then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The promise of being "fed with the heritage of Jacob" isn't just about physical land; it signifies enjoying the spiritual blessings and covenant promises originally given to Abraham and passed down through Jacob, becoming the inheritance for all who follow God. This points to a richer, more profound inheritance than mere territory.
then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage concludes a powerful prophetic message about true worship. Following a critique of empty religious rituals and a call to genuine acts of justice and compassion, especially in the proper observance of the Sabbath, these verses offer the resulting blessings from God. It promises profound joy in God, elevated status and security, and the enjoyment of a rich inheritance, all sealed by God's own spoken word.
What does it truly mean to find joy in the Lord? This verse paints a picture of a deep, satisfying relationship that goes beyond mere duty.
The promise of delighting in the LORD is presented as a direct consequence of sincere worship and a properly observed Sabbath, as outlined in the preceding verses. This isn't about a superficial happiness, but a profound pleasure found in communion with God. It suggests that when we engage with God in the ways He has ordained – through acts of justice, mercy, and honoring His holy day – our relationship with Him becomes a source of genuine joy, not just an obligation.
Imagine being elevated, secure, and in control. This imagery speaks volumes about the kind of security and position God promises His people.
The phrase "I will cause you to ride on the high places of the earth" is rich with meaning. It draws on imagery of conquest and security, likening God's people to a triumphant rider over elevated, strategic positions. This isn't just about physical elevation, but about a divinely granted security and a position of prominence. It suggests being lifted above danger, having dominion, and enjoying the fullness of what has been promised – a life lived with confidence and divine favor.
God promises to 'feed you with the heritage of Jacob.' What does this inheritance truly entail, and why is it so significant?
The 'heritage of Jacob' refers to the promised land and all the blessings associated with it, both temporal and spiritual. God's promise to 'feed' His people with this heritage signifies provision, sustenance, and the full enjoyment of what He has ordained. It connects the faithful observance of His commands (as in the preceding verses) to receiving and enjoying the blessings of His covenant. This heritage is not just earthly but also points to the spiritual blessings found in relationship with God, ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
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Understand the original words
nachalah · Hebrew Noun
Possession or inheritance granted by God to His people. It signifies the covenantal blessings, both physical and spiritual, passed down through the line of faith (beginning with the patriarchs) to the faithful remnant.
This promise in Isaiah 58 comes to the people after their return from exile, a time when they were focused on rebuilding and re-establishing their identity. The prophet reminds them that true restoration and God's favor are linked not just to physical rebuilding, but to a genuine heart of justice, mercy, and proper observance of God's commands, especially the Sabbath. The 'heritage of Jacob' speaks to the full enjoyment of God's promises, both land and spiritual blessings, which are guaranteed by God's own word.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophetic Ministry
Isaiah delivers prophecies concerning Judah and Jerusalem, including pronouncements of judgment and promises of future restoration.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah and besiects Jerusalem, a significant event that tested the faith and faithfulness of Judah.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Jerusalem, destroys the Temple, and exiles a large portion of the population to Babylon.
539 BC
Persian Conquest and Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding.
c. 450-400 BC— this verse
Post-Exilic Period and Rebuilding Efforts
The prophet Nehemiah leads efforts to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and Ezra focuses on religious reforms, addressing the spiritual state of the returned community.
This passage echoes the promise of delighting in the Lord, stating that He will give the desires of one's heart, which aligns with the joy found in God promised in Isaiah 58:14.
Deuteronomy 32:13This verse uses similar imagery of God enabling His people to 'ride on the high places of the earth,' suggesting divine enablement and triumph, which directly parallels the promise in Isaiah 58:14.
Habakkuk 3:19This passage speaks of God making one's feet like a hind's feet and causing them to walk on their high places, reinforcing the theme of secure elevation and triumph through God's power, as found in Isaiah 58:14.
Galatians 5:22-23While Isaiah 58:14 promises external blessings for obedience, Galatians 5:22-23 highlights the internal 'fruit of the Spirit' like joy and self-control, which are the inner qualities that lead to experiencing delight in the Lord.
barnesIsaiah 58:14: "Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."
Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord - That is, as a consequence of properly observing the Sabbath, thou shalt find pleasure in Yahweh. It will be a pleasure to draw near to him, and you shall no longer be left to barren ordinances and to unanswered prayers. The delight…
clarkeIsaiah 58:14: "Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."
Then shalt thou delight thyself - If all fasts and religious observances be carried on in the spirit and manner recommended above, God's blessing will attend every ordinance. But in public fasts, prescribed not in the Book of God, but by the rulers of nations in general (very u…
The promise of being "fed with the heritage of Jacob" isn't just about physical land; it signifies enjoying the spiritual blessings and covenant promises originally given to Abraham and passed down through Jacob, becoming the inheritance for all who follow God. This points to a richer, more profound inheritance than mere territory.
This passage concludes a powerful prophetic message about true worship. Following a critique of empty religious rituals and a call to genuine acts of justice and compassion, especially in the proper observance of the Sabbath, these verses offer the resulting blessings from God. It promises profound joy in God, elevated status and security, and the enjoyment of a rich inheritance, all sealed by God's own spoken word.
This passage concludes a powerful prophetic message about true worship. Following a critique of empty religious rituals and a call to genuine acts of justice and compassion, especially in the proper observance of the Sabbath, these verses offer the resulting blessings from God. It promises profound joy in God, elevated status and security, and the enjoyment of a rich inheritance, all sealed by God's own spoken word.
"then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”" — The promise of being "fed with the heritage of Jacob" isn't just about physical land; it signifies enjoying the spiritual blessings and covenant promises originally given to Abraham and passed down t…
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Last reviewed October 2026