Isaiah 58:5
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?
Original Language Analysis
יִֽהְיֶה֙
H1961
יִֽהְיֶה֙
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
2 of 20
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
אֶבְחָרֵ֔הוּ
that I have chosen
H977
אֶבְחָרֵ֔הוּ
that I have chosen
Strong's:
H977
Word #:
4 of 20
properly, to try, i.e., (by implication) select
וְי֥וֹם
a day
H3117
וְי֥וֹם
a day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
5 of 20
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
עַנּ֥וֹת
to afflict
H6031
עַנּ֥וֹת
to afflict
Strong's:
H6031
Word #:
6 of 20
to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows)
אָדָ֖ם
for a man
H120
אָדָ֖ם
for a man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
7 of 20
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
נַפְשׁ֑וֹ
his soul
H5315
נַפְשׁ֑וֹ
his soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
8 of 20
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
כְּאַגְמֹ֜ן
as a bulrush
H100
כְּאַגְמֹ֜ן
as a bulrush
Strong's:
H100
Word #:
10 of 20
a rush (as growing there); collectively a rope of rushes
רֹאשׁ֗וֹ
his head
H7218
רֹאשׁ֗וֹ
his head
Strong's:
H7218
Word #:
11 of 20
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
וְשַׂ֤ק
sackcloth
H8242
וְשַׂ֤ק
sackcloth
Strong's:
H8242
Word #:
12 of 20
properly, a mesh (as allowing a liquid to run through), i.e., coarse loose cloth or sacking (used in mourning and for bagging); hence, a bag (for grai
תִּקְרָא
under him wilt thou call
H7121
תִּקְרָא
under him wilt thou call
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
16 of 20
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
וְי֥וֹם
a day
H3117
וְי֥וֹם
a day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
18 of 20
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
Cross References
Zechariah 7:5Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?Isaiah 49:8Thus 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 61:2To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;Psalms 69:13But 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.Luke 4:19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.Leviticus 16:29And 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:1 Peter 2:5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.Esther 4:16Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
Historical Context
Sackcloth and ashes were ancient Near Eastern mourning customs adopted by Israel. These public displays of contrition were commanded for certain occasions (Joel 1:13-14, Jonah 3:5-9) but could become empty performance when hearts remained unchanged. Even in the New Testament era, Jesus encountered similar external religiosity among the Pharisees who paraded their fasting (Matthew 6:16-18) while neglecting the weightier matters of the law (Matthew 23:23).
Questions for Reflection
- What contemporary religious practices might parallel the 'bowing like a bulrush'—outwardly religious but lacking substance?
- How do we discern between genuine repentance and merely going through religious motions?
- What does God's rejection of empty ritual teach us about acceptable worship in the New Covenant?
Analysis & Commentary
Through rhetorical questions, God defines what fasting is NOT: "Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul?" The Hebrew anah nephesh (afflict soul) describes self-denial—the external actions of fasting. "Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?" These were traditional signs of mourning and repentance (Jonah 3:5-6, Daniel 9:3, Esther 4:3). Bulrushes bend easily with the wind—a metaphor for temporary, superficial humility. The penetrating question follows: "Wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?" God rejects mere external ritual divorced from internal reality and ethical transformation. This connects to the consistent prophetic critique of ritualism (1 Samuel 15:22, Psalm 51:16-17, Hosea 6:6, Amos 5:21-24, Micah 6:6-8). From a Reformed perspective, this illustrates that God requires truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6). The heart's condition, not external religious performance, determines acceptability before God. True fasting flows from genuine repentance and produces justice and mercy.