Isaiah 58:13 · Bible study
Isaiah 58:13 Commentary: The Heart of Sabbath Delight
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
What does it mean to 'turn away your foot' from the Sabbath and 'call it a delight'? Explore the heart of Sabbath observance in Isaiah 58:13.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The verse calls for a decisive shift from self-centered activities to joyful, holy rest in God on the Sabbath.
- Key words: Foot (way of life), delight (exquisite pleasure), holy (set apart), honorable (weighty), pleasure (self-interest).
- Main debate: Whether the emphasis falls on external restrictions (no travel, work, or talk) or on the internal attitude of delight; most agree both are essential.
- Theological theme: The Sabbath as covenant sign and divine gift, pointing to rest in God and eventual rest in Christ.
- Best use: Teaching on the heart of worship, the rhythm of rest and work, and the connection between obedience and joy.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
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,
WEB World English Bible 2000
“If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, and the holy of Yahweh honorable, and honor it, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words,
KJV King James Version 1769
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, and the holy of Jehovah honorable; and shalt honor it, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
If thou dost turn from the sabbath thy foot, Doing thine own pleasure on My holy day, And hast cried to the sabbath, `A delight,' To the holy of Jehovah, `Honoured,' And hast honoured it, without doing thine own ways, Without finding thine own pleasure, And speaking a word.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
If thou turn back thy foot from the sabbath, [from] doing thy pleasure on my holy day, and call the sabbath a delight, the holy [day] of Jehovah, honourable; and thou honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking [idle] words;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy own will in my holy day, and call the sabbath delightful, and the holy of the Lord glorious, and glorify him, while thou dost not thy own ways, and thy own will is not found, to speak a word:
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Si retrajeres del sábado tu pie, de hacer tu voluntad en mi día santo, y al sábado llamares delicias, santo, glorioso de Jehová; y lo venerares, no haciendo tus caminos, ni buscando tu voluntad, ni hablando tus palabras:
Se quanto ao sábado recusares fazer tua vontade no meu santo dia, e chamares ao sábado de agradável, santificado ao SENHOR, e glorioso, e tu o honrares, não seguindo teus caminhos, nem buscando tua própria vontade, falando o que não se deve ,
Si tu retiens ton pied pendant le sabbat,
So du deinen Fuß von dem Sabbat kehrst, daß du nicht tust, was dir gefällt an meinem heiligen Tage, und den Sabbat eine Lust heißt und den Tag, der dem HERRN heilig ist, ehrest, so du ihn also ehrest, daß du nicht tust deine Wege, noch darin erfunden werde, was dir gefällt oder leeres Geschwätz;
Indien gij uw voet van den sabbat afkeert, van te doen uw lust op Mijn heiligen dag; en indien gij den sabbat noemt een verlustiging, opdat de HEERE geheiligd worde, Die te eren is; en indien gij dien eert, dat gij uw wegen niet doet, en uw eigen lust niet vindt, noch een woord daarvan spreekt;
Se tu trattieni il piè per non violare il sabato facendo i tuoi affari nel mio santo giorno; se chiami il sabato una delizia, e venerabile ciò ch’è sacro all’Eterno, e se onori quel giorno anziché seguir le tue vie e fare i tuoi affari e discuter le tue cause,
Jeźliże odwrócisz od sabatu nogę swoję, abyś nie przewodził woli swojej w dzień mój święty; i jeżeli nazwiesz sabat rozkoszą, dniem świętym a Panu sławnym, i będzieszli go miał w uczciwości, tak, abyś weń nie czynił dróg swoich, i nie przewodził woli swej, i nie mówił słowo próżnego:
Если ты удержишь ногу твою ради субботы от исполнения прихотей твоих во святый день Мой, и будешь называть субботу отрадою, святым днем Господним, чествуемым, и почтишь ее тем, что не будешь заниматься обычными твоими делами, угождать твоей прихоти и пустословить, -
你若 在安息日 掉轉（或譯：謹慎）你的腳步，在我聖 日 不以操作 為喜樂，稱 安息日 為可喜樂的，稱耶和華 的聖 日為可尊重的；而且尊敬這日，不辦 自己的私事，不隨 自己的私意，不說 自己的私話，
If you keep the Sabbath with care, not doing your business on my holy day; and if the Sabbath seems to you a delight, and the new moon of the Lord a thing to be honoured; and if you give respect to him by not doing your business, or going after your pleasure, or saying unholy words;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Isaiah 58:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse targets both external behavior and inner disposition. Barnes explains that “turning away your foot” means not traveling or engaging in ordinary pursuits on the Sabbath. Keil and Delitzsch describe the Sabbath as a “divine method of education” that draws the mind back to God. Clarke emphasizes that “calling the Sabbath a delight” involves performing its duties with cheerfulness. Matthew Henry notes that the day is to be accounted “honourable” and set apart for God. The common thread? Genuine Sabbath-keeping requires both a halt to self-directed activities and a joyful embrace of worship and rest.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- External observance view: Emphasizes the literal prohibitions: no travel beyond a Sabbath day's journey, no servile work, no idle talk. Supported by Barnes, Clarke, and Jewish tradition.
- Heart attitude view: Focuses on the call to delight and honor, seeing the restrictions as expressions of an inner posture toward God. Matthew Henry and others stress the positive enjoyment of worship.
What is clear: The verse demands both a cessation of self-centered activities and a positive, joyful embrace of God's holy day.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The meaning of 'turn away your foot' | Christians agree it involves ceasing from ordinary work and travel on a day set apart for God. | Some interpret it as strict literal restrictions on distance and activities (as in Jewish tradition); others see it as a general principle of stopping self-directed pursuits. |
| Call the Sabbath a delight | All agree that the Sabbath should be approached with joy, not mere obligation. | Some emphasize structured worship and avoidance of all secular activities; others focus on the heart attitude, allowing for rest and family time beyond formal worship. |
| Application to the Christian Lord's Day | Most Christians see a continuity between the Sabbath and the Lord's Day (Sunday) as a day for worship and rest. | Some traditions (Seventh-day Adventists, some Baptists) maintain Saturday as the Sabbath; others see the principle transferred to Sunday; some view it as a creation ordinance still binding; others see it as a shadow fulfilled in Christ, leaving freedom in how to observe a day of rest. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Isaiah 58:13 comes at the climax of a chapter that redefines true religion. The prophet has just exposed the emptiness of fasting that coexists with exploitation and quarrelling (Isaiah 58:3-4). Now he turns to the Sabbath, the great sign of the covenant between God and Israel (Exodus 31:13,17). In the post-exilic period, when much of the temple worship was impossible, the Sabbath became a central marker of Jewish identity. It distinguished Israel from the nations that had no such day of rest.
The phrase “turn away your foot” likely carries two meanings. First, it suggests physical travel. The law limited a Sabbath day’s journey to about two thousand cubits beyond the city (Barnes, referencing Grotius). Second, “foot” often symbolizes one’s path or conduct (Proverbs 4:26-27). To turn away the foot from the Sabbath is to stop walking down one’s own roads of business and pleasure.
The positive command is to call the Sabbath “a delight” and “honourable.” The term “delight” (עֹנֶג, oneg) means exquisite pleasure, not mere duty. And the phrase “the holy of Yahweh” is a remarkable designation for the day itself (Cambridge Bible). The day shares in God’s own holiness. The promise that follows, riding on the high places of the earth, echoes Deuteronomy 32:13, where God provides abundance and victory. The Sabbath is not an end in itself; it is a means to deeper delight in God.
Cultural background: In the ancient Near East, only Israel had a weekly day of rest for all people, including servants and animals (Exodus 20:10). The Sabbath was a visible witness to the Creator’s rest after creation (Exodus 20:11) and to redemption from Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:15). To keep it properly was to trust God’s provision rather than anxious labor.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note minor textual variations. Clarke mentions that the Septuagint, Syriac, and Chaldee read “from doing thy pleasure” differently, perhaps adding “vain” before “words” in some witnesses. Also, twenty-eight Hebrew manuscripts (seven ancient) add the conjunction “and” before “the holy of Jehovah.” These variations do not change the essential meaning of the verse, which is to abstain from self-driven activities and to treat the Sabbath as a delight and holy to the Lord.
Reception History
Isaiah 58:13 has been foundational for Christian teaching on the Lord’s Day. Ancient interpreters, including many church fathers, saw the Sabbath command as pointing to a rhythm of rest and worship that continued under the new covenant. Reformed and Puritan commentators, such as Matthew Henry, drew heavily on this verse to advocate for a day set apart from ordinary business, filled with delight in God. The verse also appears in liturgical traditions as a call to honor Sunday as holy. Its emphasis on joy has prevented the Sabbath from being seen as merely legalistic; it remains a gift for the people of God.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Negative: Turn Away Your Foot. Stop pursuing your own business, pleasure, and words. The Sabbath is not a day for self-driven activities.
- The Positive: Call the Sabbath a Delight. Treat the day as a joy, not a burden. Delight in worship, rest, and God’s presence.
- The Promise: Delight in the Lord. When we honor the Sabbath, God promises to guide and satisfy us, making us ride on the high places.
Five-point outline
- Halt ordinary travel and work. “Turn away your foot”, do not pursue your usual routines.
- Cease from your own pleasures. Surrender self-interest and entertainment.
- Release your own words. Stop speaking about your own affairs; let conversation center on God.
