Isaiah 43 23

Isaiah 43:23 kjv

Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.

Isaiah 43:23 nkjv

You have not brought Me the sheep for your burnt offerings, Nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not caused you to serve with grain offerings, Nor wearied you with incense.

Isaiah 43:23 niv

You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense.

Isaiah 43:23 esv

You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense.

Isaiah 43:23 nlt

You have not brought me sheep or goats for burnt offerings.
You have not honored me with sacrifices,
though I have not burdened and wearied you
with requests for grain offerings and frankincense.

Isaiah 43 verses

Isaiah 43 23 Meaning

Isaiah 43:23 conveys God's profound disappointment and accusation against Israel. He states that they have failed to present genuine burnt offerings and other sacrifices, which signifies a deeper neglect of honoring Him. Crucially, God clarifies that He has not burdened them with these requirements nor made them weary with demanding offerings. The verse highlights that Israel's lack of worship stemmed from their spiritual apathy, not from the supposed onerousness of God's commands or His need for material provisions.

Isaiah 43 23 Context

Isaiah 43 is a powerful chapter of restoration and affirmation amidst accusation. Following a period of national sin and judgment (symbolized by exile), God reaffirms His covenant with Israel, declaring His sovereignty and purpose to redeem them (vv. 1-7). He reminds them of His uniqueness as the only God who reveals the future (vv. 8-13), His power as the Creator (vv. 14-15), and His continued faithfulness in making a new way (vv. 16-21). Verse 22 then sharply shifts to accuse Israel, noting that they "have not called upon Me," nor "wearied" themselves for God. Verse 23 deepens this accusation, clarifying that their lack of engagement with God was not due to God burdening them but rather their own neglect and disinterest, a significant point given God's repeated assertions of their rebellious nature and the burdensome nature of their own idolatrous practices in earlier prophecies. It acts as a defense of God's character and a charge against Israel's misplaced complaints and lack of genuine devotion.

Isaiah 43 23 Word analysis

• Thou hast not brought me (לֹא הֵבֵאתָ לִּי - lo hevetā li): The direct address "thou" emphasizes the personal nature of the failed relationship. "Lo" (not) highlights a definite and persistent absence of the commanded action. "Hevetā" (you brought) indicates a failure to present or deliver, not just a failure to own. This isn't about lack of resource but lack of action/will.
• the small cattle (שֶׂה - seh): Refers specifically to a lamb or kid, typically chosen for burnt offerings (olah). It underscores that even the most fundamental, wholehearted offering was neglected. The singular seh can be generic or collective, signifying the general type of offering.
• of thy burnt offerings (עֹלֹתֶיךָ - ‘oloteykha): ‘Olah signifies an offering entirely consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication to God. Its absence reveals a deep spiritual disconnect and lack of full devotion. The plural indicates repeated failure over time.
• neither hast thou honoured me (וְלֹא כִבַּדְתַּנִי - vəlō’ kibbadtanî): "Kibbad" means to make heavy, weighty, or give respect/honor. The failure to honor God with sacrifices goes beyond mere procedural omission; it's a deep disrespect, a failure to ascribe to Him His rightful weight and glory in their lives. This emphasizes the spiritual intent of the sacrifices.
• with thy sacrifices (בִּזְבָחֶיךָ - bizvacheykha): Zevach is a broader term for offerings, often referring to peace offerings, shared meals with God, signifying fellowship. Their absence highlights the breakdown of both total dedication (‘olah) and covenant fellowship (zevach).
• I have not caused thee to serve (לֹא הֶעֱבַדְתִּיךָ - lo he‘evadtikha): "He‘evadtikha" means "I made you serve" or "burdened you with service." God explicitly states He did not make their worship a burden or a form of servitude (like Egypt). This directly refutes any Israelite complaint that God's requirements were onerous.
• with an offering (בְּמִנְחָה - bəminchah): Minchah typically refers to a grain or meal offering, often presented alongside blood sacrifices or as a thank offering. Its inclusion here covers another essential form of tribute.
• nor wearied thee (וְלֹא הוֹגַעְתִּיךָ - vəlo hoghatikha): "Hoghati" means to weary or exhaust someone. This is a direct response to Israel's complaint in Isa 43:22 that they had "become weary of Me" (or weary of the effort for God). God is asserting He did not make them weary; rather, they were weary, not because of His demands, but due to their own heart condition.
• with incense (בִּלְבוֹנָה - bilvonah): Levonah (frankincense) was a precious, costly aromatic gum used in grain offerings and other rituals (e.g., Exod 30:34-38). Its inclusion further clarifies that even expensive elements, when given from a willing heart, were not considered a burden by God, though they were neglected by Israel.

Word Groups Analysis:

• Thou hast not brought me... neither hast thou honoured me: This structure uses parallel negative statements to amplify the extent of Israel's failure. It moves from specific actions (bringing offerings) to a broader spiritual attitude (honoring God). The failure in ritual points to a failure in reverence.
• I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense: This counter-statement directly addresses Israel's implicit or explicit complaints. It flips the narrative from God being the burdensome one to God emphasizing the inherent graciousness and light burden of His commands when served with a willing heart, setting the stage for the powerful revelation of forgiveness in subsequent verses (v. 25).

Isaiah 43 23 Bonus section

• The phrasing subtly highlights a shift in agency. Israel failed to bring and honor, indicating their active rebellion or passivity. In contrast, God declares He did not cause them to serve or weary them, defensively emphasizing His non-imposition.
• The types of offerings mentioned—burnt offerings (complete dedication), sacrifices (fellowship), grain offerings, and incense (tribute, prayer)—represent the full spectrum of mandated temple worship. By stating these were neglected, God accuses them of abandoning the core of their covenant worship.
• The Hebrew verb he'evadtiyka (I have not caused thee to serve/burdened) could evoke memories of Israel's forced labor in Egypt. God reminds them that serving Him is freedom and honor, not the harsh servitude they experienced under Pharaoh, thereby condemning their internal spiritual "Egypt."
• This verse stands as a powerful polemic against any perception of God as a needy deity demanding material provisions. He is self-sufficient. Their offerings were for their benefit—a means for them to express love and commitment, not to provide sustenance for the Almighty. This distinguishes Yahweh from pagan gods who were thought to literally "eat" the offerings or require human input for their power.

Isaiah 43 23 Commentary

Isaiah 43:23 provides a profound insight into the nature of true worship versus ritualistic formalism. God directly confronts Israel's hypocrisy: they neglected the very acts intended to express devotion and covenant fidelity, yet they perceived themselves burdened. The passage makes it clear that God's desire was not for the physical items themselves, as if He needed sheep or incense, but for the heart posture those offerings represented – obedience, honor, and complete dedication. By asserting, "I have not caused thee to serve... nor wearied thee," God corrects Israel's misconception. The burden wasn't His commands; it was their own spiritual lethargy and unwillingness to sincerely engage. The irony is stark: while Israel had complained of being weary of God (Isa 43:22), God emphasizes that He had never made them weary with His righteous demands. This verse underlines the core biblical truth that God desires a living, loving relationship and internal devotion far more than outward, empty ceremonies, a truth echoed throughout both testaments. Their failure was not the lack of opportunity to give, but the lack of will.