If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

ISAIAH 58:13KJV
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Isaiah 58:13 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 58:13 mean?

Isaiah 58:13 describes how God wants His people to treat the Sabbath as a special, joyful day by not doing whatever they please or following their own interests, but instead honoring the day as holy and important to the LORD. The verse calls for a shift in attitude and behavior, encouraging people to set aside their usual routines and self-focused activities to show respect for God’s holy day.

In this verse, the prophet Isaiah is speaking to the people of Israel on God’s behalf, addressing how they should observe the Sabbath. The context is a call to genuine devotion rather than empty ritual. Isaiah urges the people to see the Sabbath not as a burden, but as a “delight,” and to honor it by refraining from ordinary work, personal pursuits, and casual talk, focusing instead on what pleases God.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 58:13

  • שַׁבָּת (shabbat, H7676): This word means “Sabbath,” the day set apart for rest and worship. The verse emphasizes that the Sabbath is not just any day, but “my holy day,” belonging to God.
  • חֵפֶץ (chephets, H2656): Translated as “pleasure,” this word refers to personal desires or pursuits. The verse warns against using the Sabbath for self-centered activities, highlighting the need to prioritize God’s purposes.
  • קָדוֹשׁ (qadosh, H6918) and קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh, H6944): Both words relate to “holy” or “set apart.” The verse repeats the idea that the Sabbath is distinct and should be treated with special honor.
  • כָּבֵד (kaved, H3513): This word means “to honor” or “to treat as weighty/important.” The verse calls for the Sabbath to be given real respect, not just observed outwardly but valued in the heart.

Why Isaiah 58:13 matters

  • Isaiah 58:13 clarifies that Sabbath observance is not just about avoiding work, but about a heart attitude that values what God values, treating the day as a delight rather than a restriction.
  • The verse helps correct the misunderstanding that ritual observance alone pleases God; instead, it highlights the importance of honoring God’s intentions for the Sabbath.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage, where Isaiah contrasts empty religious practices with sincere devotion, showing that true worship involves both actions and motives.

Where else these words appear

“delight” Hebrew H6027 · used in 2 verses

  • Isaiah 13:22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.

“pleasure” Hebrew H2656 · used in 38 verses

  • 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
  • Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
  • Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

“sabbath” Hebrew H7676 · used in 89 verses

  • Exodus 16:23 And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
  • Leviticus 26:35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.
  • Nehemiah 13:21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.

“holy” Hebrew H6918 · used in 106 verses

  • Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
  • 2 Kings 19:22 Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
  • Isaiah 17:7 At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.