Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a person, and whoever offers a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig’s blood, and whoever burns memorial incense is like one who worships an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and they delight in their abominations; New Living Translation But those who choose their own ways— delighting in their detestable sins— will not have their offerings accepted. When such people sacrifice a bull, it is no more acceptable than a human sacrifice. When they sacrifice a lamb, it’s as though they had sacrificed a dog! When they bring an offering of grain, they might as well offer the blood of a pig. When they burn frankincense, it’s as if they had blessed an idol. English Standard Version “He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck; he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig’s blood; he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol. These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations; Berean Standard Bible Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations. Berean Literal Bible The one slaughtering an ox strikes down a man; the one sacrificing a lamb breaks the neck a dog; the one offering a grain offering offers the blood of a pig; the one burning incense blesses an idol. As they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations, King James Bible He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. New King James Version “He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog’s neck; He who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine’s blood; He who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol. Just as they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations, New American Standard Bible “But the one who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a person; The one who sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; One who offers a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; One who burns incense is like one who blesses an idol. As they have chosen their own ways, And their souls delight in their abominations, NASB 1995 “But he who kills an ox is like one who slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb is like the one who breaks a dog’s neck; He who offers a grain offering is like one who offers swine’s blood; He who burns incense is like the one who blesses an idol. As they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations, NASB 1977 “But he who kills an ox is like one who slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb is like the one who breaks a dog’s neck; He who offers a grain offering is like one who offers swine’s blood; He who burns incense is like the one who blesses an idol. As they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations, Legacy Standard Bible “But he who slaughters an ox is the one who strikes down a man; He who sacrifices a lamb is the one who breaks a dog’s neck; He who offers a grain offering is the one who offers swine’s blood; He who offers a memorial offering of frankincense is the one who blesses wickedness. As they have chosen their own ways, And their soul takes pleasure in their detestable things, Amplified Bible “He who kills an ox [for pagan sacrifice] is [as guilty] as one who kills a man; He who sacrifices a lamb, as one who breaks a dog’s neck; He who offers a grain offering, as one who offers swine’s blood; He who offers incense, as one who blesses an idol. Such people have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their repulsive acts; Berean Annotated Bible Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations. Christian Standard Bible One person slaughters an ox, another kills a person; one person sacrifices a lamb, another breaks a dog’s neck; one person offers a grain offering, another offers pig’s blood; one person offers incense, another praises an idol — all these have chosen their ways and delight in their abhorrent practices. Holman Christian Standard Bible One slaughters an ox, one kills a man; one sacrifices a lamb, one breaks a dog’s neck; one offers a grain offering, one offers pig’s blood; one offers incense, one praises an idol— all these have chosen their ways and delight in their detestable practices. American Standard Version He that killeth an ox is as he that slayeth a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as he that breaketh a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as he that offereth swine's blood; he that burneth frankincense, as he that blesseth an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations: Contemporary English Version You sacrifice oxen to me, and you commit murder; you sacrifice lambs to me and dogs to other gods; you offer grain to me and pigs' blood to idols; you burn incense to me and praise your idols. You have made your own choice to do these disgusting things that you enjoy so much. English Revised Version He that killeth an ox is as he that slayeth a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as he that breaketh a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as he that offereth swine's blood; he that burneth frankincense, as he that blesseth an idol: yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations; GOD'S WORD® Translation Whoever kills a bull is like someone who kills a person. Whoever sacrifices a lamb is like someone who breaks a dog's neck. Whoever offers a grain sacrifice is like someone who [offers] pig's blood. Whoever burns incense is like someone who worships an idol. People have certainly chosen their own ways, and their souls delight in detestable things. Good News Translation "The people do as they please. It's all the same to them whether they kill a bull as a sacrifice or sacrifice a human being; whether they sacrifice a lamb or break a dog's neck; whether they present a grain offering or offer pigs' blood; whether