Isaiah 58:3

The first half of the verse expresses the people's sense of disappointment at the failure of their efforts to win the favour of Jehovah; the second half begins the prophet's exposure of their hypocrisy. There is an incipient Pharisaism in their evident expectation that by external works of righteousness they would hasten the coming of the Messianic salvation. The prophet also maintains that salvation is conditioned by righteousness on the part of the people; but he insists that the righteousness which secures the fulfilment of the promises is ethical righteousness, not the mechanical observance of ceremonial forms.

have we afflicted our soul see below on Isaiah 58:5.

you find pleasure Rather business (see on ch. Isaiah 44:28), i.e. "you find opportunity to do a profitable stroke of business." Cf. Isaiah 58:13.

and exact all your labours Or, as R.V. marg., and oppress all your labourers. According to the law of Leviticus 16:29 a fast implied universal cessation of work, but these men while fasting themselves, extorted from their slaves and hired servants their full tale of work. On slavery in the post-exilic community see Nehemiah 5:5. The translation "labourers" is somewhat uncertain; the word does not occur elsewhere in this sense.