Why have we fasted, and thou hast not regarded: have we humbled our souls, and thou hast not taken notice? Behold in the day of your fast your own will is found, and you exact of all your debtors.
Ibn Ezra
Wherefore have we fasted, etc. They fast, and then they say, Wherefore have we fasted. And thou seest not, etc. It is as if thou didst not see, nor take any knowledge of it; for thou dost not help us. The reply to these questions is: Behold in the day of your fast, etc. On the very day of the fast every one that has a dispute with his neighbour proceeds with his lawsuit. עצביכם Your debtors. עצבים means money. Comp. ועצביך and thy wealth (Prov. 5:10); it is probably connected with עצבון labour (Gen. 3:17); comp. יגיע בפיך the labour of thine hands (Ps. 128:2); יגיע מצרים the labour of Egypt (45:14). תנגשו You press. It is written in full with נ, like כהנדוף as is driven, תנדף drive (Ps. ixviii. 3). וכל בעל עצביכם תנגשו=וכל עצביכם תננשו And you press all your debtors. Comp. אשה בעלת יראת יי=אשה יראת יי a woman that feareth the Lord (Prov. 31:30); there are many other instances of this kind of ellipsis.
Hebrew and Aramaic words are the commentator’s citations of the sacred text; the English translation that follows each is the translator’s.
Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.