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 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 58:6 | 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. | The chosen fast focuses on liberation and justice. |
| Matthew 6:1-4 | Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret shall himself reward thee openly. | True charity is done in secret, not for human praise. |
| Matthew 23:23 | Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. | Jesus criticizes religious hypocrisy that neglects justice and mercy. |
| Luke 4:18-19 | The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. | Jesus declares His mission as fulfilling this prophecy of liberation. |
| John 13:34-35 | A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. | Love for one another is the hallmark of Christ's followers, reflecting this principle. |
| Acts 10:34-35 | Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. | Righteousness and fearing God are accepted regardless of background. |
| Galatians 5:13-14 | For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. | Liberty in Christ is to be expressed through service and love. |
| Ephesians 4:28 | Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may give to him that needeth. | Encouragement to honest work and sharing with the needy. |
| James 1:27 | Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. | True religion involves caring for the vulnerable. |
| James 2:15-16 | If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? | Faith without corresponding works of compassion is dead. |
| 1 John 3:17-18 | But whoso hath this world's goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. | Love must be demonstrated through actions, not just words. |
| Proverbs 3:27-28 | Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. | We are obligated to help those in need when we can. |
| Amos 5:23-24 | But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. | God desires justice and righteousness over empty religious rituals. |
| Micah 6:8 | He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? | The essence of true worship is justice, mercy, and humility. |
| Jeremiah 22:3 | Thus saith the Lord; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place. | Kings are commanded to practice justice and protect the vulnerable. |
| Zechariah 7:9-10 | Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. | Emphasis on executing true judgment, mercy, and compassion. |
| Matthew 5:6 | Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. | Righteousness is a state of being blessed by God. |
| 1 Corinthians 7:23 | Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. | Liberation from servitude in Christ. |
| Leviticus 25:39-40 | And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: As a hired servant, and as a sojourner he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubilee: | Law for protection of indentured servants, to be treated with dignity. |
| Psalm 41:1 | Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. | God blesses those who show compassion to the poor. |
| Isaiah 61:1 | The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; | Connects to Jesus' ministry and the prophetic declaration of freedom. |
Isaiah 58 verses
Isaiah 58 6 Meaning
This verse describes a fast that God truly desires: to loose those bound by injustice, to lift the burden from the oppressed, to allow the vulnerable to escape, and to break every yoke of sin and suffering. It contrasts true worship with outward performances, emphasizing active compassion and righteousness as the way to experience God's favor and blessing.
Isaiah 58 6 Context
This verse is part of Isaiah chapter 58, which contrasts outward religious observances with genuine, heartfelt devotion that manifests in compassionate action. The prophet is addressing a people who are fasting and seeking God, but their hearts and actions are far from His ways. They are described as seeking God daily, delighting to know His ways, but simultaneously oppressing their workers and pursuing their own gain. God clarifies that true worship involves demonstrating His character – specifically, through acts of justice and mercy. This particular verse outlines the nature of a fast that God finds acceptable, shifting the focus from personal piety to communal well-being and the breaking of oppressive systems.
Isaiah 58 6 Word Analysis
- Is not (H'LO - halo') - An interrogative particle introducing a question, implying a strong affirmation or expectation. It's a rhetorical question designed to elicit agreement.
- this (zeh) - Demonstrative pronoun, referring to the specific fast previously discussed or implied.
- the fast (tsum - tsom) - Means "fasting," a religious practice of abstaining from food, often accompanied by prayer and repentance. Here it refers to a specific, mandated, or commonly practiced fast.
- that I have chosen (b'char-ti - bacharti) - From the root bachar (בָּחַר), meaning "to choose," "select," or "prefer." God is stating His preference and divine selection of a particular kind of spiritual discipline.
- to loose (pathoch) - From pathach (פָּתַח), meaning "to open," "to unloose," "to release." It implies setting free what is confined or restrained.
- the bands (mosroq - mosaroth) - Plural of moser (מוֹסֵר), meaning "bond," "fetter," "chain," "rein." These are restraints or things that tie down or control.
