Isaiah 56:2

Isaiah 56:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who lays hold on it; Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)Blessed are all those who are careful to do this. Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest and keep themselves from doing wrong.

Context of Isaiah 56:2

1This is what the Lord says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the one who does this— the person who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps their hands from doing any evil.” 3Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.” And let no eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.” 4For this is what the Lord says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant—

Isaiah 56:2 word by word

אַשְׁרֵ֤י אֱנוֹשׁ֙ יַעֲשֶׂה־זֹּ֔את וּבֶן־אָדָ֖ם יַחֲזִ֣יק בָּ֑הּ שֹׁמֵ֤ר שַׁבָּת֙ מֵֽחַלְּל֔וֹ וְשֹׁמֵ֥ר יָד֖וֹ מֵעֲשׂ֥וֹת כָּל־רָֽע׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Blessedאֶ֫שֶׁר'esher · blessedH835
• the manאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• doethעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• this, and the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• layeth holdחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: holdH2388
• on it; that keepethשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: obeyH8104
• the sabbathשַׁבָּתshabbâth · SabbathH7676
• from pollutingחָלַלchâlal · to profane/begin: profaneH2490
• his handיָדyâd · handH3027
• any evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451

Cross-references for Isaiah 56:2

• Psalms 1:1Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
• Psalms 15:1Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?
• Psalms 106:3Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right.
• Psalms 112:1Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands.
• Psalms 119:1Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.
• Psalms 128:1Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.
• Luke 11:28He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
• Luke 12:43It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.
• John 13:17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
• Revelation 22:14“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
• Isaiah 56:4For this is what the Lord says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant—
• Proverbs 4:13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
• Ecclesiastes 7:18It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.
• Isaiah 58:13“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
• Exodus 31:13“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.
• Leviticus 19:30“ ‘Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.

Commentaries on Isaiah 56:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2That keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it - Kimchi has an excellent note here. "The Sabbath is sanctified when it is distinguished in dignity; and separated from other days. As to the body, in meat, drink, and clean clothing. As to the soul, that it be empty of worldly occupations, and be busily employed in the words of the law and wisdom, and in meditation on the works of the Lord." The rabbins say, "Jerusalem had never been destroyed, had not the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Blessed is the man - Hebrew, The blessings of the man‘ (see Psalm 1:1). The sense is, happy is the man.‘ The word here rendered man‘ (אנושׁ 'ĕnôsh ) usually denotes a man in humble life or in a subordinate rank, in contradistinction from אישׁ 'ı̂ysh a man in elevated rank. As the object of the prophet here is particularly to say, that the stranger‘ and the eunuch‘ would be admitted to these privileges, it is possible that he designedly used a word…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Blessed: Compare Isaiah 30:18; 32:20; see also Psalms 1:1; 119:1; Matthew 5:3. The Sabbath is a sign of the covenant (Exodus 31:13–17), and is God's gift to his people. It applies to both the present age and the age to come (Isaiah 56:4, 6; 58:13–14; see Hebrews 4:1–13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. (Lu 12:43). the man--Hebrew, enosh, "a man in humble life," in contradistinction to Hebrew, ish, "one of high rank." Even the humblest, as "the stranger" and "the eunuch" (Is 56:4, 6), are admissible to these privileges. this ... it--what follows: "keeping the Sabbath," &c. (Is 58:13, 14; Eze 20:12). A proof that the Sabbath, in the spirit of its obligation, was to be binding under the Gospel (Is 66:23). That gospel times are referred to is plain, from…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 56:2

• Isaiah
• Righteous
• Sabbath

In the dictionaries

• Son of man
• Gather
• Sabbath
• Isaiah
• Saviour

Commentaries on Isaiah 56

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings