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

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — God speaks through Isaiah to a people who fast while engaging in contention and striking viciously. He addresses them at a moment when their external ritual fails to reach heaven because their conduct contradicts their worship.

The words — The text highlights צֹם (Tzom) as "[the] fast" and הֲכָזֶה (ha/kha/Zeh) as "like this." God asks whether their ritual qualifies as the fast He has chosen.

The thread — The contrast between hollow ritual and true humility runs in Daniel 9:3, where fasting accompanies sackcloth and ashes, and Zechariah 7:5, which questions the sincerity of past fasts. Isaiah 58:6 immediately follows by defining the chosen fast as breaking chains and freeing the oppressed.

Why it lands — The verse states that bowing the head like a reed and wearing sackcloth and ashes does not automatically constitute an acceptable fast. It requires the reader to align outward religious practice with inward humility and active justice.

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

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?

Cross-references

Daniel 9:3 So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
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?
Isaiah 49:8 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 desolate inheritances,
Esther 4:16 “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 against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”
Isaiah 61:2 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 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.
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—
2 Chronicles 20:3 Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah.
Psalms 69:13 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 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”