Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?
English Standard Version (ESV)
God asks, "Is this the kind of fast I want?" He contrasts external displays like bowing down with the true meaning of "afflicting your soul," which involves genuine internal sorrow and a turning away from sin, not just outward show.
Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The people are observing religious fasts, but God questions the sincerity and purpose behind their actions. They outwardly perform the rituals of humbling themselves, like wearing sackcloth and ashes, yet God reveals that their hearts are far from Him, and their outward show is meaningless without true inward repentance and a changed life.
God’s looking for more than just a show of piety. What does it really mean to 'afflict your soul'?
In Isaiah 58:5, God poses a question that cuts to the core of religious practice: 'Is such the fast that I choose?' He contrasts the outward actions of fasting—bowing down like a reed, spreading sackcloth and ashes—with the true meaning.
The Empty Gestures
The Deeper Meaning
God uses the phrase 'a day for a person to humble himself.' This 'humbling of the soul' isn't about physical posture or wearing rough clothing. It’s about a deep inner sorrow for sin and a turning away from it. It’s about recognizing our need for God and actively seeking Him with our whole being, not just going through the motions.
God isn't just saying 'no' to their fasting; He’s revealing what He truly does choose. What does a truly 'acceptable day' look like to Him?
Isaiah 58:5 ends with a rhetorical question: 'Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?' This implies that the kind of fasting they were practicing was acceptable. God then goes on to define what He choose.
Ask a follow-up
Beyond Rituals: The Heart of the Matter
While the text here sets up the contrast, the following verses in Isaiah 58 (especially verses 6-7) reveal God's actual 'chosen' fast:
A Fast That Matters
God’s chosen fast isn't about self-punishment for its own sake. It's about a transformation that overflows into tangible acts of love and justice. When our worship isn't just about what we don't do (like eating), but about what we do actively pursue (righteousness and mercy), then our days become truly acceptable to the Lord.
Understand the original words
saq · Hebrew Noun
Coarse, rough fabric often made of goat's hair, worn to symbolize deep sorrow, repentance, or mourning.
eper · Hebrew Noun
The remains of a burned offering or object; throughout Scripture, it is a sign of total insignificance, mourning, and deep penitence.
ratson · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Pleasing, favorable, or agreeable to God; used here regarding worship or service that aligns with God's requirements.
This passage comes from a time when Judah experienced both periods of outward religious observance and severe national crises, highlighting the prophet's critique of superficial piety in favor of true justice and mercy.
c. 740 BC— this verse
Prophecies of Isaiah
Isaiah delivers prophecies in Judah, addressing the people's spiritual state and foretelling future events, including judgment and restoration.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Assyrians, leading to the exile of its people and reinforcing the consequences of disobedience for all Israelites.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, conquering many cities and besieging Jerusalem, a major crisis that Isaiah addresses.
This passage establishes the Old Testament concept of fasting as a way to 'afflict your souls,' directly linking it to the idea Isaiah is questioning – the outward performance versus the inward reality.
Psalm 35:13This verse uses the same 'afflict my soul' language in the context of repentance and mourning, showing that true sorrow, not just ritual, is the heart of the practice.
Matthew 6:16Jesus warns against the hypocritical display of fasting, comparing it to the superficial 'bowing down his head like a reed' that Isaiah describes, highlighting the importance of inner sincerity.
Luke 18:10-14The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector starkly contrasts outward religious observance with genuine humility and repentance, echoing Isaiah's critique of empty rituals.
James 2:14-17James directly challenges the idea that faith or religious practice is meaningful without accompanying good works, mirroring Isaiah's argument that fasting is worthless without compassion and justice.
cambridgeIsaiah 58:5: "Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?"
5 . Should such be the fast that I choose ? Can mere gestures and symbols of humiliation avail anything, along with such evidences of an unspiritual frame of mind? to afflict his soul ] Both here and in Isaiah 58:3 the phrase expresses what is of moral value i…
wesleyIsaiah 58:5: "Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?"
58:5 Chosen - Approve of, accept, or delight in, by a metonymy, because we delight in what we freely chuse. For a day - This may be understood, either for a man to take a certain time to afflict his soul in, and that either from even to even, Lev 23:32, or fro…
God asks, "Is this the kind of fast I want?" He contrasts external displays like bowing down with the true meaning of "afflicting your soul," which involves genuine internal sorrow and a turning away from sin, not just outward show.
The people are observing religious fasts, but God questions the sincerity and purpose behind their actions. They outwardly perform the rituals of humbling themselves, like wearing sackcloth and ashes, yet God reveals that their hearts are far from Him, and their outward show is meaningless without true inward repentance and a changed life.
The people are observing religious fasts, but God questions the sincerity and purpose behind their actions. They outwardly perform the rituals of humbling themselves, like wearing sackcloth and ashes, yet God reveals that their hearts are far from Him, and their outward show is meaningless without true inward repentance and a changed life.
"Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to t…" — God asks, "Is this the kind of fast I want?" He contrasts external displays like bowing down with the true meaning of "afflicting your soul," which involves genuine internal sorrow and a turning away…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026