they offer incense or pray to an idol. They take pleasure in disgusting ways of worship. International Standard Version "Whoever slaughters an ox is just like one who kills a human being; whoever sacrifices a lamb is just like one who breaks a dog's neck; whoever makes a grain offering is just like one who offers pig's blood; and whoever makes a memorial offering of frankincense is just like one who blesses an idol. Yes, these have chosen their own ways, and they take delight in their contaminated actions. NET Bible The one who slaughters a bull also strikes down a man; the one who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog's neck; the one who presents an offering includes pig's blood with it; the one who offers incense also praises an idol. They have decided to behave this way; they enjoy these disgusting practices. New Heart English Bible He who slaughters an ox is like one who strikes down a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as he who breaks a dog's neck; he who offers an offering, as he who offers pig's blood; he who burns frankincense, as he who blesses an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations: Webster's Bible Translation He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations. World English Bible He who kills an ox is as he who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as he who breaks a dog’s neck; he who offers an offering, as he who offers pig’s blood; he who burns frankincense, as he who blesses an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWhoever slaughters the ox strikes a man, "" Whoever sacrifices the lamb beheads a dog, "" Whoever is bringing up a present—The blood of a sow, "" Whoever is making mention of frankincense, "" Is blessing iniquity. Indeed, they have fixed on their own ways, "" And their soul has delighted in their abominations. Berean Literal Bible The one slaughtering an ox strikes down a man; the one sacrificing a lamb breaks the neck a dog; the one offering a grain offering offers the blood of a pig; the one burning incense blesses an idol. As they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations, Young's Literal Translation Whoso slaughtereth the ox smiteth a man, Whoso sacrificeth the lamb beheadeth a dog, Whoso is bringing up a present -- The blood of a sow, Whoso is making mention of frankincense, Is blessing iniquity. Yea, they have fixed on their own ways, And in their abominations their soul hath delighted. Smith's Literal Translation He slaughtering the ox, striking a man; he sacrificing a sheep, broke a dog's neck; he bringing up a gift, swine's blood; he making remembrance of frankincense, praising vanity; also they chose their ways, and in their abominations their soul delighted. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHe that sacrificeth an ox, is as if he slew a man: he that killeth a sheep in sacrifice, as if he should brain a dog: he that offereth an oblation, as if he should offer swine's blood; he that remembereth incense, as if he should bless an idol. All these things have they chosen in their ways, and their soul is delighted in their abominations. Catholic Public Domain Version Whoever immolates an ox, it is as if he slaughters a man. Whoever sacrifices a sheep, it is as if he is smashing the head of a dog. Whoever offers an oblation, it is as if he is offering swine’s blood. Whoever makes remembrance with incense, it is as if he is blessing an idol. All these things, they have chosen according to their own ways, and their soul has taken delight in their own abominations. New American Bible The one slaughtering an ox, striking a man, sacrificing a lamb, breaking a dog’s neck, Making an offering of pig’s blood, burning incense, honoring an idol— These have chosen their own ways, and taken pleasure in their own abominations. New Revised Standard Version Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who kills a human being; whoever sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering, like one who offers swine’s blood; whoever makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol. These have chosen their own ways, and in their abominations they take delight; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHe who kills an ox is like him who slays a man; he who sacrifices a lamb is like him who kills a dog; he who offers a meal offering is like him who offers swine's blood; he who burns incense is like him who blesses an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their idols. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated He who slaughters a bull is as if he were one killing a man; he who sacrifices a lamb as if he were one killing a dog; he who offers a meal offering as if the blood of pigs; he who offers frankincense as if he were he who blesses idols. Also, they are nurtured in their ways, and their soul delighted in their idols OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; He that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he broke a dog's neck; He that offereth a meal-offering, as if he offered swine's blood; He that maketh a memorial-offering of frankincense, as if he blessed an idol; According as they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delighteth in their abominations; Brenton Septuagint Translation But the transgressor that sacrifices a calf to me, is as he that kills a dog; and he that offers fine flour, as one that offers swine's blood; he that gives frankincense for a memorial, is as a blasphemer. Yet they have chosen their own ways, and their soul has delighted in their abominations. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Heaven is My Throne…2Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word. 3Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations. 