Isaiah 58 6

Isaiah 58:6 kjv

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

Isaiah 58:6 nkjv

"Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?

Isaiah 58:6 niv

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Isaiah 58:6 esv

"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

Isaiah 58:6 nlt

"No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.

Isaiah 58 verses

Isaiah 58 6 Meaning

Isaiah 58:6 describes the fast that God truly desires, shifting the focus from mere ritualistic abstinence to active social justice and compassion. It calls for specific actions to alleviate human suffering by dismantling systemic oppression, freeing those unjustly bound, releasing the burdened, and breaking all forms of subjugation. This divinely chosen fast emphasizes practical righteousness over ceremonial piety, revealing the core of true worship as loving one's neighbor through liberating deeds.

Isaiah 58 6 Context

Isaiah 58 focuses on the discrepancy between Israel's external religious observances and their internal spiritual condition and societal practices. The people diligently fast and outwardly seek God, yet complain that He doesn't notice their devotion (vv. 2-3). God, through Isaiah, confronts their superficial piety, revealing that their fasts are accompanied by contention, exploitation, and oppression (vv. 3-5). They afflict themselves but fail to extend compassion to others. Verse 6 directly counters this by defining the true fast that God desires: one characterized by actively pursuing justice, freeing the oppressed, and breaking oppressive systems. It transitions from a critique of false religion to an exposition of genuine godliness, leading to divine favor and restoration, as outlined in the subsequent verses. This passage stands as a strong polemic against the mere performance of religious ritual without ethical action.

Isaiah 58 6 Word analysis

• Is not this the fast...:
  • fast (Hebrew: ṣōwm - צוֹם): More than abstaining from food; it often implies humbling oneself, expressing sorrow, or seeking divine intervention. Here, it is juxtaposed with the people's form of fasting. The interrogative challenges their understanding of true worship.
• ...that I choose?:
  • Emphasizes divine authority and preference. God, not human tradition or preference, defines what is acceptable and righteous in worship. It points to an ethical standard rather than merely ceremonial.
• to loose the bonds of wickedness,:
  • loose (Hebrew: pā·taḥ - פָּתַח): To open, to release. It denotes active intervention.
  • bonds (Hebrew: ʾăḡuddōt - אֲגֻדּוֹת): Literally "bundles" or "bands." Implies tying, restriction, or ensnarement. Metaphorically, these are chains of injustice or societal structures that unjustly restrain people.
  • wickedness (Hebrew: rešaʿ - רֶשַׁע): Moral wrong, injustice, evil, particularly in a social or judicial sense. This refers to bonds created by unethical practices or oppressive laws. This could involve economic exploitation, debt-slavery, or legal manipulation.
• to undo the straps of the yoke,:
  • undo (Hebrew: nā·tar - נָתַר): To untie, release. Similar to loose but often with a sense of breaking or shattering.
  • straps (Hebrew: mōṭōwṭ - מוֹטוֹת): Bars or poles of a yoke, referring to the heavy wooden implements used to harness animals or force humans into labor.
  • yoke (Hebrew: mō·ṭāh - מוֹטָה): The actual implement of forced labor and submission. Symbolically, it represents oppression, servitude, and heavy burdens. This speaks to both literal servitude and metaphorical economic or social burdens.
• to let the oppressed go free,:
  • let go free (Hebrew: šā·laḥ ḥāf·šîm - שָׁלַח חָפְשִׁים): šā·laḥ means to send away, release; ḥāf·šîm means free, at liberty, legally emancipated. This emphasizes tangible, deliberate action for liberation.
  • oppressed (Hebrew: rəṣūṣîm - רְצוּצִים): Those who are crushed, broken, or trodden down; typically the poor, the weak, and the vulnerable subjected to mistreatment or exploitation.
• and to break every yoke?:
  • break (Hebrew: nā·ṯaq - נָתַק): To tear off, pull apart, dismantle completely. A stronger verb than undo or loose, suggesting a complete demolition of the oppressive system.
  • every yoke: The culmination and generalization of the previous points, calling for the eradication of all forms of injustice and subjugation, ensuring no oppression remains.

Isaiah 58 6 Bonus section

This verse's emphasis on actively "loosening bonds" and "breaking yokes" points to the prophetic nature of true faith, demanding intervention and transformation within society. It underscores the concept that genuine spiritual commitment is inseparable from social ethics, making justice a non-negotiable aspect of worship. The use of Hebrew terms like reshaʿ for wickedness and motah for yoke highlights not just individual wrongdoing, but entrenched, systemic issues that require comprehensive, often radical, action. This understanding forms a foundational aspect of liberation theology and social justice movements rooted in Judeo-Christian ethics, affirming that advocating for the downtrodden is not merely charity but a direct fulfillment of God's desired form of devotion.

Isaiah 58 6 Commentary

Isaiah 58:6 reveals God's heart for justice as the true expression of worship. The fast He chooses is not merely an inward spiritual exercise of self-denial but an outward, tangible commitment to ethical conduct and social righteousness. The passage uses powerful imagery of chains, yokes, and oppression to describe systemic injustices present in society. To "loose the bonds of wickedness" means to dismantle oppressive structures, legal or economic, that unfairly disadvantage or enslave others. "Undo the straps of the yoke" and "let the oppressed go free" are calls to action for immediate relief for those suffering under direct burdens and servitude. Finally, "to break every yoke" serves as an overarching demand for a complete and radical dismantling of all instruments of oppression. This verse serves as a perpetual challenge to religious communities: true piety is inextricably linked to actively pursuing freedom and justice for the vulnerable and marginalized, embodying the divine character of a God who champions liberation.