Bible Strands
Isaiah 56:2
Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD speaks through Isaiah within a section that opens with a call to justice (Isaiah 56:1) and closes with inclusion of foreigners and eunuchs (Isaiah 56:3–8). This beatitude addresses those who hold fast to covenant practice.
The words — יַחֲזִיק (ya.cha.Zik) literally means "he takes hold" or "grips," a physical image of gripping something firmly rather than the passive "keeps" of the English. It frames Sabbath observance as active, sustained effort.
The thread — The Sabbath-as-sign motif runs from Exodus 31:13 through Isaiah 58:13, where the day is called a "delight" and "holy." The beatitude formula echoes Psalms 112:1, blessing the one who delights in commandments.
Why it lands — It ties blessing to two concrete acts: resting without profaning the day, and restraining the hand from evil. No sentiment is required — the verse names the behavior and the reward in the same breath.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
Cross-references
- Exodus 31:13 “Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep My Sabbaths, for this will be a sign between Me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
- Isaiah 58:13 If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words,
- Psalms 112:1 Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.
- Ezekiel 20:12 I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
- Exodus 20:10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates.
- Jeremiah 17:21 This is what the LORD says: Take heed for yourselves; do not carry a load or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.
- Ezekiel 20:20 Keep My Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’
- Luke 11:28 But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
- Psalms 106:3 Blessed are those who uphold justice, who practice righteousness at all times.
- John 13:17 If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.