4So I will choose their punishment and I will bring terror upon them, because I called and no one answered, I spoke and no one listened. But they did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”… Cross References Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; Isaiah 1:11-15 “What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. / When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you—this trampling of My courts? / Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly. … Proverbs 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent! Psalm 50:13-15 Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? / Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High. / Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; Malachi 1:8-14 When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present the lame and sick ones, is it not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts. / “But ask now for God’s favor. Will He be gracious? Since this has come from your hands, will He show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts. / “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle useless fires on My altar! I take no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands. … Exodus 13:13 You must redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. And every firstborn of your sons you must redeem. Leviticus 22:20-22 You must not present anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. / When a man presents a peace offering to the LORD from the herd or flock to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without blemish or defect to be acceptable. / You are not to present to the LORD any animal that is blind, injured, or maimed, or anything with a running sore, a festering rash, or a scab; you must not put any of these on the altar as a food offering to the LORD. whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; Amos 5:21-23 “I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. / Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard. / Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Leviticus 11:7-8 And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. / You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you. Hosea 9:4 They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD, and their sacrifices will not please Him, but will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat will be defiled. For their bread will be for themselves; it will not enter the house of the LORD. whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Jeremiah 44:17-19 Instead, we will do everything we vowed to do: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and offer drink offerings to her, just as we, our fathers, our kings, and our officials did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food and good things, and we saw no disaster. / But from the time we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been perishing by sword and famine.” / “Moreover,” said the women, “when we burned incense to the Queen of Heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands’ knowledge that we made sacrificial cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her?” Ezekiel 8:10-12 So I went in and looked, and engraved all around the wall was every kind of crawling creature and detestable beast, along with all the idols of the house of Israel. / Before them stood seventy elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising. / “Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? For they are saying, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’” Hosea 4:12-13 My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God. / They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations. Isaiah 65:2-5 All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people who walk in the wrong path, who follow their own imaginations, / to a people who continually provoke Me to My face, sacrificing in the gardens and burning incense on altars of brick, / sitting among the graves, spending nights in secret places, eating the meat of pigs and polluted broth from their bowls. … Jeremiah 7:24-26 Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward. / From the day your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets again and again. / Yet they would not listen to Me or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and did more evil than their fathers. Proverbs 1:29-31 For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD. / They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof. / So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. Jeremiah 7:21-23 This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves! / For when I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt, I did not merely command them about burnt offerings and sacrifices, / but this is what I commanded them: Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. You must walk in all the ways I have commanded you, so that it may go well with you. Treasury of Scripture He that kills an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrifices a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offers an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burns incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations. killeth Isaiah 1:11-15 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats… Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. Proverbs 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? lamb, or kid cut Deuteronomy 23:18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God. as is he offered Isaiah 66:17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. Isaiah 65:3,4 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; … Deuteronomy 14:8 And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase. burneth. Leviticus 2:2 And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: they have Isaiah 65:12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. Judges 5:8 They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? Judges 