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Selected Verse: Isaiah 56:2 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Isa 56:2 |
Strong Concordance |
Blessed [0835] is the man [0582] that doeth [06213] this, and the son [01121] of man [0120] that layeth hold [02388] on it; that keepeth [08104] the sabbath [07676] from polluting [02490] it, and keepeth [08104] his hand [03027] from doing [06213] any evil [07451]. |
| |
King James |
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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
(Luk 12:43).
the man--Hebrew, enosh, "a man in humble life," in contradistinction to Hebrew, ish, "one of high rank." Even the humblest, as "the stranger" and "the eunuch" (Isa 56:4, Isa 56:6), are admissible to these privileges.
this . . . it--what follows: "keeping the Sabbath," &c. (Isa 58:13-14; Eze 20:12). A proof that the Sabbath, in the spirit of its obligation, was to be binding under the Gospel (Isa 66:23). That gospel times are referred to is plain, from the blessing not being pronounced on the man who observed the sacrificial ritual of the Jewish law.
layeth hold--image from one grasping firmly some precious object which he is afraid of having forcibly snatched from him. The "Sabbath" here includes all the ordinances of divine worship under the new gospel law.
keepeth . . . hand . . . from . . . evil--The observance of the second table of the law; as the "Sabbath" referred to the first table. Together, they form the whole duty of man, the worship of God and a holy life. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Blessed is the man - Hebrew, 'The blessings of the man' (see Psa 1:1). The sense is, 'happy is the man.' The word here rendered 'man' (אנושׁ 'ĕnôsh) usually denotes a man in humble life or in a subordinate rank, in contradistinction from אישׁ 'ı̂ysh, a man in elevated rank. As the object of the prophet here is particularly to say, that the 'stranger' and the 'eunuch' would be admitted to these privileges, it is possible that he designedly used a word denoting one in bumble life. The particular blessing to which he refers is specified in Isa 56:7-8.
That doeth this - That is, this which the prophet soon specifies - keeping the Sabbath, and abstaining from evil.
And the son of man - Another form of expression denoting man.
That layeth hold on it - Hebrew, 'Binds himself fast to it;' or seizes upon it with strength. That is, he adheres firmly to the purpose, as a man seizes upon a thing with an intention not to let it go.
That keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it - Who sacredly observes the day of holy rest which God has appointed. The Sabbath was one of the special rites of the Jewish religion, and one of the most important of their institutions. Its observance entered essentially into the idea of their worship, and was designed to be the standing memorial or sign between God and the Jewish nation Exo 31:13-17. At home, in their own nation, it kept up the constant sense of religion; abroad, when they traveled among strangers, it would serve to remind all of the special nature of their institutions, and be the public evidence that they were the worshippers of Yahweh. Hence, as this served to distinguish them from other people, it comes to be used here to signify the observance of the rites which pertained to the public worship of God; and evidently includes whatever was to be perpetual and unchanging in the public worship of the Creator. It is remarkable that the prophet does not pronounce a blessing on him who came to bloody altars with sacrifices, or him who burned incense, or him who conformed to the unique rites of the Jewish religion. These rites were to pass away, and the obligation to observe them was to cease; and in this indirect manner the sacred writer has given an intimation that there would be blessings on those who did not observe those rites, and that the period would arrive when the divine favor and mercy would descend on people in a different channel. In regard to the importance of the Sabbath, see the note at the close of Isa 58:1-14.
And keepeth his hand ... - That is, is an upright, holy, honest man. He not only worships God and keeps the Sabbath, but he is upright in the discharge of all the duties which he owes to his fellow-men. These two specifications are evidently designed to include all the influences of religion - the proper service and worship of God, and an upright and holy life. Never in fact are they separated, and the religion of the Bible was designed to secure the one as much as the other. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| The man - Every man not only Jews but Gentiles, as it is explained in the following verses. The sabbath - The sabbath seems to be put here, as sacrifice is elsewhere, for the whole worship of God. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
That keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it - Kimchi has an excellent note here. "The Sabbath is sanctified when it is distinguished in dignity; and separated from other days.
1. As to the body, in meat, drink, and clean clothing.
2. As to the soul, that it be empty of worldly occupations, and be busily employed in the words of the law and wisdom, and in meditation on the works of the Lord."