- of wickedness (rasha' - resha') - From rasha' (רָשָׁע), meaning "wickedness," "iniquity," "unrighteousness." Refers to moral wrong, injustice, and sinful deeds.
- to undo (mathar - mothar - potentially matar) - This word is debated. Some scholars suggest it means "to loosen" or "to break." Others propose "to undo" or "to set free." The context strongly suggests liberation.
- the heavy burdens (morah - mora or morot - morot) - Plural of mor (מוֹר) or related forms meaning "burden," "load," "weight." Refers to oppressive, heavy loads.
- and to let (qowlem) - Implies allowing or permitting something to happen.
- the oppressed (naqieh - naqei) - From naqi (נָקִי), typically meaning "innocent" or "guiltless." However, in this context, with the verb "to let go free," it likely refers to those who are unjustly treated or crushed, making them innocent victims. Some translations use "downtrodden" or "afflicted."
- go free (shalah - shalach) - From shalach (שָׁלַח), meaning "to send forth," "to release," "to let go."
- and that ye break (tiporet - tiporeth) - This is another complex word. It can mean "break," "shatter," or "rend." It signifies a decisive and complete destruction of something restrictive.
- every yoke (qol - qol) - From qol (עוֹל), meaning "yoke," "yoke of service," or a burden carried on the neck and shoulders. It symbolizes oppression, bondage, and forced labor.
Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:
- "bands of wickedness": This phrase depicts the entanglement and control that sin and evil exert. It speaks to covenants or agreements based on unrighteousness, or the spiritual chains of addiction and immoral behavior.
- "heavy burdens": This refers to the tangible and intangible weights placed upon people through exploitation, debt, or oppressive labor practices. It evokes the image of backs bent under the weight of unfair systems.
- "let the oppressed go free": This is a direct command for liberation. It’s about dismantling systems that hold people captive through unjust laws, economic disparity, or social hierarchy, and granting them freedom to live without fear.
- "break every yoke": This goes a step further, emphasizing the complete destruction of all forms of servitude and compulsion. It calls for a radical overturning of oppressive structures that deny human dignity and autonomy.
Isaiah 58 6 Bonus Section
The emphasis on specific acts of liberation in Isaiah 58:6 is striking. The Hebrew terms used for "bands," "burdens," and "yoke" convey the severity and pervasive nature of oppression. The prophecy here anticipates the ministry of Jesus, who declared, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me... to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the oppressed" (Luke 4:18). This verse, therefore, becomes a benchmark against which genuine faith and worship are measured. It underscores that spiritual disciplines are meaningless if they do not cultivate a heart of compassion that moves us to alleviate suffering and promote justice. This theme resonates throughout Scripture, linking a right relationship with God to a right relationship with one's neighbor, especially the most vulnerable. It teaches that the spiritual life is intrinsically communal and restorative.
Isaiah 58 6 Commentary
Isaiah 58:6 profoundly redefines what it means to truly honor God through fasting and worship. It’s not about external acts of self-denial for show, but an internal transformation that fuels outward acts of justice and liberation. The fast God desires is one that actively confronts and dismantles injustice in society. It’s about using one's spiritual discipline and resources to free those ensnared by sin, poverty, and oppressive systems. This verse calls believers to identify and break the "chains" of exploitation, to lift the "heavy burdens" of unfair labor or debt from others, and to tear down "every yoke" of bondage, whether it's social, economic, or spiritual. The essence is empathy in action, reflecting God's own heart for the downtrodden. This practical expression of faith is what truly pleases God and brings about spiritual breakthrough, both individually and corporately.
- Practical Example 1: Instead of just abstaining from food, a church group might organize to support legal aid for low-income families facing eviction.
- Practical Example 2: Advocating for fair wages or opposing exploitative labor practices aligns with "undoing the heavy burdens" and breaking "every yoke."
- Practical Example 3: Providing refuge or resources for victims of trafficking embodies "letting the oppressed go free."