Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse connects keeping the Sabbath with abstaining from all evil, implying that true Sabbath observance isn't just about rest, but about actively ceasing from wrongdoing and living a life of righteousness. This emphasizes that outward religious practices like Sabbath keeping must be paired with inner ethical transformation.
Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is calling for justice and righteousness, explaining that God's salvation is near and His righteousness will soon be revealed. This verse highlights the blessings that await those who not only practice these virtues but also faithfully keep the Sabbath and abstain from all evil, extending this promise even to foreigners and eunuchs in the following verses. It's a call to genuine obedience, pointing towards a future where God's favor is available to all who diligently seek Him.
Keeping the Sabbath is more than just a day off. It's about what you do and don't do with your time and hands.
The verse highlights two key actions related to the Sabbath: "keeping the Sabbath from polluting it" and "keeping his hand from doing any evil." This isn't just about resting; it's about actively guarding the day from defilement and consciously abstaining from wrongdoing.
True blessing isn't just about fleeting moments; it's about holding firm to what's right, even when it's difficult.
The verse opens with a powerful declaration of blessing: "Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast." The phrase "holds it fast" (Hebrew: yachazik ba) implies more than just a casual acceptance; it signifies a firm grip, a resolute commitment, and perseverance in well-doing.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
shabbat · Hebrew Noun
The seventh day of the week, set apart by God at creation and commanded in the Decalogue as a time for rest and worship. It serves as a sign of the covenant between God and His people, honoring His work of creation and redemption.
This passage comes during the post-exilic period when the Jewish community was rebuilding their lives and religious practices in Jerusalem. The prophet Isaiah emphasizes that true faithfulness to God involves not only outward acts like Sabbath observance but also inward justice and righteousness, extending blessings even to foreigners who embrace these principles.
c. 715 BC
Reign of Hezekiah
King Hezekiah's reign was marked by religious reforms and a renewed emphasis on covenant faithfulness, including proper Sabbath observance.
c. 696-642 BC
Reign of Manasseh
King Manasseh's long and apostate reign saw a significant decline in religious observance and a departure from Hezekiah's reforms, likely leading to widespread disregard for the Sabbath.
c. 640-609 BC
Reign of Josiah
King Josiah's reign brought a religious revival after the discovery of the Book of the Law, which likely included calls to restore proper Sabbath observance.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonian conquest and destruction of Jerusalem marked a catastrophic end to the southern kingdom, intensifying questions about God's favor and the meaning of His covenant.
c. 550-539 BC
Deportation to Babylon and Persian Rise
The exile in Babylon, coupled with the rise of the Persian Empire under Cyrus, created a context where former national distinctions began to blur, and the return to Jerusalem was anticipated.
c. 538 BC— this verse
Edict of Cyrus and Return to Jerusalem
The Persian decree allowed Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, initiating a period of restoration and re-establishment of religious practices, including the Sabbath.
This passage establishes the original institution of the Sabbath as a day of rest and holiness, providing the foundation for Isaiah's emphasis on keeping it 'not profaning it.'
Exodus 20:8-11The Ten Commandments explicitly include the Sabbath commandment, highlighting its importance and connection to remembering God's creation and redemption, which underpins the call to holiness in Isaiah 56:2.
Matthew 12:1-14Jesus' interactions with the Pharisees regarding the Sabbath demonstrate the tension between legalistic observance and true righteousness, showing that keeping the Sabbath from evil is more important than rigid, unloving adherence.
Romans 2:25-29This passage parallels Isaiah's message by stating that true circumcision (and by extension, true observance of God's commands like the Sabbath) is of the heart, not just outward ritual, and is linked to doing good.
Colossians 2:16-17Paul here addresses the proper understanding of Sabbath and other festivals, framing them as shadows of Christ, which connects to Isaiah's emphasis on keeping the Sabbath not profaning it, and doing no evil, pointing towards a deeper, Christ-centered reality.
bensonIsaiah 56:2: "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."
Isaiah 56:2 . Blessed is the man — Any, or every man, not only Jews but Gentiles, or strangers, as it is explained in the following verses. That doeth this — That practiseth the judgment and justice, or the righteousness, mentioned Isaiah 56:1 . That layeth hold on it — Or, that holdeth it fast, as יחזיק בה may be ren…
pulpitIsaiah 56:2: "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."
Verse 2. - That doeth this... that layeth hold on it; i.e. that doeth according to the exhortation in ver. 1. That keepeth the sabbath. The prominent place assigned to this duty by the evangelical prophet is remarkable. We may observe, however, (1) that the spirit of obedience is better tested by a positive than by a…
The verse connects keeping the Sabbath with abstaining from all evil, implying that true Sabbath observance isn't just about rest, but about actively ceasing from wrongdoing and living a life of righteousness. This emphasizes that outward religious practices like Sabbath keeping must be paired with inner ethical transformation.
The prophet Isaiah is calling for justice and righteousness, explaining that God's salvation is near and His righteousness will soon be revealed. This verse highlights the blessings that await those who not only practice these virtues but also faithfully keep the Sabbath and abstain from all evil, extending this promise even to foreigners and eunuchs in the following verses. It's a call to genuine obedience, pointing towards a future where God's favor is available to all who diligently seek Him.
The prophet Isaiah is calling for justice and righteousness, explaining that God's salvation is near and His righteousness will soon be revealed. This verse highlights the blessings that await those who not only practice these virtues but also faithfully keep the Sabbath and abstain from all evil, extending this promise even to foreigners and eunuchs in the following verses. It's a call to genuine obedience, pointing towards a future where God's favor is available to all who diligently seek Him.
"Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”" — The verse connects keeping the Sabbath with abstaining from all evil, implying that true Sabbath observance isn't just about rest, but about actively ceasing from wrongdoing and living a life of righ…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026