The rabbins say, "Jerusalem had never been destroyed, had not the Sabbaths been profaned in it." |
23 And it shall come to pass, that from [01767] one new moon [02320] to another [02320], and from [01767] one sabbath [07676] to another [07676], shall all flesh [01320] come [0935] to worship [07812] before [06440] me, saith [0559] the LORD [03068].
12 Moreover also I gave [05414] them my sabbaths [07676], to be a sign [0226] between me and them, that they might know [03045] that I am the LORD [03068] that sanctify [06942] them.
13 If thou turn away [07725] thy foot [07272] from the sabbath [07676], from doing [06213] thy pleasure [02656] on my holy [06944] day [03117]; and call [07121] the sabbath [07676] a delight [06027], the holy [06918] of the LORD [03068], honourable [03513]; and shalt honour [03513] him, not doing [06213] thine own ways [01870], nor finding [04672] thine own pleasure [02656], nor speaking [01696] thine own words [01697]:
14 Then shalt thou delight [06026] thyself in the LORD [03068]; and I will cause thee to ride [07392] upon the high places [01116] of the earth [0776], and feed [0398] thee with the heritage [05159] of Jacob [03290] thy father [01]: for the mouth [06310] of the LORD [03068] hath spoken [01696] it.
6 Also the sons [01121] of the stranger [05236], that join [03867] themselves to the LORD [03068], to serve [08334] him, and to love [0157] the name [08034] of the LORD [03068], to be his servants [05650], every one that keepeth [08104] the sabbath [07676] from polluting [02490] it, and taketh hold [02388] of my covenant [01285];
4 For thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068] unto the eunuchs [05631] that keep [08104] my sabbaths [07676], and choose [0977] the things that please [02654] me, and take hold [02388] of my covenant [01285];
43 Blessed [3107] is that [1565] servant [1401], whom [3739] his [846] lord [2962] when he cometh [2064] shall find [2147] so [3779] doing [4160].
1 Cry [07121] aloud [01627], spare [02820] not, lift [07311] up thy voice [06963] like a trumpet [07782], and shew [05046] my people [05971] their transgression [06588], and the house [01004] of Jacob [03290] their sins [02403].
2 Yet they seek [01875] me daily [03117] [03117], and delight [02654] to know [01847] my ways [01870], as a nation [01471] that did [06213] righteousness [06666], and forsook [05800] not the ordinance [04941] of their God [0430]: they ask [07592] of me the ordinances [04941] of justice [06664]; they take delight [02654] in approaching [07132] to God [0430].
3 Wherefore have we fasted [06684], say they, and thou seest [07200] not? wherefore have we afflicted [06031] our soul [05315], and thou takest no knowledge [03045]? Behold, in the day [03117] of your fast [06685] ye find [04672] pleasure [02656], and exact [05065] all your labours [06092].
4 Behold, ye fast [06684] for strife [07379] and debate [04683], and to smite [05221] with the fist [0106] of wickedness [07562]: ye shall not fast [06684] as ye do this day [03117], to make your voice [06963] to be heard [08085] on high [04791].
5 Is it such a fast [06685] that I have chosen [0977]? a day [03117] for a man [0120] to afflict [06031] his soul [05315]? is it to bow down [03721] his head [07218] as a bulrush [0100], and to spread [03331] sackcloth [08242] and ashes [0665] under him? wilt thou call [07121] this [02088] a fast [06685], and an acceptable [07522] day [03117] to the LORD [03068]?
6 Is not this the fast [06685] that I have chosen [0977]? to loose [06605] the bands [02784] of wickedness [07562], to undo [05425] the heavy [04133] burdens [092], and to let the oppressed [07533] go [07971] free [02670], and that ye break [05423] every yoke [04133]?
7 Is it not to deal [06536] thy bread [03899] to the hungry [07457], and that thou bring [0935] the poor [06041] that are cast out [04788] to thy house [01004]? when thou seest [07200] the naked [06174], that thou cover [03680] him; and that thou hide [05956] not thyself from thine own flesh [01320]?
