Isaiah 58:6 - Exposition

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? This passage, as Dr. Kay observes, "stands like a homily for the Day of Atonement." Such homilies are found in the uninspired Jewish writings, and are conceived very much in the same spirit. The Jews call the true fast "the fasting of the heart." To loose the bands of wickedness. To set free those whom wicked persons have wrongfully imprisoned or entangled. To undo the heavy burdens ; literally, to untie the thongs of the yoke. The liberation of a man's slaves, or of Jews captive among the heathen ( Nehemiah 5:8 ), is probably intended. To let the oppressed (literally, the bruised ) go free. Remission of debts and restoration of pledges ( Nehemiah 10:31 ; Ezekiel 18:7 ) are, perhaps, the acts pointed at.