10:14 Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. Jump to Previous Abominations Blessed Blesses Blood Breaks Broke Burneth Burns Chosen Cut Delighteth Delights Dog's Frankincense Idol Incense Killeth Kills Lamb Neck Oblation Offered Offereth Offering Offers Ox Pig's Sacrifices Sacrificeth Slew Soul Swine's WaysJump to Next Abominations Blessed Blesses Blood Breaks Broke Burneth Burns Chosen Cut Delighteth Delights Dog's Frankincense Idol Incense Killeth Kills Lamb Neck Oblation Offered Offereth Offering Offers Ox Pig's Sacrifices Sacrificeth Slew Soul Swine's WaysIsaiah 66 1. The glorious God will be served in humble sincerity5. He comforts the humble by showing the confusion of their enemies 7. With the marvelous growth 10. And the gracious benefits of the church 15. God's severe judgments against the wicked 18. The Gentiles shall have an holy church 24. And see the damnation of the wicked Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; This phrase highlights the futility and hypocrisy of ritual sacrifices when performed without genuine faith and obedience. In ancient Israel, oxen were valuable for their use in agriculture and as sacrificial animals. The comparison to murder underscores the severity of performing religious rituals with a corrupt heart. This echoes 1 Samuel 15:22, where obedience is prioritized over sacrifice. The prophet Isaiah often criticized empty religious practices (Isaiah 1:11-15). Whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; Whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; Whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations. Persons / Places / Events 1. IsaiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah's ministry was primarily to the Kingdom of Judah. He conveyed God's messages of judgment and hope. 2. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel, often the primary audience of Isaiah's prophecies. The people of Judah were frequently called to repentance due to their idolatry and disobedience. 3. Sacrificial System The system of offerings and sacrifices established by God for the Israelites, which included offerings like oxen, lambs, and grain, intended to atone for sin and express worship. 4. Idolatry The worship of idols or false gods, which was a persistent issue among the Israelites, leading them away from true worship of Yahweh. 5. Abominations Practices detestable to God, often associated with idolatry and false worship, which the people of Judah were warned against. Teaching Points True Worship vs. Ritualistic ReligionGod desires genuine worship from the heart rather than empty rituals. Our religious practices should reflect a sincere relationship with Him. The Danger of Idolatry Idolatry can take many forms, not just physical idols. We must examine our lives for anything that takes precedence over God and repent. Obedience Over Sacrifice Obedience to God's commands is more valuable than any ritual or sacrifice. We should prioritize living according to His will. Self-Examination Regularly assess your spiritual practices to ensure they are rooted in love and devotion to God, not mere tradition or obligation. Delighting in God's Ways Choose to delight in God's ways rather than in practices that are abominable to Him. Seek joy in following His commands. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Isaiah 66:3?2. How does Isaiah 66:3 highlight the importance of sincere worship over rituals? 3. What actions in Isaiah 66:3 are considered offensive to God? 4. How can Isaiah 66:3 guide us in evaluating our worship practices today? 5. What other scriptures emphasize the need for genuine faith over empty rituals? 6. How can we ensure our worship aligns with God's desires as seen in Isaiah 66:3? 7. How does Isaiah 66:3 challenge traditional views on religious rituals and sacrifices? 8. What does Isaiah 66:3 reveal about God's view on insincere worship? 9. How does Isaiah 66:3 relate to the concept of obedience over sacrifice? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 66? 11. Who are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? 12. Why did Jesus advise against casting pearls before swine? 13. Isaiah 66:15-16: How can a loving deity be reconciled with the depiction of fiery vengeance and widespread destruction? 14. Isaiah 66:22: How does the promise of a permanent 'new heavens and new earth' align with modern scientific understanding of cosmic decay or entropy? What Does Isaiah 66:3 Mean Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man• God had prescribed oxen for sacrifice (Leviticus 1:3-5), yet when hearts are corrupt the act is repulsive to Him. • “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings…? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). • Isaiah had already declared, “I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls” when hands are full of bloodshed (Isaiah 1:11-15). • The point: outward religion without inward righteousness equals moral violence. Amos 5:21-24 and Psalm 50:8-14 echo the same warning. whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck • A lamb was the standard daily offering (Exodus 29:38-41), but snapping a dog’s neck was an idolatrous, pagan rite (cf. Isaiah 65:4). • God equates their legitimate worship with a detestable act because it comes from polluted motives (Malachi 1:6-8). • Hebrews 10:29 warns how profaning holy things insults the Spirit of grace; Isaiah is sounding the same alarm centuries earlier. whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood • Grain offerings symbolized thanksgiving and dependence (Leviticus 2:1-16). • Pig’s blood was strictly forbidden (Leviticus 11:7) and associated with uncleanness. • By pairing the two, the Lord says, “Your thanks-giving is as filthy to Me as what I have called unclean” (see also Isaiah 65:4; Mark 7:6-13). whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol • Frankincense represented prayer rising to God (Exodus 30:34-38; Revelation 8:3-4). • Blessing an idol is blatant apostasy (Jeremiah 44:17). • When people try to mix sincere-sounding devotion with hidden idolatry, God identifies the whole package as idolatry (Hosea 8:11-13; 1 Corinthians 10:19-21). Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations • The root problem is willful rebellion: “We all like sheep have gone astray; each one has turned to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). • Choosing self over God leads to delighting in what He calls abomination (Romans 1:24-25). • Proverbs 14:12 warns that such a path “ends in death,” while Micah 6:8 and Deuteronomy 30:19 point to the alternative—walking humbly in obedience. summary Isaiah 66:3 exposes how religious acts, even those prescribed by God, become abhorrent when hearts are rebellious. Sacrificing an ox, a lamb, presenting grain, or burning frankincense—each act is emptied of value and equated with murder, pagan rites, uncleanness, and idolatry because the people “have chosen their own ways.” God desires obedient, surrendered hearts; without that, worship turns into abomination. (3) He that killeth an ox . . .--The truth of the previous verse is emphasised by iteration, each clause presenting a distinct illustration of it. Chapter Isaiah 65:3-11 had pointed to tendencies, not yet extinct, which led to open apostasy. Now the prophet declares that there may be as real an apostasy beneath an orthodox creed and an irreproachable ritual. Each act of the hypocrite's worship is as an idolatrous abomination.Verse 3. - He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; literally, is a manslayer. The full meaning seems to be, "He that, not being of a poor and contrite spirit, would offer me an ox in sacrifice, is as little pleasing to me as a murderer." Sacrifice, without the true spirit of sacrifice, is an abomination (comp. Isaiah 1:11, "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord," etc.). There, however, the sacrifices are actually offered; here they are hypothetical. The ungodly exiles design to offer sacrifice to God in his temple, when they have rebuilt it (ver. 1). God rejects their offerings by anticipation. As if he out off a dog's neck; i.e." would no more please me by the sacrifice than if he were to make an offering of the unclean dog." (On the uncleanness of the dog, see Deuteronomy 23:18.) He that offereth an oblation; or, a meat offering (see Leviticus 2:1-15). He that burneth incense. With his meat offering, as directed in Leviticus 2:1, 2. Such a one is no better than he that blesseth (i.e. worships) an idol. It may be suspected that the ritual acts selected for comparison with those of the Levitical law are practices to which the exiles were given (comp. Isaiah 65:3, 4). Yea, they have chosen, etc.; rather, as they haw chosen. The clause stands over against the first clause of ver. 4, "As they (gain hemmah) have chosen their ways, so I (gain ani) have chosen their delusions."Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Whoever slaughtersשׁוֹחֵ֨ט (šō·w·ḥêṭ) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7819: To slaughter, beat an ox הַשּׁ֜וֹר (haš·šō·wr) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7794: A head of cattle (bullock, ox, etcetera) is [like] one who slays מַכֵּה־ (mak·kêh-) Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct Strong's 5221: To strike a man; אִ֗ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person whoever sacrifices זוֹבֵ֤חַ (zō·w·ḇê·aḥ) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 2076: To slaughter for sacrifice a lamb הַשֶּׂה֙ (haś·śeh) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7716: A member of a, flock, a sheep, goat [is like] one who breaks a dog’s כֶּ֔לֶב (ke·leḇ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3611: A dog, a male prostitute neck; עֹ֣רֵֽף (‘ō·rêp̄) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 6202: To break the neck, to destroy whoever presents מַעֲלֵ֤ה (ma·‘ă·lêh) Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively a grain offering מִנְחָה֙ (min·ḥāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4503: A donation, tribute, a sacrificial offering [is like] one who offers מַזְכִּ֥יר (maz·kîr) Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 2142: To mark, to remember, to mention, to be male pig’s חֲזִ֔יר (ḥă·zîr) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2386: Swine, boar blood; דַּם־ (dam-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed whoever offers incense לְבֹנָ֖ה (lə·ḇō·nāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 3828: Frankincense [is like] one who praises מְבָ֣רֵֽךְ (mə·ḇā·rêḵ) Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse an idol. אָ֑וֶן (’ā·wen) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 205: Strictly nothingness, trouble, vanity, wickedness, an idol Indeed, גַּם־ (gam-) Conjunction Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and they הֵ֗מָּה (hêm·māh) Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They have chosen בָּֽחֲרוּ֙ (bā·ḥă·rū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 977: To try, select their own ways בְּדַרְכֵיהֶ֔ם (bə·ḏar·ḵê·hem) Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action and delighted חָפֵֽצָה׃ (ḥā·p̄ê·ṣāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 2654: To incline to, to bend, to be pleased with, desire in their abominations. וּבְשִׁקּוּצֵיהֶ֖ם (ū·ḇə·šiq·qū·ṣê·hem) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 8251: Disgusting, filthy, idolatrous, an idol Links Isaiah 66:3 NIVIsaiah 66:3 NLT Isaiah 66:3 ESV Isaiah 66:3 NASB Isaiah 66:3 KJV Isaiah 66:3 BibleApps.com Isaiah 66:3 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 66:3 Chinese Bible Isaiah 66:3 French Bible Isaiah 66:3 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 66:3 He who kills an ox is as (Isa Isi Is) |
    |