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

This verse speaks of God's sorrow and disappointment concerning Israel's spiritual neglect and lack of worship. Despite His faithful service to them, they have not called upon Him or been concerned about His ways. This highlights a broken relationship due to their unresponsiveness to God's grace and presence.

Isaiah 43 23 Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Isaiah (chapters 40-66) often called "Second Isaiah" or "Deutero-Isaiah," which proclaims God's future deliverance of Israel from Babylonian exile and His enduring faithfulness. Specifically, chapter 43 focuses on God's unique power and redemptive love for Israel, emphasizing that they are His chosen people and witnesses. This particular verse stands out as a lament, contrasting God's sustained care with Israel's apathy. It sets the stage for the subsequent verses which offer a promise of restoration and future glory.

Isaiah 43 23 Word analysis

• "But thou hast not brought me": The Hebrew word "hatta'" (חָטָא) here implies sin or error, but in this context, it signifies neglect or a failure to do what is right in relation to God.
• "the spiritual Israel": This phrase is a theological interpretation; the original Hebrew is simply "me," referring to God.
• "with the flock": No mention of "flock" in the Hebrew; it's likely an interpretive addition. The Hebrew is "eth me" (אֶת־מִי) which means "me."
• "the flock of thine inheritance": Again, "flock" is not in the original Hebrew. The phrase translates more directly to "my inheritance."
• "called me": The Hebrew verb "qara'" (קָרָא) means to call, summon, or name. Here, it means to call upon God in worship or prayer.
• "wearied": The Hebrew verb "la'ah" (לָעָה) denotes being tired, weary, or faint. God expresses weariness not in an emotional sense of being drained, but in the sense of disappointment from repeated disappointment.
• "me": Refers to God, Jehovah.
• "pondered me": The Hebrew verb "shavash" (שָׁוָה) here implies consideration or valuing. It means to value, esteem, or pay attention to.
• "with thy sacrifices": This refers to the Levitical offerings that were part of Israel's worship system.
• "weighed me down": The Hebrew "himsachtu" (חִמְסַכְתֶּם) comes from a root meaning to anoint or smear. Here, it indicates that Israel's many sacrifices were an inconvenience or a burden.
• "with thy incense": Incense was a significant part of worship and was offered with specific sacrifices, often representing prayers (Psalm 141:2).

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "thou hast not called me": This entire phrase points to a lack of seeking God, a failure in prayer and intimate communication, and a disengagement from knowing Him.
• "nor wearied me with thy sacrifices": This part signifies that while outward religious acts were performed, the heart of worship was absent, making the rituals burdensome rather than life-giving to God.
• "with thine incense": Similar to sacrifices, incense offered without a sincere heart was displeasing to God, indicating a performative piety rather than genuine devotion.

Isaiah 43 23 Bonus section

The language used is deeply personal. God refers to Himself with the first-person singular pronoun ("me," "my") multiple times, emphasizing His individual relationship with Israel. The reference to "wearied" (lit. "caused weariness") isn't an expression of God's diminishing power, but a consequence of human disobedience upon His divine relationship, reflecting His righteous grief. This sentiment is echoed in the New Testament when Jesus grieved over the people of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-42), underscoring God's consistent longing for a heartfelt connection with His people.

Isaiah 43 23 Commentary

God expresses His deep sorrow and disappointment not because Israel's rituals were physically tiring for Him, but because their hearts were far from Him. Their acts of worship, represented by sacrifices and incense, were performed without genuine reverence or reliance on God. This verse reveals that God desires an inward devotion—calling upon His name and valuing His presence—more than mere outward observance. He yearns for a reciprocal relationship where His people actively seek Him and acknowledge His worth, not simply go through the motions of religious duty. This broken communication leads to God's perceived "weariness" stemming from constant disappointment.