Isaiah 58

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58

This elegant chapter contains a severe reproof of the Jews on account of their vices, particularly their hypocrisy in practising and relying on outward ceremonies, such as fasting and bodily humiliation, without true repentance, Isaiah 58:1-5 . It then lays down a clear and comprehensive summary of the duties they owed to their fellow creatures, Isaiah 58:6 , Isaiah 58:7 . Large promises of happiness and prosperity are likewise annexed to the performance of these duties in a variety of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:1

Cry aloud, spare not - Never was a louder cry against the hypocrisy, nor a more cutting reproof of the wickedness, of a people professing a national established religion, having all the forms of godliness without a particle of its power. This chapter has been often appointed to be read on political fast days for the success of wars carried on for - God knows what purposes, and originating in - God knows what motives. Politically speaking, was ever any thing more injudicious? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:3

Have we adopted our soul "Have we afflicted our souls" - Twenty-seven MSS. (six ancient) of Dr. Kennicott's, thirty-six of De Rossi's, and two of my own, and the old edition of 1488 have the noun in the plural number, נפשינו naphsheynu , our souls; and so the Septuagint, Chaldee, and Vulgate. This reading is undoubtedly genuine. In the day of your fast ye find pleasure - Fast days are generally called holidays, and holidays are days of idleness and pleasure. In numberless cases the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:4

Ye fast for strife and debate - How often is this the case! A whole nation are called to fast to implore God's blessing on wars carried on for the purposes of wrath and ambition. To smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day "To smite with the fist the poor. Wherefore fast ye unto me in this manner" - I follow the version of the Septuagint, which gives a much better sense than the present reading of the Hebrew. Instead of לא רשע resha lo , they seem to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:6

Let the oppressed go free - How can any nation pretend to fast or worship God at all, or dare to profess that they believe in the existence of such a Being, while they carry on the slave trade, and traffic in the souls, blood, and bodies, of men! O ye most flagitious of knaves, and worst of hypocrites, cast off at once the mask of religion; and deepen not your endless perdition by professing the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, while ye continue in this traffic! read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:7

Deal thy bread to the hungry - But this thou canst not do, if thou eat it thyself. When a man fasts, suppose he do it through a religious motive, he should give the food of that day, from which he abstains, to the poor and hungry, who, in the course of providence, are called to sustain many involuntary fasts, besides suffering general privations. Wo to him who saves a day's victuals by his religious fast! He should either give them or their value in money to the poor. See Isaiah 58:6 . ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:8

And thine health shall spring forth speedily "And thy wounds shall speedily be healed over" - Et cicatrix vulneris tui cito obducetur "And the scar of thy wounds shall be speedily removed." Aquila's Version, as reported by Jerome, with which agrees that of the Chaldee. The glory "And the glory" - Sixteen MSS. (five ancient) of Dr. Kennicott's, and the Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate add the conjunction ו vau , וכבוד vechabod . read more

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:12

The restorer of paths to dwell in "The restorer of paths to be frequented by inhabitants" - To this purpose it is rendered by the Syriac, Symmachus, and Theodotion. read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:8

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:12

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