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.
• New International Version (NIV)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.”
• 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.”

Context of Isaiah 56:2

1This is what the Lord says: “Be just and fair to all. Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you and to display my righteousness among you. 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. 3“Don’t let foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will never let me be part of his people.’ And don’t let the eunuchs say, ‘I’m a dried-up tree with no children and no future.’ 4For this is what the Lord says: I will bless those eunuchs who keep my Sabbath days holy and who choose to do what pleases me and commit their lives to me.

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 1:1Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
• Psalms 15:1Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
• Psalms 106:3There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right.
• Psalms 112:1Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands.
• Psalms 119:1Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.
• Psalms 128:1How joyful are those who fear the Lord— all who follow his ways!
• Luke 11:28Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”
• Luke 12:43If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.
• John 13:17Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
• Revelation 22:14Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.
• Isaiah 56:4For this is what the Lord says: I will bless those eunuchs who keep my Sabbath days holy and who choose to do what pleases me and commit their lives to me.
• Proverbs 4:13Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.
• Ecclesiastes 7:18Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.
• Isaiah 58:13“Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.
• Exodus 31:13“Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.
• Leviticus 19:30“Keep my Sabbath days of rest, and show reverence toward 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