What Does Isaiah 58:1 Mean in the King James?

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Isaiah 58:1 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

Hebrew keeps rebellion and the mark missed distinct, so the raised voice exposes two different fractures rather than one generic category of wrongdoing.

THE MEANING

The verse meets you with a truth that English can flatten: rebellion and the mark missed are different fractures, and both are brought into the open. Its raised voice makes what is concealed audible now without softening what it names.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that every wrong is only an innocent mistake: the verse names rebellion and missing as distinct realities.

THE ROOT

פִּשְׁעָם

pishʿam

GROWS FROM

פשע

pashaʿ

rebel; break away

“transgression” in this verse is pishʿam. The root ⁨פשע⁩ (pashaʿ, rebel or break away) names a rupture, not merely a mistake. Beside it, ⁨חַטֹּאתָם⁩ (chattaʾotam, their missings) names a different fracture, so the verse keeps rebellion and a missed mark distinct.

ALSO GROWS

pāshaʿ: to rebel; break away

פָּשַׁע

The verb makes the rupture an action, giving “transgression” the force of breaking away.

pōshēaʿ: a rebel; one who breaks away

פֹּשֵׁעַ

This form names the one who embodies the break, not just an abstract wrong.

peshaʿim: rebellions; transgressions

פְּשָׁעִים

The plural shows the root can name repeated or many-sided ruptures.

חַטֹּאתָם

chattaʾotam

GROWS FROM

חטא

chataʾ

miss; fail

“sins” in this verse is chattaʾotam. This root carries the image of a mark missed, distinct from the breakaway named by ⁨פֶּשַׁע⁩ (peshaʿ, rebellion). The same root also names ⁨חַטָּאת⁩ (chattaʾt, a miss or an offering for the missing), holding the failure and what addresses it in one word family.

ALSO GROWS

chataʾ: to miss; fail

חָטָא

The verb gives “sins” its underlying sense of missing or failing.

chet: a miss; an act of missing

חֵטְא

This noun keeps the concrete image of a miss beneath the broader English label.

chattaʾt: a miss; also an offering for the missing

חַטָּאת

The shared root links the named failure with the offering associated with it.

THE PATTERN

Concealed rupture becomes visible when it is named plainly.

And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

2 Samuel 12:7 · KJVNathan makes the concealed wrong visible with one direct sentence.

For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

Luke 12:2 · KJVThe verse states plainly that what is hidden comes into view.

But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Ephesians 5:13 · KJVLight makes what is exposed visible, echoing Isaiah’s raised voice that brings wrongdoing into the open.

THE THREAD

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5 · KJV

Both verses use ⁨פשע⁩ (pashaʿ, rebel or break away): Isaiah 58 names the people’s rebellion, while Isaiah 53 speaks of “our transgressions.” The root carries the same rupture from exposure here to what is borne there.

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