8 Then shall thy light [0216] break forth [01234] as the morning [07837], and thine health [0724] shall spring forth [06779] speedily [04120]: and thy righteousness [06664] shall go [01980] before [06440] thee; the glory [03519] of the LORD [03068] shall be thy rereward [0622].
9 Then shalt thou call [07121], and the LORD [03068] shall answer [06030]; thou shalt cry [07768], and he shall say [0559], Here I am. If thou take away [05493] from the midst [08432] of thee the yoke [04133], the putting forth [07971] of the finger [0676], and speaking [01696] vanity [0205];
10 And if thou draw out [06329] thy soul [05315] to the hungry [07457], and satisfy [07646] the afflicted [06031] soul [05315]; then shall thy light [0216] rise [02224] in obscurity [02822], and thy darkness [0653] be as the noonday [06672]:
11 And the LORD [03068] shall guide [05148] thee continually [08548], and satisfy [07646] thy soul [05315] in drought [06710], and make fat [02502] thy bones [06106]: and thou shalt be like a watered [07302] garden [01588], and like a spring [04161] of water [04325], whose waters [04325] fail [03576] not.
12 And they that shall be of thee shall build [01129] the old [05769] waste places [02723]: thou shalt raise up [06965] the foundations [04146] of many [01755] generations [01755]; and thou shalt be called [07121], The repairer [01443] of the breach [06556], The restorer [07725] of paths [05410] to dwell in [03427].
13 If thou turn away [07725] thy foot [07272] from the sabbath [07676], from doing [06213] thy pleasure [02656] on my holy [06944] day [03117]; and call [07121] the sabbath [07676] a delight [06027], the holy [06918] of the LORD [03068], honourable [03513]; and shalt honour [03513] him, not doing [06213] thine own ways [01870], nor finding [04672] thine own pleasure [02656], nor speaking [01696] thine own words [01697]:
14 Then shalt thou delight [06026] thyself in the LORD [03068]; and I will cause thee to ride [07392] upon the high places [01116] of the earth [0776], and feed [0398] thee with the heritage [05159] of Jacob [03290] thy father [01]: for the mouth [06310] of the LORD [03068] hath spoken [01696] it.
13 Speak [01696] thou also unto the children [01121] of Israel [03478], saying [0559], Verily [0389] my sabbaths [07676] ye shall keep [08104]: for it is a sign [0226] between me and you throughout your generations [01755]; that ye may know [03045] that I am the LORD [03068] that doth sanctify [06942] you.
14 Ye shall keep [08104] the sabbath [07676] therefore; for it is holy [06944] unto you: every one that defileth [02490] it shall surely [04191] be put to death [04191]: for whosoever doeth [06213] any work [04399] therein, that soul [05315] shall be cut off [03772] from among [07130] his people [05971].
15 Six [08337] days [03117] may work [04399] be done [06213]; but in the seventh [07637] is the sabbath [07676] of rest [07677], holy [06944] to the LORD [03068]: whosoever doeth [06213] any work [04399] in the sabbath [07676] day [03117], he shall surely [04191] be put to death [04191].
16 Wherefore the children [01121] of Israel [03478] shall keep [08104] the sabbath [07676], to observe [06213] the sabbath [07676] throughout their generations [01755], for a perpetual [05769] covenant [01285].
17 It is a sign [0226] between me and the children [01121] of Israel [03478] for ever [05769]: for in six [08337] days [03117] the LORD [03068] made [06213] heaven [08064] and earth [0776], and on the seventh [07637] day [03117] he rested [07673], and was refreshed [05314].
7 Even them will I bring [0935] to my holy [06944] mountain [02022], and make them joyful [08055] in my house [01004] of prayer [08605]: their burnt offerings [05930] and their sacrifices [02077] shall be accepted [07522] upon mine altar [04196]; for mine house [01004] shall be called [07121] an house [01004] of prayer [08605] for all people [05971].
8 The Lord [0136] GOD [03069] which gathereth [06908] the outcasts [01760] of Israel [03478] saith [05002], Yet will I gather [06908] others to him, beside those that are gathered [06908] unto him.
1 Blessed [0835] is the man [0376] that walketh [01980] not in the counsel [06098] of the ungodly [07563], nor standeth [05975] in the way [01870] of sinners [02400], nor sitteth [03427] in the seat [04186] of the scornful [03887].