Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
Then you will call out, and the LORD will answer you; you will cry for help, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you stop oppressing others, stop pointing fingers and blaming people, and stop speaking empty, hurtful words;
God is promising that when we stop hurting others through oppression, blame, and empty words, He will be ready to listen and respond when we call out to Him.
📚 Historical Context
Isaiah was speaking to the people of Israel who were going through the motions of religious practices like fasting while continuing to mistreat others. The 'yoke' refers to burdens placed on people, often economic oppression of workers and the poor. The 'putting forth of the finger' was a gesture of scorn and accusation common in that culture.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.