Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? New Living Translation You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the LORD? English Standard Version Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD? Berean Standard Bible Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD? Berean Literal Bible Is it like this, the fast I choose? A day for a man to afflict his soul, for bowing down his head like a reed, and spreading out sackcloth and ashes—do you call this a fast, and a day of pleasure for YHWH? King James Bible Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? New King James Version Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the LORD? New American Standard Bible “Is it a fast like this that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the LORD? NASB 1995 “Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the LORD? NASB 1977 “Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed, And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the LORD? Legacy Standard Bible Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to afflict himself? Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to Yahweh? Amplified Bible “Is a fast such as this what I have chosen, a day for a man to humble himself [with sorrow in his soul]? Is it only to bow down his head like a reed And to make sackcloth and ashes as a bed [pretending to have a repentant heart]? Do you call this a fast and a day pleasing to the LORD? Berean Annotated Bible Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD {YHWH}? Christian Standard Bible Will the fast I choose be like this: A day for a person to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD? Holman Christian Standard Bible Will the fast I choose be like this: A day for a person to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD? American Standard Version Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Jehovah? Contemporary English Version Do you think the LORD wants you to give up eating and to act as humble as a bent-over bush? Or to dress in sackcloth and sit in ashes? Is this really what he wants on a day of worship? English Revised Version Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? GOD'S WORD® Translation Is this the kind of fasting I have chosen? Should people humble themselves for [only] a day? Is fasting just bowing your head like a cattail and making your bed from sackcloth and ashes? Is this what you call fasting? Is this an acceptable day to the LORD? Good News Translation When you fast, you make yourselves suffer; you bow your heads low like a blade of grass and spread out sackcloth and ashes to lie on. Is that what you call fasting? Do you think I will be pleased with that? International Standard Version "Is this the kind of fast that I have chosen, merely a day for a person to humble himself? Is it merely for bowing down one's head like a bulrush, for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is this what you call a fast, an acceptable day to the LORD? NET Bible Is this really the kind of fasting I want? Do I want a day when people merely humble themselves, bowing their heads like a reed and stretching out on sackcloth and ashes? Is this really what you call a fast, a day that is pleasing to the LORD? New Heart English Bible Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Webster's Bible Translation Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleIs this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD? World English Bible Is this the fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to humble his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under himself? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Yahweh? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionIs this like the fast that I choose? The day of a man’s afflicting his soul? To bow his head as a reed, "" And spread out sackcloth and ashes? Do you call this a fast, "" And a desirable day—to YHWH? Berean Literal Bible Is it like this, the fast I choose? A day for a man to afflict his soul, for bowing down his head like a reed, and spreading out sackcloth and ashes—do you call this a fast, and a day of pleasure for YHWH? Young's Literal Translation Like this is the fast that I choose? The day of a man's afflicting his soul? To bow as a reed his head, And sackcloth and ashes spread out? This dost thou call a fast, And a desirable day -- to Jehovah? Smith's Literal Translation Will this be the fast I shall choose? a day for a man to humble his soul? to bend his head as a bulrush, and he will place sackcloth and ashes? wilt thou call this a fast and a day of acceptance to Jehovah. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIs this such a fast as I have chosen: for a man to afflict his soul for a day? is this it, to wind his head about like a circle, and to spread sackcloth and ashes? wilt thou call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord? Catholic Public Domain Version Is this a fast such as I have chosen: for a man to afflict his soul for a day, to contort his head in a circle, and to spread sackcloth and ashes? Should you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the Lord? New American Bible Is this the manner of fasting I would choose, a day to afflict oneself? To bow one’s head like a reed, and lie upon sackcloth and ashes? Is this what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? New Revised Standard Version Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIs it such a fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul, to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated This is the fast that I have chosen: that a man will humble himself and he will bend his neck like a bow, and he lays down sackcloth and ashes for himself. You shall call a fast for this and the day of the pleasure of LORD JEHOVAH OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Is such the fast that I have chosen? The day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, And to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the LORD? Brenton Septuagint Translation I have not chosen this fast, nor such a day for a man to afflict his soul; neither though thou shouldest bend down thy neck as a ring, and spread under thee sackcloth and ashes, neither thus shall ye call a fast acceptable. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context True Fasts and Sabbaths…4You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high. 5Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD? 6Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke?… Cross References Is this the fast I have chosen: Joel 2:12 “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” Matthew 6:16 When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. Matthew 9:15 Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. a day for a man to deny himself, Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. Ezra 8:21 And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. Leviticus 16:29 This is to be a permanent statute for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month, you shall humble yourselves and not do any work—whether the native or the foreigner who resides among you— to bow his head like a reed, Luke 18:13 But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite. and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Daniel 9:3 So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. Esther 4:1 When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. Jonah 3:6 When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD? Zechariah 7:5 “Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for these seventy years, was it really for Me that you fasted? Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Matthew 9:14-15 Then John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples do not fast?” / Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. Treasury of Scripture Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? it such 2 Chronicles 20:3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Ezra 10:6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away. Nehemiah 9:1,2 Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them… a day for a man to afflict his soul. Isaiah 58:3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Leviticus 16:29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: to spread 1 Kings 21:27-29 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly… 2 Kings 6:30 And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh. Job 2:8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. an acceptable Isaiah 49:8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; Isaiah 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; Psalm 69:13 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. Jump to Previous Acceptable Afflict Ashes Bed Bow Bowing Bulrush Choose Chosen Fast Head Humble One's Reed Rush Sackcloth Soul Spread Spreading WiltJump to Next Acceptable Afflict Ashes Bed Bow Bowing Bulrush Choose Chosen Fast Head Humble One's Reed Rush Sackcloth Soul Spread Spreading WiltIsaiah 58 1. The prophet, being sent to reprove hypocrisy, 3. shows the difference between a counterfeit fast and a true 8. He declares what promises are due unto godliness 13. And to the keeping of the Sabbath Is this the fast I have chosen: This phrase questions the authenticity and intention behind the people's fasting practices. In the biblical context, fasting was meant to be an act of humility and repentance before God. However, the Israelites were engaging in fasting as a mere ritual without genuine heart change. This echoes the prophetic call for true worship and obedience over empty rituals, as seen in 1 Samuel 15:22, where obedience is valued over sacrifice. a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD? Persons / Places / Events 1. IsaiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is the author of the book that bears his name. He prophesied to the Kingdom of Judah and is known for his messages of both judgment and hope. 2. The People of Israel The original audience of Isaiah's prophecy, they were often called to repentance and genuine worship rather than mere ritualistic practices. 3. Fasting A religious practice involving abstaining from food and sometimes drink, often as a sign of repentance or seeking God's favor. 4. Sackcloth and Ashes Traditional symbols of mourning and repentance in ancient Israelite culture. 5. The LORD The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who desires sincere worship and obedience from His people. Teaching Points True Fasting DefinedGod is not interested in mere outward displays of piety. True fasting involves a heart aligned with His will, seeking justice, mercy, and humility. Heart Over Ritual The focus should be on the condition of the heart rather than the external act. God desires genuine repentance and transformation. Repentance and Action Fasting should lead to tangible changes in behavior, such as caring for the needy and pursuing righteousness. Acceptable Worship Worship that pleases God is characterized by sincerity, humility, and a commitment to His commands. Self-Examination Believers are encouraged to examine their motives and ensure their religious practices are not just for show but are rooted in a deep relationship with God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Isaiah 58:5?2. What does Isaiah 58:5 reveal about God's view on genuine fasting practices? 3. How can we align our fasting with God's desires as stated in Isaiah 58:5? 4. In what ways does Isaiah 58:5 connect to Jesus' teachings on fasting? 5. How can Isaiah 58:5 guide our spiritual disciplines beyond fasting? 6. What actions can replace ritual fasting to honor God as per Isaiah 58:5? 7. What is the historical context of Isaiah 58:5 in ancient Israelite society? 8. How does Isaiah 58:5 challenge traditional views of fasting? 9. What theological message does Isaiah 58:5 convey about true worship? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 58? 11. Isaiah 58:5 – Why emphasize a “true fast” if God mandated so many ritual practices in earlier laws, suggesting a potential conflict between ceremony and genuine devotion? 12. What are the biblical types of fasting? 13. What do sackcloth and ashes symbolize? 