Isaiah 58:7 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 58:3-7

Here we have, I. The displeasure which these hypocrites conceived against God for not accepting the services which they themselves had a mighty opinion of (Isa. 58:3): Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? Thus they went in the way of Cain, who was angry at God, and resented it as a gross affront that his offering was not accepted. Having gone about to put a cheat upon God by their external services, here they go about to pick a quarrel with God for not being pleased with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 58:7

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry ?.... Or "to break" F6 הלא פרס "nonne ut frangas?" Pagninus; "nonne frangere?" Montanus. it, divide it, and communicate it to them; that which is "bread", food fit to eat, wholesome and nourishing; which is thine, and not another's; which thou hast saved by fasting, and therefore should not be laid up, but given away; and that not to the rich, who need it not, but to the hungry and necessitous: and this may be understood of spiritual bread,... 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

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 58:3-7

Rightful and wrongful fasting need to be carefully distinguished. Among wrong kinds of fasting may be noticed the following. I. PURELY FORMAL FASTING IS WRONG . The fasting that consists in mere abstinence from food, without any accompaniment of prayer or meditation or almsgiving, has in it nothing religious, and is an indifferent act, unless it be viewed as in some sort a pious exercise. Viewed in this light, it is a delusion and a snare—an encouragement to men to make all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:6-7

God's idea of fasting. It should be noticed, as giving special point to this reference to fasting, that, besides the regular fasts of the Jewish religion, there were, during the Captivity in Babylon, special fasts appointed as days of repentance and prayer for Israel. God complains that these fasts did not say to him exactly what those who fasted intended them to say, because he looked at the whole conduct of the men to see if it was in harmony with the fasting. The important principle is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:7

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry? In the early Christian Church almsgiving was connected with fasting by law . It was also accepted as a moral axiom that "fasting and alms were the wings of prayer." Cast out; or, homeless ἀστέγους LXX .). That thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh. Their "flesh" were not merely their near kindred, but their countrymen generally (see Nehemiah 5:5 ). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 58:7

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry? - The word renderd ‘deal’ (פרס pâras), means to divide, to distribute. The idea is, that we are to apportion among the poor that which will be needful for their support, as a father does to his children. This is everywhere enjoined in the Bible, and was especially regarded among the Orientals as an indispensable duty of religion. Thus Job Job 31:16-22 beautifully speaks of his own practice:If I have witheld the poor from his desire,Or have caused the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 58:3-7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 58:7

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:3-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:6-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 58:7

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