

justice = righteousness. Compare Ex. 21-23.

Verse 3

Wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

afflicted our soul. Reference to Pentateuch. This is a strictly Levitical technical expression (Leviticus 16:29 , Leviticus 16:31 ; Leviticus 23:27 , Leviticus 23:32 .Numbers 29:7; Numbers 29:7 ). This shows that the People were not in exile as alleged, but in the Land. See also the references to other observances below (Isaiah 58:13 ). Note that in Isaiah 58:0 and Isaiah 59:0 we have the reference to the Day of Atonement; in Isaiah 60:0 and Isaiah 61:0 , to the Sabbatical and Jubilee years. Isaiah 60:0 refers to the feast of Tabernacles with its "ingathering" (verses: Isaiah 58:3-5 , Isaiah 58:13 ), which followed the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27 , Leviticus 23:34 ).

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . Some codices, with one early printed edition, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "souls" (plural)

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

Verse 4

ye fast. Referring to Day of Atonement, which was still observed; and in the Land, not in exile, as alleged.

wickedness = lawlessness. Hebrew. rasha' App-44 .

ye shall not. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "and ye shall not".

to make = if ye would make.

Verse 5

chosen. See note on Isaiah 1:29 .

a man. Hebrew. adam . App-14 .

soul. Hebrew. nephesh . App-13 .

bulrush. See note on Isaiah 9:14 .

the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 6

bands = pangs. See note on Psalms 73:4 .

Verse 7

to deal = to break. The technical term for giving or partaking of food, as in Luke 24:30 , Luke 24:35 .Acts 2:42 , Acts 2:46 ; Acts 20:7 , Acts 20:11 ; Act 27:36 . 1 Corinthians 10:16 ; 1 Corinthians 11:24 . Compare Job 42:11 .Lamentations 4:4 .Ezekiel 18:7 ; Ezekiel 24:17 . Hosea 9:4 .

bread. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), for all kinds of food.

poor. Hebrew. 'anah. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .

hide not. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "do not thou hide".

thine own flesh. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 29:14 ).

Verse 8

thine health. Hebrew thy healing. Referring to the healing of wounds.

be = bring up.

rereward = rearguard. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 14:19 , Exodus 14:20 ). Compare Isaiah 52:12 .

Verse 9

cry. In distress.

Verse 10

draw out thy soul. Some codices, with Syriac, read "give out thy bread".

be. Supply Ellipsis (of verb "become"). Or, we have the Figure of speech Oxymoron . See App-6 .

Verse 11

guide = (gently) guide.

drought. Hebrew droughts (plural of majesty) = great drought.

make fat = invigorate.

Verse 12

build = rebuild. This is still future.

to dwell in: or, leading home.

Verse 13

thy foot. Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "thy feet" (plural)

from the sabbath. Reference to Pentateuch, as in Isaiah 56:2 .

pleasure. Some codices, with three early printed editions, read "pleasures" (pl).

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

thine own words = vain words: or, keep making talk,

Verse 14

delight thyself = revel.

cause thee to ride, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:13 ; Deuteronomy 33:29 ).