TRV
Translation
King James Version
Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
Complete Jewish Bible
Then you will call, and ADONAI will answer; you will cry, and he will say, "Here I am." If you will remove the yoke from among you, stop false accusation and slander,
Berean Standard Bible
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk,
American Standard Version
Then shalt thou call, and Jehovah will answer; thou shalt cry, and he will say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedly;
World English Bible Messianic
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away from your midst the yoke, the putting out of the finger, and speaking wickedly;
Geneva Bible (1599)
Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answere: thou shalt cry and hee shall say, Here I am: if thou take away from the mids of thee the yoke, the putting foorth of the finger, and wicked speaking:
Young's Literal Translation
Then thou callest, and Jehovah answereth, Thou criest, and He saith, `Behold Me.' If thou turn aside from thy midst the yoke, The sending forth of the finger, And the speaking of vanity,
In the KJVVerse 18,796 of 31,102
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Commentary on Isaiah 58 verses 8–12
8 ¶ Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
Here are precious promises for those to feast freely and cheerfully upon by faith who keep the fast that God has chosen; let them know that God will make it up to them. Here is,
I. A further account of the duty to be done in order to our interest in these promises (Isa 58:9, Isa 58:10); and here, as before, it is required that we both do justly and love mercy, that we cease to do evil and learn to do well. 1. We must abstain from all acts of violence and fraud. "Those must be taken away from the midst of thee, from the midst of thy person, out of thy heart" (so some); "thou must not only refrain from the practice of injury, but mortify in thee all inclination and disposition towards it." Or from the midst of thy people. Those in authority must not only not be oppressive themselves, but must do all they can to prevent and restrain oppression in all within their jurisdiction. They must not only break the yoke (Isa 58:6), but take away the yoke, that those who have been oppressed may never be re-enslaved (as they were Jer 34:10, Jer 34:11); they must likewise forbear threatening (Eph 6:9) and take away the putting forth of the finger, which seems to have been then, as sometimes with us, a sign of displeasure and the indication of a purpose to correct. Let not the finger be put forth to point at those that are poor and in misery, and so to expose them to contempt; such expressions of contumely as are provoking, and the products of ill-nature, ought to be banished from all societies. And let them not speak vanity, flattery or fraud, to one another, but let all conversation be governed by sincerity. Perhaps that dissimulation which is the bane of friendship is meant by the putting forth of the finger (as Pro 6:13 by teaching with the finger), or it is putting forth the finger with the ring on it, which was the badge of authority, and which therefore they produced when they spoke iniquity, that is, gave unrighteous sentences. 2. We must abound in all acts of charity and beneficence. We must not only give alms according as the necessities of the poor require, but, (1.) We must give freely and cheerfully, and from a principle of charity. We must draw out our soul to the hungry (Isa 58:10), not only draw out the money and reach forth the hand, but do this from the heart, heartily, and without grudging, from a principle of compassion and with a tender affection to such as we see to be in misery. Let the heart go along with the gift; for God loves a cheerful giver, and so does a poor man too. When our Lord Jesus healed and fed the multitude it was as having compassion on them. (2.) We must give plentifully and largely, so as not to tantalize, but to satisfy, the afflicted soul: "Do not only feed the hungry, but gratify the desire of the afflicted, and, if it lies in your power, make them easy." What are we born for, and what have we our abilities of body, mind, and estate for, but to do all the good we can in this world with them? And the poor we have always with us.
II. Here is a full account of the blessings and benefits which attend the performance of this duty. If a person, a family, a people, be thus disposed to every thing that is good, let them know for their comfort that they shall find God their bountiful rewarder and what they lay out in works of charity shall be abundantly made up to them. 1. God will surprise them with the return of mercy after great affliction, which shall be as welcome as the light of the morning after a long and dark night (Isa 58:8): "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning and (Isa 58:10) thy light shall rise in obscurity. Though thou hast been long buried alive thou shalt recover thy eminency; though long overwhelmed with grief, thou shalt again look pleasant as the dawning day." Those that are cheerful in doing good God will make cheerful in enjoying good; and this also is a special gift of God, Ecc 2:24. Those that have shown mercy shall find mercy. Job, who in his prosperity had done a great deal of good, had friends raised up for him by the Lord when he was reduced, who helped him with their substance, so that his light rose in obscurity. "Not only thy light, which is sweet, but thy health too, or the healing of the wounds thou hast long complained of, shall spring forth speedily; all thy grievances shall be redressed, and thou shalt renew thy youth and recover thy vigour." Those that have helped others out of trouble will obtain help of God when it is their turn. 2. God will put honour upon them. Good works shall be recompensed with a good name; this is included in that light which rises out of obscurity. Though a man's extraction be mean, his family obscure, and he has no external advantages to gain him honour, yet, if he do good in his place, that will procure him respect and veneration, and his darkness shall by this means become as the noon-day, that is, he shall become very eminent and shine brightly in his generation. See here what is the surest way for a man to make himself illustrious; let him study to do good. He that would be the greatest of all, and best-loved, let him by humility and industry make himself a servant of all. "Thy righteousness shall answer for thee (as Jacob says, Gen 30:33), that is, it shall silence reproaches, nay, it shall bespeak thee more praises than thy humility can be pleased with." He that has given to the poor, his righteousness (that is, the honour of it) endures for ever, Psa 112:9. 3. They shall always be safe under the divine protection: "Thy righteousness shall go before thee as thy vanguard, to secure thee from enemies that charge thee in the front, and the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward, the gathering host, to bring up those of thee that are weary and are left behind, and to secure thee from the enemies, that, like Amalek, fall upon thy rear." Observe, How good people are safe on all sides. Let them look which way they will, behind them or before them; let them look backward or forward; they see themselves safe, and find themselves easy and quiet from the fear of evil. And observe what it is that is their defence; it is their righteousness, and the glory of the Lord, that is, as some suppose, Christ; for it is by him that we are justified, and God is glorified. He it is that goes before us, and is the captain of our salvation, as he is the Lord our righteousness; he it is that is our rearward, on whom alone we can depend for safety when our sins pursue us and are ready to take hold on us. Or, "God himself in his providence and grace shall both go before thee as thy guide to conduct thee, and attend thee as thy rearward to protect thee, and this shall be the reward of thy righteousness and so shall be for the glory of the Lord as the rewarder of it." 4. God will be always nigh unto them, to hear their prayers, Isa 58:9. As, on the one hand, he that shuts his ears to the cry of the poor shall himself cry and God will not hear him; so, on the other hand, he that is liberal to the poor, his prayers shall come up with his alms for a memorial before God, as Cornelius's did (Act 10:4): "Then shalt thou call, on thy fast-days, which ought to be days of prayer, and the Lord shall answer, shall give thee the things thou callest to him for; thou shalt cry when thou art in any distress or sudden fright, and he shall say, Here I am." This is a very condescending expression of God's readiness to hear prayer. When God calls to us by his word it becomes us to say, Here we are; what saith our Lord unto his servants? But that God should say to us, Behold me, here I am, is strange. When we cry to him, as if he were at a distance, he will let us know that he is near, even at our right hand, nearer than we thought he was. It is I, be not afraid. When danger is near our protector is nearer, a very present help. "Here I am, ready to give you what you want, and do for you what you desire; what have you to say to me?" God is attentive to the prayers of the upright, Psa 130:2. No sooner do they call to him than he answers, Ready, ready. Wherever they are praying, God says, "Here I am hearing; I am in the midst of you." He is nigh unto them in all things, Deu 4:7. 6. God will direct them in all difficult and doubtful cases (Isa 58:11): The Lord shall guide thee continually. While we are here, in the wilderness of this world, we have need of continual direction from heaven; for, if at any time we be left to ourselves, we shall certainly miss our way; and therefore it is to those who are good in God's sight that he gives the wisdom which in all cases is profitable to direct, and he will be to them instead of eyes, Ecc 2:26. His providence will make their way plain to them, both what is their duty and what will be most for their comfort. 6. God will give them abundance of satisfaction in their own minds. As the world is a wilderness in respect of wanderings, so that they need to be guided continually, so also is it in respect of wants, which makes it necessary that they should have continual supplies, as Israel in the wilderness had not only the pillar of cloud to guide them continually, but manna and water out of the rock to satisfy their souls in drought, in a dry and thirsty land where no water is, Psa 63:1. To a good man God gives not only wisdom and knowledge, but joy; he is satisfied in himself with the testimony of his conscience and the assurances of God's favour. "These will satisfy thy soul, will put gladness into thy heart, even in the drought of affliction; these will make fat thy bones, and fill them with marrow, will give thee that pleasure which will be a support to thee as the bones to the body, that joy of the Lord which will be thy strength. He shall give thy bones rest" (so some read it), "rest from the pain and sickness which they have laboured under and been chastened with;" so it agrees with that promise made to the merciful. The Lord will make all his bed in his sickness, Psa 41:3. "Thou shalt be like a watered garden, so flourishing and fruitful in graces and comforts, and like a spring of water, like a garden that has a spring of water in it, whose waters fail not either in droughts or in frosts." The principle of holy love in those that are good shall be a well of living water, Joh 4:14. As a spring of water, though it is continually sending forth its streams, is yet always full, so the charitable man abounds in good as he abounds in doing good and is never the poorer for his liberality. He that waters shall himself be watered. 7. They and their families shall be public blessings. It is a good reward to those that are fruitful and useful to be rendered more so, and especially to have those who descend from them to be so too. This is here promised (Isa 58:12): "Those that now are of thee, thy princes, and nobles, and great men, shall have such authority and influence as they never had;" or, "Those that hereafter shall be of thee, thy posterity, shall be serviceable to their generation, as thou art to thine." It completes the satisfaction of a good man, as to this world, to think that those that come after him shall be doing good when he is gone. 1. They shall re-edify cities that have been long in ruins, shall build the old waste places, which had lain so long desolate that the rebuilding of them was quite despaired of. This was fulfilled when the captives, after their return, repaired the cities of Judah, and dwelt in them, and many of those in Israel too, which had lain waste ever since the carrying away of the ten tribes. 2. They shall carry on and finish that good work which was begun long before, and shall be helped over the obstructions which had retarded the progress of it: They shall raise up to the top that building the foundation of which was laid long since and has been for many generations in the rearing. This was fulfilled when the building of the temple was revived after it had stood still for many years, Ezr 5:2. Or, "They shall raise up foundations which shall continue for many generations yet to come;" they shall do that good which shall be of lasting consequence. 3. They shall have the blessing and praise of all about them: "Thou shalt be called (and it shall be to thy honour) the repairer of the breach, the breach made by the enemy in the wall of a besieged city, which whoso has the courage and dexterity to make up, or make good, gains great applause." Happy are those who make up the breach at which virtue is running out and judgments are breaking in. "Thou shalt be the restorer of paths, safe and quiet paths, not only to travel in, but to dwell in, so safe and quiet that people shall make no difficulty of building their houses by the road-side." The sum is that, if they keep such fasts as God has chosen, he will settle them again in their former peace and prosperity, and there shall be none to make them afraid. See Zac 7:5, Zac 7:9; Zac 8:3-5. It teaches us that those who do justly and love mercy shall have the comfort thereof in this world.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 8–12. Public domain.
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Athanasius of AlexandriaAD 373
Discourses Against the Arians 1.63
God is always one and the same; but people have come to be afterwards through the Word, when the Father himself willed it; and God is invisible and inaccessible to originated things, especially to people on earth. When then people in infirmity invoke him, when in persecution they ask help, when they pray as they endure injuries, then the Invisible, being a lover of people, shines forth on them with his beneficence, which he exercises through and in his proper Word. And forthwith the divine manifestation is made to every one according to his need, and is made to the sick, and to the persecuted a “refuge” and “house of defense.”
John ChrysostomAD 407
HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 54:8
Were he distant from us in place, you might well doubt, but if [God] is present everywhere, to him that strives and is in earnest he is near.… What father would ever be thus obedient to his offspring? What mother is there, so ready and continually standing, in case her children call her? There is not one, no father, no mother, but God stands continually waiting … and never, when we have called as we ought, has he refused to hear.
JeromeAD 420
St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER NINE
[Daniel 9:21] "While I was still speaking in my prayer, behold the man Gabriel, whom I had seen at the beginning of the vision." He calls the previous vision preceding this one the beginning. The effect of his prayer was considerable, and the promise of God was fulfilled which says, "While thou art yet speaking, lo, I am at hand" (Isaiah 58:9). And Gabriel appears not as an angel or archangel, but as a man (vir), a term used to indicate the quality of virtue rather than specifying his sex.
"...he quickly flew to me and touched me at the time of the evening sacrifice." It is stated that he flew, because he had made his appearance as a man. It is said that it was at the time of the evening sacrifice, in order to show that the prophet's prayer had persisted from the morning sacrifice even unto the evening sacrifice, and that God for that reason directed His mercy towards him.
JeromeAD 420
COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 16:20-22
One who is not bound by such chains of sin is found only with difficulty. And a soul is rarely discovered who does not have this extremely heavy collar around its neck, oppressing it with such terrestrial work that it cannot gaze at heaven at all, but only the earth. This also recalls the woman in the Gospel whom Satan conquered for eighteen years, keeping her bent over and unable to look toward heaven. …Similarly, if we refrain from doing the things just mentioned and if we accomplish the deeds that are to be outlined, so that we would give food to the hungry … with our very soul, helping them in whichever way we are able to help, and this “not begrudgingly or under compulsion,” but giving from the soul, thus we receive more benefits than we give, for “God loves a cheerful giver.” This means that we should saturate the hungry or afflicted soul, instead of restoring it just partially, and if we suffer with the suffering and mourn with those who mourn, then our light will arise in the darkness, that light that said, “I am the light that came into the world so that all who believe in me would not remain in the darkness” but “have the light of life.” For “the lamp of our body is the eye; if it is good, our entire body will be illuminated.” …
We can identify this fountain with none other than that to whom it was said, “With you is the fountain of life,” which irrigates his church unceasingly, along with the heart of every believer.
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Isaiah
(Vers. 8, 9.) Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your righteousness shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am. LXX: Then your light shall break forth like the morning; your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of God shall surround you. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say: Here I am. While you are still speaking, he will say: Here I am. When you have not done those things that the previous conversation narrated, and you have done those things that we are now speaking about, then your fasting will be acceptable, and your morning light will break forth; the sun of righteousness, about which Malachi the prophet speaks in the person of God the Father, saying: For you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise, with healing in its wings (Malachi 4:2). That sun is called the light here. For just as the morning light dispels darkness, so the light of knowledge and truth dispels all errors. And your healings, it is said, will quickly arise. For this reason, Aquila, expressing word for word, put: And the scar of your wound will quickly be covered; so that, namely, the wounds of our sins may be closed with a quickly covered scar at the rising of the sun of righteousness. Because of this, the Seventy translated τὰ ἰάματά σου, that is, your healings, with the similarity of the word ἱμάτια, that is, garments. Therefore, deceived by the falseness of many translations, they use this testimony to prove the resurrection of the body, namely that the garment of the soul will receive a body, which will arise on the day of resurrection. And it says, 'Your righteousness will go before you.' (Genesis 30:33, according to the Septuagint). According to what Jacob says: 'Tomorrow my righteousness will answer me,' and what is written will be fulfilled: 'Behold, the man and his works.' And the glory of the Lord will surround you, like a beautiful garment, so that you may be glorified before God and before men. Then you will call upon Him, and the Lord will answer; you will cry out, and He will say: 'Here I am,' not in words, but in works; not in response, but in acts of kindness. This is confirmed in the letter and in the Gospel, when the leper said to the Lord, 'If you will, you can make me clean,' and the Lord answered, saying: 'I will, be clean.'
Isaac of NinevehAD 700
ASCETICAL HOMILIES 5
Whenever you keep the ways of the Lord and do His will, then put your hope in the Lord and call on Him.…When temptation overtakes the iniquitous person, he has no confidence wherewith to call upon God, nor to expect salvation from Him, since in the days of his ease he stood aloof from God’s will.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Isaiah 58:9 delivers a profound promise of divine responsiveness, asserting that the LORD will readily hear and answer the cries of His people. This assurance, however, is immediately qualified by a crucial condition: the community must actively dismantle systems of oppression, cease malicious or scornful behavior, and abandon harmful, empty speech. The verse thus powerfully links God's availability and intervention to the ethical conduct and social justice practiced by His covenant community, emphasizing that true spiritual vitality and effective prayer are inseparable from righteous living and compassionate engagement with others.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Isaiah 58:9 employs several potent literary devices to convey its transformative message. The most prominent is Conditional Promise, where God's assurance of answering prayer and manifesting His presence is directly tied to the people's ethical transformation. The clear "Then... If..." structure unequivocally establishes this cause-and-effect relationship between righteous action and divine favor. Metaphor is powerfully utilized with "the yoke," which represents not merely a literal burden but the pervasive systemic oppression and injustice inflicted upon the vulnerable members of society. Similarly, "the putting forth of the finger" serves as a Synecdoche, where a part (the finger) stands for a larger concept (mockery, scorn, malicious accusation, or even unjust judgment and condemnation). The phrase "speaking vanity" employs Abstract for Concrete, where "vanity" (H205, ʼâven) encapsulates all forms of harmful, deceitful, or worthless speech, highlighting its emptiness and destructive nature. Furthermore, the repeated structure in "Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I [am]" creates a powerful sense of Parallelism and Emphasis, reinforcing the certainty and intimacy of God's response when the stipulated conditions are met.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 58:9 profoundly articulates the biblical truth that genuine spirituality is inextricably linked to ethical conduct and social justice. It shatters the illusion that outward religious observance, such as fasting or prayer, can compensate for a lack of compassion, justice, or integrity in daily life. This verse reveals God's character as one who is not merely interested in ritualistic adherence but is deeply concerned with the well-being and just treatment of all people, especially the vulnerable. The promise of God's immediate and personal response ("Here I am") underscores His desire for intimate communion, yet it also establishes that such communion is hindered by unrighteousness. Theologically, it highlights the holistic nature of covenant faithfulness, where love for God is demonstrated by love for neighbor, and where prayer becomes potent and effective when it flows from a life transformed by God's own heart for justice and mercy.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 58:9 serves as a timeless and piercing challenge to every believer and community of faith. It compels us to examine the authenticity of our spiritual practices, asking whether our prayers and worship are truly rooted in a life that actively pursues justice, compassion, and purity of speech. It is often easy to engage in religious activities while overlooking the "yokes" we might be unwittingly placing on others, whether through unfair expectations, neglect, or participation in systemic injustices. We must also honestly assess the "fingers" we point in judgment or the "vanity" we speak in our daily interactions. This verse calls us to a radical self-assessment: are we merely going through the motions of faith, or are we genuinely seeking to dismantle oppression, cultivate kindness, and speak words that build up rather than tear down? When our lives reflect God's heart for righteousness—when we actively remove hindrances to justice and truth—then and only then can we expect to experience the profound joy of His immediate and powerful response, knowing that our prayers are aligned with His will and our lives are a testament to His transforming power.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "the putting forth of the finger" mean in this context?
Answer: "The putting forth of the finger" (Hebrew: shâlach H7971, ʼetsbaʻ H676) refers to a gesture of scorn, mockery, malicious accusation, or contempt. In ancient cultures, pointing the finger was often a sign of disrespect, blame, or even a magical curse. Here, it signifies a critical, judgmental, and uncharitable attitude towards others, particularly the vulnerable or those who are suffering. It stands in direct opposition to the compassion, empathy, and active help that God desires from His people, as vividly described in Isaiah 58:6-8. It represents a spirit of condemnation rather than restoration.
How does Isaiah 58:9 relate to the effectiveness of prayer?
Answer: Isaiah 58:9 directly links the effectiveness of prayer and God's manifest presence to the ethical and social conduct of the one praying. It teaches that while God is always ready to hear, His active intervention and intimate presence ("Here I am") are contingent upon the removal of specific sins: oppression ("the yoke"), malicious judgment and scorn ("putting forth of the finger"), and harmful or empty speech ("speaking vanity"). This implies that prayer is not a magical formula, but a communion that thrives when the heart and life of the petitioner are aligned with God's righteousness and His profound concern for justice and human dignity. It powerfully echoes sentiments found in Proverbs 28:9, which states, "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 58:9 finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the prophet calls for humanity to remove the "yoke" of oppression, the "putting forth of the finger" of malice, and "speaking vanity," Jesus Himself perfectly embodied the righteous life that God desires. He lived a life utterly free from all forms of oppression, consistently advocating for the poor, the marginalized, and the outcast, declaring His mission to "proclaim liberty to the captives" and "set at liberty those who are oppressed" (Luke 4:18-19). He never pointed a finger of malicious accusation but offered grace and truth, even to His accusers and those caught in sin (e.g., John 8:1-11). His words were always life-giving, never vain or harmful, speaking with authority and grace (John 6:68). More profoundly, Jesus did not merely call for the removal of yokes; He became the one who breaks every spiritual yoke of sin and bondage, inviting all who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest, promising that His "yoke is easy and his burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, He removed the ultimate "yoke" of sin and the "vanity" of human rebellion, making it possible for us to truly "call" upon the Lord and receive His "Here I am" through the indwelling Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live righteously (Romans 8:15-16). Thus, Christ not only models the righteous life but also empowers us to live it, making genuine communion with God possible and our prayers effective.