Isaiah 57 6

Isaiah 57:6 kjv

Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?

Isaiah 57:6 nkjv

Among the smooth stones of the stream Is your portion; They, they, are your lot! Even to them you have poured a drink offering, You have offered a grain offering. Should I receive comfort in these?

Isaiah 57:6 niv

The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion; indeed, they are your lot. Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings and offered grain offerings. In view of all this, should I relent?

Isaiah 57:6 esv

Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I relent for these things?

Isaiah 57:6 nlt

Your gods are the smooth stones in the valleys.
You worship them with liquid offerings and grain offerings.
They, not I, are your inheritance.
Do you think all this makes me happy?

Isaiah 57 verses

Isaiah 57 6 meaning

Isaiah 57:6 reveals Judah's profound spiritual adultery, declaring that their chosen inheritance and destiny rested not in YHWH, but in the detestable smooth stones found in ravines. This verse exposes the full extent of their idolatrous practices, showing that they actively worshipped these inanimate objects by presenting them with drink and grain offerings, rites usually reserved for the Lord alone. The prophet highlights their complete devotion to these false gods, demonstrating a fundamental breach of their covenant with the living God.

Isaiah 57 6 Context

Isaiah chapter 57 sharply contrasts the passing of the righteous with the ongoing spiritual decay of the nation of Judah. While the righteous are spared from future evil, the wicked remain steeped in idolatry and apostasy. The prophet rebukes the people for their unfaithfulness, depicting them as spiritual adulterers who have forsaken the Lord for foreign gods. Verses 3-10 graphically describe various detestable cultic practices, including engaging in fertility rites under trees, sacrificing children in valleys, and, as seen in verse 6, worshipping inanimate objects like "smooth stones" in ravines. These practices directly mirrored the surrounding pagan Canaanite and Assyrian-Babylonian beliefs, creating a profound polemic against syncretism and any dilution of the exclusive worship of YHWH. Historically, this period was marked by recurrent attempts to combine YHWH worship with the veneration of Baal, Asherah, and other deities, often driven by a desire for fertility and prosperity. The mention of "ravines" and "smooth stones" points to clandestine, nature-based cults often associated with chthonic deities or localized spirits, chosen over the majestic, holy God of Israel.

Isaiah 57 6 Word analysis

Word-by-word analysis:

