What Does Isaiah 58:3 Mean?

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

“Wherefore have we fasted”

to cover over (the mouth), i.e., to fast

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

“say they and thou seest”

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

“not wherefore have we afflicted”

to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows)

“our soul”

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

“and thou takest no knowledge”

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if

“Behold in the day”

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

“of your fast”

a fast

“ye find”

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

“pleasure”

pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely, a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in mind)

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

“all your labours”

a (hired) workman

“and exact”

to drive (an animal, a workman, a debtor, an army); by implication, to tax, harass, tyrannize