14. Isaiah 58:3 – How can the text claim that God observes fasting yet offers no response, contradicting the idea of a loving deity who always hears sincere prayer? What Does Isaiah 58:5 Mean Is this the fast I have chosenGod opens with a searching question. He is not rejecting fasting itself—He instituted it (Leviticus 16:29)—but challenging a distorted version of it. • The Lord often asks questions to expose the heart (Genesis 3:9; Matthew 16:15). • External worship divorced from obedience has never satisfied Him: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice?” (1 Samuel 15:22). • Isaiah has already confronted empty ritual: “I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly” (Isaiah 1:13). The point: God’s chosen fast must reflect His character and purposes, not mere religious habit. a day for a man to deny himself Fasting involves genuine self-denial, yet God critiques a one-day performance that stops at physical discomfort. • True denial aims at deeper repentance: “Return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning” (Joel 2:12). • Jesus warned against making a show of hunger: “When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites” (Matthew 6:16-18). • Real self-denial submits the will to God every day (Luke 9:23), not just during a scheduled religious observance. to bow his head like a reed Picture reeds in a marsh—bent by every breeze. Here the bowed head is only a posture, not proof of humility. • God looks past posture to motive: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). • The Pharisee stood proudly in the temple while the tax collector humbled himself and went home justified (Luke 18:11-14). • A bent head without a broken spirit parallels “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5). and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Sackcloth and ashes were visible signs of grief (Esther 4:1; Jonah 3:5-6). God questions their value when unaccompanied by inward change. • Nineveh’s fasting pleased God because the people “turned from their evil ways” (Jonah 3:10). • By contrast, Judah’s sackcloth lacked repentance; injustice continued (Isaiah 58:3-4). • Mere symbols cannot substitute for sincere sorrow over sin (Psalm 51:17). Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD? The Lord’s final question exposes the central issue: only what He defines as acceptable counts. • He spells that out in the next verses: “Isn’t this the fast I choose: to break the chains of wickedness… to share your bread with the hungry” (Isaiah 58:6-7). • Similar corrections appear in Zechariah 7:5-10, where fasting must be joined to justice and mercy. • New-covenant worship follows the same pattern: “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27). • Ultimately, a day acceptable to the LORD is one that reflects His compassion, righteousness, and truth (Romans 12:1). summary Isaiah 58:5 dismantles the illusion that God is pleased with outward ritual alone. A fast God chooses demands more than momentary hunger, drooping heads, or dusty garments; it requires a surrendered heart that results in obedience and tangible love for others. When self-denial leads to repentance, justice, and mercy, the day—and the worshipper—becomes truly acceptable to the LORD. (5) A day for a man to afflict his soul.--The phrase comes from Leviticus 16:29, and describes the soul-sorrow which was the true ideal of fasting. In contrast with this we have the picture, reminding us of Matthew 6:16, of the mechanical prostrations, which are as the waving of a bulrush in the breeze. The image suggests a new aspect of our Lord's statement, that the Baptist was not as "a reed shaken by the wind" (Matthew 11:7), scil., that his fasting was not outward and ceremonial, like that of the Pharisees.Verse 5. - Is it such a fast that I have chosen, etc.? Do you suppose that such can be the fast commanded by me in the Law - a fast which is expressly called "a day for a man to afflict his soul"? Is afflicting one's soul simply bowing down one's head as a bulrush, and making one's couch on sackcloth and ashes? Surely it is much more than this. (On the employment of "sackcloth and ashes" in fasting, see Esther 4:3; Daniel 9:3; Jonah 3:6.)Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Isיִֽהְיֶה֙ (yih·yeh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be this הֲכָזֶ֗ה (hă·ḵā·zeh) Pg, Preposition-k | Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that the fast צ֣וֹם (ṣō·wm) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6685: Fasting, a fast I have chosen, אֶבְחָרֵ֔הוּ (’eḇ·ḥā·rê·hū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 977: To try, select a day י֛וֹם (yō·wm) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3117: A day for a man אָדָ֖ם (’ā·ḏām) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being to deny עַנּ֥וֹת (‘an·nō·wṯ) Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct Strong's 6031: To be bowed down or afflicted himself, נַפְשׁ֑וֹ (nap̄·šōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion to bow הֲלָכֹ֨ף (hă·lā·ḵōp̄) Preposition | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 3721: To bend, bend down, be bent or bowed his head רֹאשׁ֗וֹ (rō·šōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 7218: The head like a reed, כְּאַגְמֹ֜ן (kə·’aḡ·mōn) Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 100: A bulrush, a rope of bulrushes and to spread out יַצִּ֔יעַ (yaṣ·ṣî·a‘) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3331: To strew as a, surface sackcloth וְשַׂ֤ק (wə·śaq) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 8242: A mesh, coarse loose cloth, sacking, a bag and ashes? וָאֵ֙פֶר֙ (wā·’ê·p̄er) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 665: Ashes Will you call תִּקְרָא־ (tiq·rā-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read this הֲלָזֶה֙ (hă·lā·zeh) Pg, Preposition-l | Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that a fast צ֔וֹם (ṣō·wm) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6685: Fasting, a fast and a day וְי֥וֹם (wə·yō·wm) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3117: A day acceptable רָצ֖וֹן (rā·ṣō·wn) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7522: Goodwill, favor, acceptance, will to the LORD? לַיהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel Links Isaiah 58:5 NIVIsaiah 58:5 NLT Isaiah 58:5 ESV Isaiah 58:5 NASB Isaiah 58:5 KJV Isaiah 58:5 BibleApps.com Isaiah 58:5 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 58:5 Chinese Bible Isaiah 58:5 French Bible Isaiah 58:5 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 58:5 Is such the fast that I have (Isa Isi Is) |
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