Isaiah 58:4

Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as [ye do this] day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

Behold, ye fast {H6684} for strife {H7379} and debate {H4683}, and to smite {H5221} with the fist {H106} of wickedness {H7562}: ye shall not fast {H6684} as ye do this day {H3117}, to make your voice {H6963} to be heard {H8085} on high {H4791}.

Your fasts lead to quarreling and fighting, to lashing out with violent blows. On a day like today, fasting like yours will not make your voice heard on high.

You 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.

Behold, ye fast for strife and contention, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye fast not this day so as to make your voice to be heard on high.

Commentary on Isaiah 58:4 (KJV)

Isaiah 58:4 delivers a powerful divine rebuke to the people of Israel, exposing the stark contrast between their outward religious observance and their inward spiritual condition. The verse highlights a critical disconnect between their practice of fasting and their unrighteous behavior.

Historical and Cultural Context

The prophet Isaiah is speaking to the nation of Judah, likely during a period when religious rituals, such as fasting, were meticulously observed, yet true obedience to God's covenant and justice were neglected. The chapter opens with God commanding Isaiah to "cry aloud, spare not" (Isaiah 58:1) and declare the transgressions of His people. The people were complaining that God was not acknowledging their fasting, and this verse is part of God's direct answer, revealing why their spiritual efforts were unacceptable.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Hypocritical Piety: The core issue God addresses is the hypocrisy of their fasting. They were engaging in a spiritual discipline meant for humility and devotion, yet their actions were characterized by "strife and debate" and even violence, symbolized by "to smite with the fist of wickedness." This illustrates the danger of outward religious performance without an inward transformation of the heart.
  • God's Rejection of Superficiality: God explicitly states, "ye shall not fast as [ye do this] day, to make your voice to be heard on high." Their prayers and cries were not reaching God because their motives and actions contradicted the very spirit of fasting. God seeks genuine repentance and righteous living, not mere ritualistic adherence. This contrasts sharply with what God truly desires in fasting, as outlined in Isaiah 58:6-7.
  • The Importance of Righteous Action: The phrase "to smite with the fist of wickedness" vividly portrays their aggressive and unrighteous conduct. True worship and spiritual discipline should lead to acts of justice, compassion, and peace, not conflict and oppression. The verse underscores that genuine spirituality is inseparable from ethical behavior and how one treats others.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "strife" (rib) often refers to legal disputes or quarrels, indicating contention and conflict. "Debate" (matztzah) further emphasizes contention and argument. The imagery of "to smite with the fist of wickedness" (Hebrew: neketh resha') paints a picture of violent or oppressive actions, directly opposing the humble, self-denying spirit that true fasting should cultivate. It highlights the stark contradiction between their religious act and their moral conduct.

Practical Application

Isaiah 58:4 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual hypocrisy for believers today. It challenges us to examine the motives behind our religious practices—be it prayer, fasting, church attendance, or acts of service. Are our spiritual disciplines driven by a sincere desire to honor God and grow in righteousness, or are they mere outward shows performed for self-gain or human approval?

This verse reminds us that God values a transformed heart and righteous living far more than ritualistic adherence. Our faith should lead to genuine love for others, justice, and peace, rather than "strife and debate." It encourages us to seek what the Lord truly requires: "to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God" (Micah 6:8). True spiritual discipline should cultivate a character that reflects God's own righteousness and compassion.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Kings 21:9

    And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:

  • 1 Kings 21:13

    And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, [even] against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.

  • Proverbs 21:27

    ¶ The sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination: how much more, [when] he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

  • Matthew 6:16

    Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

  • Matthew 6:18

    That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

  • John 18:28

    ¶ Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

  • Acts 23:1

    ¶ And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men [and] brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

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