Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:10

And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry "If thou bring forth thy bread to the hungry" - "To draw out thy soul to the hungry," as our translators rightly enough express the present Hebrew text, is an obscure phrase, and without example in any other place. But instead of נפשך naphshecha , thy soul, eight MSS. (three ancient) of Kennicott's and three of De Rossi's read לחמך lachmecha , thy bread; and so the Syriac renders it. The Septuagint express both words, τον αρτον εκ της... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:11

And make fat thy bones "And he shall renew thy strength" - Chaldaeus forte legit עצמתך יחכיף yachaliph otsmathecha ; confer cap . Isaiah 40:29 , Isaiah 40:31 , et Isaiah 41:1 . - Secker. "The Chaldee perhaps read עצמתך יחליף yachaliph otsmathecha . "The Chaldee has עלמא בחיי יחיי וגופך veguphach vechaiyey bechaiyey alma , "and he will vivify thy body in life eternal." The rest of the ancients seem not to know what to make of יחליץ yachalits ; and the rendering of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:1

Cry aloud ; literally, cry from the throat; "a plein gosier," as Calvin says. The command is addressed to the prophet by Jehovah, who will have him warn the people in such sort as to compel their attention. Lift up thy voice like a trumpet (comp. Hosea 8:1 ; Joel 2:1 ). The trumpet gives a note of alarm. Show my people their transgression ; i.e. "show them how they are especially offending me at this time" (see Micah 3:8 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:1-12

SECTION VI . PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS , FOLLOWED BY A CONFESSION AND A PROMISE ( Isaiah 58:1-14 ; Isaiah 59:1-21 .). FORMALISM REBUKED AND INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN WITH RESPECT TO FASTING . As in the last section, so here, the prophet's eye seems to rest upon his contemporaries rather than upon the exiles; and to note the vices of the time, which have a general resemblance to those rebuked in Isaiah 1:1-31 . The whole Law seems to be in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:1-12

True and spurious fasting. Loudly, with all the strength of throat and as with trumpet-voice, the prophet is to cry and denounce the rebellion and the sins of the people. I. THEIR FORMALITY AND HYPOCRISY , They consult Jehovah daily; they apply to the prophet or the oracle; they offer prayer. They profess to desire to know God's ways, his commands, and his dealings with his people. Just as if they were a holy people, and were not really far in heart from God, they demand of him... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:1-12

Religion: its semblance, its substance, its reward. I. THE SEMBLANCE OF RELIGION . It argues nothing whatever against religion that there is a great deal of hypocrisy in the world; indeed, the absence would be a more formidable argument than the presence of it. For men imitate that which is most worthy of esteem, and if nobody-pretended to be religious it would be fair to conclude that religion itself was of very small account. Imitation implies the respect, and indicates the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:2

They seek me daily , and delight to know my ways (compare the picture drawn in Isaiah 1:11-15 ). We have there exactly the same representation of a people honouring God with their lips, but whose hearts are far from him—zealous in all the outward forms of religion, even making "many prayers" ( Isaiah 1:15 ), but yet altogether an offence to God. They are not conscious hypocrites—quite the reverse; they are bent on "doing righteousness," on not forsaking God's ordinance, on continually... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:2

Delight in God. "Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways." Religion is little if it is not delight in God. This is its true touchstone. It is what we love that constitutes an abiding test. If we do not feel at heart the blessedness of religion, we may discover that we are only seeking it for selfish safety, or for the world's approval of a respectable name. I. THE DAILY ORISON . We seek that which we desire; and how ingenious is love in finding words of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:2

Practical godliness. "As a nation that did righteousness." No word occurs oftener in the Bible than this word "righteousness." It is the granite foundations of God's government. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" And it is this which is the salt of a nation. "Righteousness exalteth a nation." There may be much sentimentality in human beings without the cardinal virtues; but, wanting these, all else is meretricious and hollow. I. THE GLORY OF ISRAEL . They were not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:2

The offence of merely external religiousness. "And [yet] me they consult daily, and to know my ways they desire: as a nation that hath done righteousness, and hath not forsaken the Law of God, they ask of me judgments of righteousness'' (Cheyne). "The words point, to the incongruous union, possible in the reign of Manasseh, but hardly possible after the exile, of the formal recognition of Jehovah with an apostate life. Every phrase rings in the tone of an incisive irony, describing each... read more

Group of Brands