“Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.”
My Notes
What Does Isaiah 56:2 Mean?
"Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil." The blessing is pronounced on two practices: keeping the sabbath holy AND keeping your hands from evil. The sabbath-keeping is about time (honoring God's rhythm). The hand-keeping is about action (restraining from harm). Both are acts of intentional restraint — holding back from what would pollute or destroy.
The phrase "layeth hold on it" (yachaziq bah — grips it, seizes it, holds tightly) means the blessed person doesn't just observe casually. They GRIP the practice — hold it with strength, seize it with determination, refuse to let go. The holding is tenacious. The blessed person treats righteous practice like something that could slip away if not gripped firmly.
The "keepeth the sabbath from polluting it" (shomer shabbat mechallelo — guards the sabbath from profaning it) treats the sabbath as something VULNERABLE: it can be polluted, profaned, desecrated. The keeping is protective — guarding the sabbath from the forces that would ruin it. The sabbath needs a guardian. The blessed person IS that guardian.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What righteous practice are you gripping tightly — and what might slip away if you loosen your hold?
- 2.How does keeping the sabbath 'from polluting it' describe active protection of sacred time?
- 3.What does restraining your hands from evil require in your daily life?
- 4.What does the blessing being for the DOER (not just the knower) change about your approach to faith?
Devotional
Blessed is the one who DOES this — who grips it tightly, who guards the sabbath from pollution, who keeps their hands from evil. The blessing isn't for the one who knows about righteousness. It's for the one who DOES it, HOLDS it, GUARDS it. The doing and the gripping are where the blessing lives.
The 'layeth hold on it' describes a grip, not a casual touch: the blessed person SEIZES righteous practice the way you'd seize something valuable that's about to be taken. The grip is strong. The holding is determined. The blessed person treats holiness like something that requires active, muscular holding — not passive agreement but forceful retention.
The 'keepeth the sabbath from polluting it' treats the sabbath as something PRECIOUS and VULNERABLE: sabbath rest can be profaned. The sacred rhythm can be polluted — by work, by worry, by treating holy time as ordinary time. The blessed person guards the sabbath the way a sentinel guards a gate — actively protecting it from everything that would ruin it.
The 'keepeth his hand from doing any evil' adds the moral dimension: the sabbath is about what you STOP doing (work, profaning). The hand-keeping is about what you NEVER DO (evil). Both are restraint. Both are the blessed discipline of NOT — not profaning the sabbath, not doing evil with your hands. The blessing is in the stopping and the not-doing.
What are you gripping tightly — and are you guarding the sabbath and restraining your hands?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Blessed is the man that doth this,.... That does justice, and keeps judgment; he hereby exercises a good conscience both…
Blessed is the man - Hebrew, ‘The blessings of the man’ (see Psa 1:1). The sense is, ‘happy is the man.’ The word here…
That keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it - Kimchi has an excellent note here. "The Sabbath is sanctified when it is…
The scope of these verses is to show that when God is coming towards us in a way of mercy we must go forth to meet him…
The blessing attached to Isa 56:56 extends to mankind in general (note the expressions manand son of man), i.e. to all…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture