Isaiah 58 10

Isaiah 58:10 kjv

And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:

Isaiah 58:10 nkjv

If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

Isaiah 58:10 niv

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

Isaiah 58:10 esv

if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

Isaiah 58:10 nlt

Feed the hungry,
and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.

Isaiah 58 verses

Isaiah 58 10 Meaning

The verse proclaims that when an individual wholeheartedly extends their empathy and provisions to those in profound hunger and deep affliction, their existing struggles, obscurity, or despair will be supernaturally reversed. This means their adversity will dissipate, replaced by divine blessing, insight, and manifest favor that emerges even from the darkest circumstances, akin to dense fog or shadow transforming into the brilliant, unobstructed light of midday.

Isaiah 58 10 Context

Isaiah chapter 58 offers a direct confrontation between ritualistic religion and authentic, ethical piety. Prior to verse 10, the prophet exposes the people's hypocritical fasting: they meticulously observe religious rituals while simultaneously engaging in strife, injustice, and self-serving acts, wondering why God ignores their supposed devotion (vv. 1-5). God responds by declaring that the "fast I choose" (vv. 6-7) is not outward display but inward transformation manifesting in tangible compassion: breaking bonds of wickedness, setting the oppressed free, sharing food with the hungry, and providing shelter for the homeless. Verse 10 builds on these declarations, presenting the magnificent, divinely assured outcomes for those who embody such genuine, other-centered love. Historically, this message would have powerfully challenged communities returning from exile or those established afterward, urging them to move beyond mere formal religion to live out the demanding ethical core of their covenant relationship with God.

Isaiah 58 10 Word analysis

• and if you pour out your soul (wəṭāpuq naphshekā)
  • wəṭāpuq: Hebrew, means "and if you make to yield, deal bountifully, cause to flow." It implies generous giving from an internal wellspring, not mere superficial assistance.
  • naphshekā: Hebrew for "your soul, life, being, self." This emphasizes a deeply empathetic and self-giving act, offering not just resources but a part of one's very self or deepest compassion.
• to the hungry (lārā'ēv)
  • lārā'ēv: Hebrew, means "to the hungry one." Primarily denotes physical hunger but broadly encompasses those in dire physical need and even those with deep spiritual or emotional voids that true charity addresses.
• and satisfy the desire of the afflicted (wənefesh naanāh tasbi)
  • wənefesh: "and the soul/appetite/desire." Refers to the innermost longing or the deep, unfulfilled needs of a person.
  • naanāh`: "afflicted, humbled, oppressed, suffering." Points to those who are downtrodden, distressed, or experiencing deep sorrow and hardship, extending beyond mere physical deprivation to include emotional and social suffering.
  • tasbi: Hebrew, means "you satisfy, fill completely, cause to be sated." It signifies bringing full and complete contentment, moving beyond temporary relief to deep, lasting satisfaction.
• then your light shall rise in the darkness
  • your light: (ôr). Symbolizes divine blessing, prosperity, clarity, insight, spiritual joy, divine favor, and God's manifest presence in one's life.
  • rise: (zāraḥ). To shine forth, burst out. Suggests a sudden, powerful, and undeniable emergence.
  • in the darkness: (bāḥōshekh). Represents adversity, distress, despair, ignorance, obscurity, or even spiritual confusion. It signifies a profound challenge or difficult circumstances from which blessing will emerge.
• and your gloom be as the noonday
  • your gloom: (wə`arāfeltēkā). "Your thick darkness, your dense cloud, your mist." ʿarāfel refers to a profound, often almost palpable darkness, denoting deep trouble, sorrow, or a season of adversity.
  • be as the noonday: (kaṣṣohorayim). "As the fullest daylight, the brightest mid-day." A metaphor for absolute clarity, peak blessing, complete vindication, uninterrupted favor, and the absence of any remaining shadows. It signifies total transformation and glorious illumination.

Words-group analysis

• pour out your soul to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted: This pairing signifies active, deeply empathetic, and holistic compassion. It instructs not just providing external goods but also giving of one's inner self to meet the fundamental and often overlooked emotional, social, and spiritual longings of those in dire need.
• then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday: This imagery contrasts dire situations with absolute, radiant blessing. It speaks of a miraculous and comprehensive reversal where all forms of adversity (represented by "darkness" and "gloom") are not merely alleviated but entirely transformed into profound clarity, divine favor, and complete, enduring flourishing, likened to the sun's brightest peak.

Isaiah 58 10 Bonus section

The rhetorical force of Isaiah 58:10 lies in its radical promises that directly counter the previous accusations of self-serving religiosity. The people were performing "fasts" for their own benefit, yet here, God promises a dramatic light/blessing when they "pour out their soul" for others. The phrase "pour out your soul" (tāpuq naphshekā) implies a proactive, deeply committed and personal giving that may even entail self-depletion for the sake of another's wholeness, much more than simply distributing leftovers. This verse creates a strong theological paradox where giving of oneself, seemingly a diminishment, actually leads to ultimate spiritual enrichment and manifestation of divine light. The intensity of the light promised, "brighter than the noonday," surpasses simple relief from darkness, signifying a glorification and total illumination that banishes every shadow and offers supreme clarity and well-being in God's presence.

Isaiah 58 10 Commentary

Isaiah 58:10 encapsulates the profound connection between authentic compassionate action and divine blessing. It stands as a stark challenge to religious formalism, asserting that true worship of God is manifest in radical, self-giving care for the most vulnerable members of society—the hungry and the afflicted. The prophet assures that such genuine empathy, expressed by "pouring out one's soul" and deeply satisfying suffering, is met with an extraordinary spiritual and existential transformation. Adversity and spiritual dimness ("darkness" and "gloom") will be dramatically replaced by "light" and the brilliance of "noonday," symbolizing divine favor, clarity, vindication, and joyous flourishing that penetrates the deepest shadows of life. This is not mere self-improvement, but a promised intervention by God, elevating one's entire life into radiant testimony and sustained blessing.Examples:

• A charitable organization faithfully providing shelter and food during a crisis finds unforeseen resources and favor for its mission.
• An individual sacrificially volunteering time at a local outreach finds their personal anxieties replaced with peace and clear guidance in their own life challenges.
• A community united in efforts to relieve poverty and social injustice often experiences revitalized unity, purpose, and visible societal betterment.