• Among (בַּֽחֲלֻקֵי – baḥalūqê, from בְּ + חָלָק, "in/among smooth"): This preposition emphasizes placement and inclusion, denoting that their identity and loyalty are inextricably linked to what follows. It's a statement of belonging.
• the smooth stones (חֲלֻקֵי – ḥalūqê): From the Hebrew root חָלָק (ḥālāq), meaning "smooth" or "polished." These stones, worn smooth by water or deliberately polished, were common in ancient Near Eastern cults, often serving as objects of veneration, fertility symbols, standing pillars (masseboth), or local deities in a more primitive, animistic form of worship. They represent the antithesis of the living God.
• of the ravine (נַ֣חַל – naḥal): Refers to a wadi, a valley, or a streambed—often dry but susceptible to flash floods. These natural, secluded locations were commonly chosen for illicit and clandestine idolatrous rituals, away from public sight or the central temple. They were perceived as sacred places to pagan deities or spirits, particularly those associated with natural forces or fertility.
• is your portion (חֶלְקֵ֔ךְ – ḥelqêḵ): Your share, your inheritance, your allotted destiny. In biblical terms, Israel’s true "portion" or inheritance is YHWH Himself (Ps 16:5). Here, the prophet declares with scathing irony that Judah has chosen these lifeless stones as their divine allotment instead of God.
• they, they (הֵ֚מָּה – hēmmâ): This emphatic pronoun highlights and reiterates that the stones are undeniably and singularly their chosen object of worship, removing any ambiguity. It underscores the deliberateness of their idolatry.
• are your lot (גּוֹרָלֵֽךְ – gôrālêḵ): Your chosen fate or destiny, derived from casting lots. It strongly parallels "portion," reinforcing the idea that this is their chosen and preferred destiny, completely rejecting YHWH as the one who truly holds their lot (Ps 16:5-6).
• To them you poured out (לָהֶ֚ם נָסַ֙כְתְּ – lāhem nāsaḵt, from נָסַךְ – nāsaḵ, "to pour out/libate"): This describes the act of offering a libation, typically of wine or water. It is a fundamental act of worship, expressing devotion and supplication to the deity believed to inhabit the cultic object.
• a drink offering (נֶ֣סֶךְ – nesek): A libation, a liquid offering commonly made in legitimate worship of YHWH (Ex 29:40-41; Lev 23:13). Its redirection to idols signifies extreme betrayal and misdirected worship.
• you offered (הֶעֱלֵ֤ית – he‘ĕlêt, from עָלָה – ‘ālāh, "to go up/ascend"): This verb implies the ritual presentation of an offering, specifically causing it to "ascend" to the deity, usually through burning. It signifies another complete act of worship.
• a grain offering (מִנְחָֽה – minḥāh): A bloodless offering, typically of flour, grain, or bread, prescribed in the Mosaic Law as a core act of worship to YHWH (Lev 2). Offering it to idols further solidifies their disloyalty, as they give YHWH’s due to dead stones.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Among the smooth stones of the ravine": This phrase creates a vivid image of pagan worship conducted in secret, desolate, or "natural" environments. It signifies a profound spiritual corruption, moving away from the Temple and God’s established worship places to embrace detestable local cults. The choice of such a site implies a seeking after localized, physical power over the transcendent YHWH.
• "is your portion; they, they are your lot": This double emphasis starkly asserts Judah's chosen allegiance. Their inheritance, what defines and sustains them, is explicitly tied to these inanimate objects rather than to the living God. It's an indictment of self-chosen spiritual destruction, contrasting with the psalmist's declaration that YHWH is their portion.
• "To them you poured out a drink offering; you offered a grain offering": This section precisely details the acts of worship, using terms identical to those for legitimate offerings to YHWH. This highlights the magnitude of their betrayal: they devoted the very acts and types of offerings prescribed for the one true God to worthless idols, thereby making the idols their actual god and Lord.

Isaiah 57 6 Bonus section

The specific choice of "smooth stones" (חֲלֻקֵי) may also hint at divination practices, where particular stones or their arrangements were used to seek guidance or omens from pagan deities, signifying an active pursuit of alternative "truth" outside of YHWH's revelation. This is in direct contrast to God providing clear instruction through prophets and His law. The valley setting further creates a stark psychological image: while YHWH is a high and exalted God (Is 6:1), Israel descends into dark, low places for their idolatry, mirroring their spiritual degradation. This passage not only highlights Judah's current depravity but also serves as a prophetic warning against seeking solace, security, or guidance from anything other than the one true God, a timeless caution against all forms of idolatry in human life.

Isaiah 57 6 Commentary

Isaiah 57:6 delivers a scathing indictment of Judah's spiritual apostasy, characterized by their rejection of YHWH as their exclusive God and their adoption of idolatrous practices. The phrase "smooth stones of the ravine" is highly evocative, pointing to illicit worship carried out in secret, often in places associated with pagan fertility cults or local deities, distinct from the centralized worship of YHWH. These stones, whether naturally polished or carved cultic objects, symbolize the worthlessness and spiritual death chosen by the people. By declaring, "is your portion; they, they are your lot," the prophet underscores the deliberate and self-inflicted spiritual bankruptcy of Judah. They willingly chose dead, inanimate objects as their source of sustenance, security, and destiny, effectively displacing YHWH from His rightful place. The giving of "drink offering" and "grain offering," ritual acts reserved exclusively for the Lord under Mosaic law, further demonstrates their deep betrayal and direct transference of ultimate devotion to these false gods. The verse vividly portrays a people whose spiritual identity has become wholly intertwined with idolatry, embracing objects of creation over the Creator, ultimately sealing their judgment but also setting the stage for God's ultimate mercy on the repentant.