Isaiah 56:2
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Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
After the exceedingly great and precious promises of gospel grace, typified by temporal deliverances, which we had in the foregoing chapter, we have here, I. A solemn charge given to us all to make conscience of our duty, as we hope to have the benefit of those promises (Isa 56:1, Isa 56:2). II. Great encouragement given to strangers that were wiling to come under the bonds of the covenant, assuring them of the blessings of the covenant (Isa 56:3-8). III. A high charge drawn up against the watchmen of Israel, that were careless and unfaithful in the discharge of their duty (Isa 56:9-12), which seems to be the beginning of a new sermon, by way of reproof and threatening, which is continued in the following chapters. And the word of God was intended for conviction, as well as for comfort and instruction in righteousness.
Open source ↗56:2 Blessed: Cp. 30:18; 32:20; see also Pss 1:1; 119:1; Matt 5:3. • The Sabbath, as a sign of the covenant (Exod 31:13-17), is God’s gift to his people; it belongs to this age as well as to the age to come (Isa 56:4, 6; 58:13-14; see Heb 4:1-13).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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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,
I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.
But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates.
Keep My Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’
Blessed are those who uphold justice, who practice righteousness at all times.
If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.