Isaiah 58:13
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
Original Language Analysis
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
1 of 21
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
תָּשִׁ֤יב
If thou turn away
H7725
תָּשִׁ֤יב
If thou turn away
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
2 of 21
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
לַשַּׁבָּ֜ת
from the sabbath
H7676
לַשַּׁבָּ֜ת
from the sabbath
Strong's:
H7676
Word #:
3 of 21
intermission, i.e (specifically) the sabbath
רַגְלֶ֔ךָ
thy foot
H7272
רַגְלֶ֔ךָ
thy foot
Strong's:
H7272
Word #:
4 of 21
a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
מֵעֲשׂ֣וֹת
from doing
H6213
מֵעֲשׂ֣וֹת
from doing
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
5 of 21
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
חֶפְצְךָ֖
thine own pleasure
H2656
חֶפְצְךָ֖
thine own pleasure
Strong's:
H2656
Word #:
6 of 21
pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely, a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in mind)
בְּי֣וֹם
day
H3117
בְּי֣וֹם
day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
7 of 21
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
קָדְשִׁ֑י
on my holy
H6944
קָדְשִׁ֑י
on my holy
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
8 of 21
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
וְקָרָ֨אתָ
and call
H7121
וְקָרָ֨אתָ
and call
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
9 of 21
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
לַשַּׁבָּ֜ת
from the sabbath
H7676
לַשַּׁבָּ֜ת
from the sabbath
Strong's:
H7676
Word #:
10 of 21
intermission, i.e (specifically) the sabbath
לִקְד֤וֹשׁ
the holy
H6918
לִקְד֤וֹשׁ
the holy
Strong's:
H6918
Word #:
12 of 21
sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) god (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
13 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְכִבַּדְתּוֹ֙
and shalt honour
H3513
וְכִבַּדְתּוֹ֙
and shalt honour
Strong's:
H3513
Word #:
14 of 21
to be heavy, i.e., in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively, to make weighty (in the same
וְכִבַּדְתּוֹ֙
and shalt honour
H3513
וְכִבַּדְתּוֹ֙
and shalt honour
Strong's:
H3513
Word #:
15 of 21
to be heavy, i.e., in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively, to make weighty (in the same
מֵעֲשׂ֣וֹת
from doing
H6213
מֵעֲשׂ֣וֹת
from doing
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
16 of 21
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
דְּרָכֶ֔יךָ
thine own ways
H1870
דְּרָכֶ֔יךָ
thine own ways
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
17 of 21
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
מִמְּצ֥וֹא
nor finding
H4672
מִמְּצ֥וֹא
nor finding
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
18 of 21
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
חֶפְצְךָ֖
thine own pleasure
H2656
חֶפְצְךָ֖
thine own pleasure
Strong's:
H2656
Word #:
19 of 21
pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely, a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in mind)
Cross References
Revelation 1:10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,Psalms 84:10For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.Psalms 84:2My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.Psalms 42:4When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.Psalms 122:1I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.Psalms 27:4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
Historical Context
Sabbath-breaking was chronic issue for Israel (Nehemiah 13:15-22), indicating deeper heart problem - preferring personal pleasure over God's appointed rest. Jesus clarified Sabbath's purpose (Mark 2:27 - 'made for man'), showing it's gracious gift, not legalistic burden.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you balance Sabbath rest with the reality that New Covenant Christians aren't under Old Testament ceremonial law?
- What does it mean to 'delight in the LORD' through weekly rhythm of rest and worship?
Analysis & Commentary
The conditional promise 'If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day' establishes that Sabbath-keeping requires intentional restraint from pursuing personal agenda. The call to make Sabbath a 'delight' rather than burden transforms duty to joy. The promise 'then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD' shows that Sabbath properly observed deepens intimacy with God, not mere external compliance.