Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

ISAIAH 58:1KJV
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Isaiah 58:1 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 58:1 mean?

Isaiah 58:1 is a command from God to the prophet Isaiah, telling him to speak out loudly and clearly, without holding back, to announce to the people of Israel their wrongdoing and sins. The verse uses the image of a trumpet to show that this message should be public, urgent, and impossible to ignore.

In this verse, God is addressing Isaiah directly, instructing him to confront the people—called "my people" and "the house of Jacob"—about their failures. The setting is one where the people may be acting religious but are not living rightly, so God wants their faults exposed openly. The strong language and call for a trumpet-like voice underline the seriousness and public nature of the warning.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 58:1

  • "Cry" (קָרָא, qara): This word means to call out or proclaim, often loudly or urgently. It shows that Isaiah is not to whisper or hint but to speak boldly.
  • "Aloud" (גָּרוֹן, garon): This literally means "throat," suggesting a full, strong voice. The idea is to use all of one's voice, not holding anything back.
  • "Trumpet" (שׁוֹפָר, shofar): A shofar is a ram's horn used for public announcements or warnings in ancient Israel. Using this image means the message should be as clear and attention-grabbing as a trumpet blast.
  • "Transgression" (פֶּשַׁע, pesha): This word refers to rebellion or breaking away from what is right, not just a mistake but a willful wrongdoing. It highlights the seriousness of what the people have done.

Why Isaiah 58:1 matters

  • Isaiah 58:1 makes clear that God wants the people's sins addressed openly, not hidden or ignored, which sets the tone for the rest of the chapter about true worship and justice.
  • The verse corrects the idea that religious people are always in the right; even those who appear devout can be called out for real wrongdoing.
  • The use of strong, public language shows that this is not a private matter but something the whole community needs to hear and respond to.

Where else these words appear

“aloud” Hebrew H1627 · used in 8 verses

  • Psalms 5:9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
  • Psalms 115:7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
  • Isaiah 3:16 Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:

“spare” Hebrew H2820 · used in 28 verses

  • Genesis 20:6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
  • Job 16:5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
  • Proverbs 11:24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

“trumpet” Hebrew H7782 · used in 63 verses

  • Exodus 19:16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
  • 1 Samuel 13:3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.
  • Isaiah 18:3 All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.

“transgression” Hebrew H6588 · used in 90 verses

  • Genesis 31:36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
  • Psalms 51:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
  • Lamentations 1:14 The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.