Isaiah 58:7 Meaning and Explanation
“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The true fast flows naturally into concrete acts of mercy: feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, and refusing to remain separate from our own people in need.
The Context of Isaiah 58:7
The passage moves from abstract systemic injustice to the concrete, personal act of compassion that anyone can perform.
What Does Isaiah 58:7 Mean?
The rhythm here is incarnational. We move from the big systems of oppression (verse 6) to the face-to-face encounter with need. Bread for the hungry. Shelter for the homeless. Clothing for the naked. Each image is tactile and immediate. And then a phrase that widens the circle: 'hide not thyself from thine own flesh.' When we encounter someone in need, we often avert our eyes or cross the street. We tell ourselves it is not our responsibility or that we cannot help everyone. But God names this refusal by a raw term: hiding yourself. We become strangers to our own family.
The beauty of this verse is that it does not require us to change the entire world. It asks us to see the person in front of us and to respond with what we have. Bread, shelter, a covering, presence. When a beggar sits outside a temple, the worshiper is confronted with a choice: am I willing to be interrupted, to make myself available, to acknowledge this person as family?
How to Apply Isaiah 58:7 Today
Each day we encounter people who are hungry, homeless, or in need of basic care. Our faith is lived out in these moments of choice. What keeps us from responding? What would change if we saw the poor as our own family?
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 58:7
What does Isaiah 58:7 mean?
The true fast flows naturally into concrete acts of mercy: feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, and refusing to remain separate from our own people in need.
What is the context of Isaiah 58:7?
The passage moves from abstract systemic injustice to the concrete, personal act of compassion that anyone can perform.
How can I apply Isaiah 58:7 today?
Each day we encounter people who are hungry, homeless, or in need of basic care. Our faith is lived out in these moments of choice. What keeps us from responding? What would change if we saw the poor as our own family?