Isaiah 58:5 “Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bo…”

Isaiah 58:5

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 Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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?

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 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?

Geneva Bible 1599

Is it such a fast that I haue chosen, that a man should afflict his soule for a day, and to bowe downe his head, as a bull rush, and to lie downe in sackecloth and ashes? wilt thou call this a fasting, or an acceptable day to the Lord?

Darby Translation

Is such the fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul, — that he should bow down his head as a bulrush, and spread sackcloth and ashes [under him]? Wilt thou call this a fast, and a day acceptable to Jehovah?

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?

Bible in Basic English

Have I given orders for such a day as this? a day for keeping yourselves from pleasure? is it only a question of the bent head, of putting on haircloth, and being seated in the dust? is this what seems to you a holy day, well-pleasing to the Lord?

.mt-body { max-height: none !important; -webkit-mask-image: none !important; mask-image: none !important; } .mt-bar { display: none !important; } .o-trans::after { display: block !important; }

Cross references

“it such”

Daniel 9:3–19 Zechariah 7:5 Esther 4:16 2 Chronicles 20:3 Ezra 10:6 Esther 4:3

Daniel 9:3–19 · BSB

So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

Zechariah 7:5 · BSB

“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?

Esther 4:16 · BSB

“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is ag…

2 Chronicles 20:3 · BSB

Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah.

Ezra 10:6 · BSB

Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. And while he stayed there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the…

Esther 4:3 · BSB

In every province to which the king’s command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

“a day for a man to afflict his soul”

Leviticus 16:29 Isaiah 58:3

Leviticus 16:29 · BSB

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—

Isaiah 58:3 · BSB

“Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers.

“to spread”

1 Kings 21:27–29 Job 2:8 Jonah 3:5–8 2 Kings 6:30

1 Kings 21:27–29 · BSB

When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly.

Job 2:8 · BSB

And Job took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself as he sat among the ashes.

Jonah 3:5–8 · BSB

And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least.

2 Kings 6:30 · BSB

When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes. And as he passed by on the wall, the people saw the sackcloth under his clothes next to his skin.

“an acceptable”

Isaiah 49:8 Isaiah 61:2 Romans 12:2 Psalm 69:13 Luke 4:19 1 Peter 2:5

Isaiah 49:8 · BSB

This is what the LORD says: “In the time of favor I will answer You, and in the day of salvation I will help You; I will keep You and appoint You to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land, to apportion its des…

Isaiah 61:2 · BSB

to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn,

Romans 12:2 · BSB

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Psalm 69:13 · BSB

But my prayer to You, O LORD, is for a time of favor. In Your abundant loving devotion, O God, answer me with Your sure salvation.

Luke 4:19 · BSB

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

1 Peter 2:5 · BSB

you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

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.

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?

Read Isaiah 58