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Isaiah 58:6
"Isn't this the fast that I have chosen: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Isn't it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh?
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Interpretation

The prophet calls a true fast that is worked out in concrete decisions in Isaiah 58:6—look for "isn't" and "yoke". Align true fast in how we make amends—let wisdom become a road.

Context

Isaiah speaks here as prophetic oracle writing, developing true fast. Read in Isaiah 58, its force becomes clearer. It also intersects prophetic hope & judgment. Listen for “isn't” alongside “yoke”.

Authorship & Historical Background

Early sources associate Isaiah with Isaiah (son of Amoz). Critical study of Isaiah often concludes: Scholars often distinguish major sections (sometimes called Deutero/Trito‑Isaiah).. Scholars commonly date Isaiah 8th–5th century BC. This verse leans into prophetic hope & judgment. Chs 40–55 commonly exilic (Deutero). Chs 56–66 commonly post‑exilic (Trito). Exilic and post‑exilic horizons color sections of the book.

More details
Traditional:Isaiah son of Amoz
Modern scholarship:Multiple authors (Proto‑, Deutero‑, Trito‑Isaiah).
Date:8th–5th century BC
  • Chs 40–55 commonly exilic (Deutero).
  • Chs 56–66 commonly post‑exilic (Trito).
Manuscripts & Textual Witnesses
The Masoretic tradition preserves the Hebrew text with remarkable accuracy. The Dead Sea Scrolls (discovered 1947-1956) confirm the Hebrew text's reliability, showing minimal variation over 1000+ years of transmission.