Is it not…?: The list of God’s requirements for true “fasting” continues in this verse, introduced by the same question form as in verse 6 (see comments there). The pronoun it refers to the true “fasting.”

To share your bread with the hungry refers to providing food to those in need of it. The Hebrew verb rendered share is literally “break [in two].” Most versions use “share.” Bread may be rendered “food” since it has a generic sense here. For this whole clause Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “Invite the hungry ones to your table,” which prepares well for the next one.

And bring the homeless poor into your house calls on the people to provide shelter for those who have no home. Good News Translation expresses it in more colloquial English: “and open your homes to the homeless poor.”

When you see the naked, to cover him calls on the people to provide clothing for those who have none. This is another poetic call to provide poor people with whatever they need. The naked has the more general sense of a person who has no clothes (so Good News Translation). It is unlikely that people actually walked around naked, so this is figurative language for people who were so poor that they had very little clothing. Bible en français courant renders this line as “provide clothing to those who don’t have it.”

And not to hide yourself from your own flesh calls on the people not to refuse to help their own family members. To hide yourself in this context means to turn your back on people, that is, to refuse to help them (see 45.15, where it is used of God). Your own flesh does not refer to one’s own body, but to one’s own family. Good News Translation expresses this line clearly with “and do not refuse to help your own relatives.” New International Version stays closer to the Hebrew with “and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• Is it not sharing food with any who are hungry,
giving shelter to the homeless,
providing clothes to those who lack them,
and not turning your back on your kinsfolk [or, your own family]?

• What I really require is that you feed the hungry,
give shelter to the homeless,
clothe the naked,
and look after your own flesh and blood.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .