Discovery BoxIsaiah 58:2-3
Context58:2 They seek me day after day;
they want to know my requirements, 1
like a nation that does what is right
and does not reject the law of their God.
They ask me for just decrees;
they want to be near God.
58:3 They lament, 2 ‘Why don’t you notice when we fast?
Why don’t you pay attention when we humble ourselves?’
Look, at the same time you fast, you satisfy your selfish desires, 3
you oppress your workers. 4
Isaiah 58:6-9
Context58:6 No, this is the kind of fast I want. 5
I want you 6 to remove the sinful chains,
to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke,
to set free the oppressed, 7
and to break every burdensome yoke.
58:7 I want you 8 to share your food with the hungry
and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people. 9
When you see someone naked, clothe him!
Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood! 10
58:8 Then your light will shine like the sunrise; 11
your restoration will quickly arrive; 12
your godly behavior 13 will go before you,
and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard. 14
58:9 Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond;
you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’
You must 15 remove the burdensome yoke from among you
and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully.
[58:2] 1 tn Heb “ways” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, TEV); NLT “my laws.”
[58:3] 2 tn The words “they lament” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[58:3] 3 tn Heb “you find pleasure”; NASB “you find your desire.”
[58:3] 4 tn Or perhaps, “debtors.” See HALOT 865 s.v. * עָצֵב.
[58:6] 3 tn Heb “Is this not a fast I choose?” “No” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
[58:6] 4 tn The words “I want you” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[58:7] 4 tn Heb “Is it not?” The rhetorical question here expects a positive answer, “It is!”
[58:7] 5 tn Heb “and afflicted [ones], homeless [ones] you should bring [into] a house.” On the meaning of מְרוּדִים (mÿrudim, “homeless”) see HALOT 633 s.v. *מָרוּד.
[58:7] 6 tn Heb “and from your flesh do not hide yourself.”
[58:8] 5 tn Heb “will burst out like the dawn.”
[58:8] 6 tn Heb “prosper”; KJV “spring forth speedily.”
[58:8] 7 tn Or “righteousness.” Their godly behavior will be on display for all to see.
[58:8] 8 sn The nation will experience God’s protective presence.
[58:9] 6 tn Heb “if you.” In the Hebrew text vv. 9b-10 are one long conditional sentence. The protasis (“if” clauses appear in vv. 9b-10a), with the apodosis (“then” clause) appearing in v. 10b.