- Honor the day as holy. Call it “a delight” and “honourable.” Give it a place of priority.
- Receive the promise. Delight in the Lord, who will lift you up and satisfy your soul.
Illustration hooks
- A parent decides to put away all work and screens on Sunday, using the day for unhurried meals, conversation, and worship. They find the week ahead less anxious.
- A competitive athlete commits to a full day of rest each week, not training or practicing. Over time, this rhythm improves both performance and perspective.
- A business owner refrains from checking emails or planning projects on the Lord’s Day. The discipline reshapes their relationship with time and trust in God’s provision.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does this mean I cannot do anything enjoyable on Sunday?
- What about necessary work, nursing, emergency services, farming with animals?
- How do I apply Sabbath principles when my church meets on Sunday and my workplace demands Sunday shifts?
Leading a Discussion
This verse stands at the end of a chapter that challenges superficial religion. God’s people were fasting, but their hearts were far from him. Here the prophet turns to the Sabbath, a gift meant to restore the soul. Use these questions to help your group explore what it means to keep a day holy with delight.
- Read Isaiah 58:13-14. What images does the phrase “turn away your foot” bring to mind? Why do you think the prophet uses this concrete language?
- The verse mentions “your own ways,” “your own pleasure,” and “your own words.” What do these three categories cover? Why does God specify them?
- What does it mean to “call the Sabbath a delight”? How would you describe the difference between a delight and a duty?
- God calls the day “my holy day” and “the holy of Yahweh.” What does the word “holy” add to our understanding of the day’s purpose?
- Look at the promise in verse 14. How does delighting in the Sabbath lead to delighting in the Lord himself?
- How might this passage challenge or encourage your own practice of the Lord’s Day?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 20:8 | “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. |
| Exodus 20:11 | for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy. |
| Exodus 31:13 | “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Most certainly you shall keep my Sabbaths; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you. |
| Exodus 31:17 | It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.’” |
| Exodus 36:2 | Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart Yahweh had put wisdom, even everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to the work to do it. |
| Exodus 36:3 | They received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, with which to make it. They kept bringing free will offerings to him every morning. |
| Deuteronomy 5:12 | “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as Yahweh your God commanded you. |
| Deuteronomy 5:15 | You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm. Therefore Yahweh your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke reads "turn away thy foot" as a warning against using the Sabbath for personal pleasure, such as visiting friends or taking country trips. He also notes textual variants in ancient versions for the phrases about "doing thy pleasure" and "speaking thine own words," suggesting that some manuscripts add specific restrictions.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes stresses that the Sabbath is God's own holy day, and observing it means refraining from ordinary travel, work, and personal amusements. He observes that the Sabbath is more often violated through pastime and pleasure than through business, turning God's ordinance for virtue into a tool for dissipation. True keepers find it a delight, not a burden, and honor it as a privilege.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible Schools emphasizes that the Sabbath command requires more than outward observance; it demands a hearty, joyful attitude. They highlight the unique phrase "the holy of the LORD" and stress avoiding one's own business and idle words. The promised reward is triumph over obstacles and delight in God.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes stress that true Sabbath observance means deliberately turning from your own interests and pleasures to treat the day as a delight consecrated to God. Honoring Him includes refraining not only from personal business but also from speaking empty or vain words.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill interprets "turning away the foot from the sabbath" as withdrawing the mind and affections from worldly things. He applies this to the Lord's day, urging believers to find delight in worship and spiritual duties rather than secular work or idle talk. For Gill, honoring the Sabbath means honoring Christ, the Holy One.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB stresses that the Sabbath belongs to God and must not be used for our own pleasure or idle amusement. True observance means honoring it as a spiritually delightful day, not treating it as a weariness or a chance for carnal pleasure. The key distinction is between self-serving recreation and genuine delight in the Lord's holy day.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argue that the Sabbath is not merely a legal rest from work but a sacred copy of God's own creation rest, older than the law itself. Its purpose is to force people away from secular concerns so they can enter into themselves and delight in God. The prophet calls for genuine heart observance, not stricter rules.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange treats chapters 58 and 59 as the bridge Isaiah must cross from the low ground of present hardship back up to prophetic heights. By forcing the people to see that their empty fasting and false piety have caused God to hide His face, the Prophet prepares them for genuine repentance, which alone can lead to the new creation and salvation ahead.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry stresses that Sabbath observance was especially vital for the Jews in Babylonian captivity, because it set them apart from worshippers of false gods. He insists this command still applies to Christians, with the weekly Sabbath as a perpetual sign of loyalty to God.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley explains that keeping the Sabbath involves both refraining from unnecessary journeys and servile work, and actively delighting in its duties and ordinances. To call it holy means it is completely dedicated and consecrated to God's service, performed with cheerfulness.