Isaiah 65:11 kjv
But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.
Isaiah 65:11 nkjv
"But you are those who forsake the LORD, Who forget My holy mountain, Who prepare a table for Gad, And who furnish a drink offering for Meni.
Isaiah 65:11 niv
"But as for you who forsake the LORD and forget my holy mountain, who spread a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny,
Isaiah 65:11 esv
But you who forsake the LORD, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny,
Isaiah 65:11 nlt
"But because the rest of you have forsaken the LORD
and have forgotten his Temple,
and because you have prepared feasts to honor the god of Fate
and have offered mixed wine to the god of Destiny,
Isaiah 65 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 65:11 | "But you who forsake the LORD, who forget my holy mountain, who prepare a table for [the demon] Fortune..." | Directly addressed |
| Leviticus 17:7 | "They shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to [the demons] devils, after whom they go astray." | Prohibits idol worship |
| Deuteronomy 8:19 | "But if you forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today..." | Warning against forsaking God |
| Psalm 30:12 | "...that my soul may sing praises to you and not keep silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!" | Praising God contrasts with other worship |
| Psalm 78:57 | "They were unfaithful, like their fathers; they were faithless like a crooked bow." | Parallel behavior of disobedience |
| Jeremiah 2:13 | "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters..." | Forsaking God as a central sin |
| Jeremiah 7:30 | "For the sons of Judah have done evil in my sight, declares the LORD. They have set their abominations in the house..." | Idolatry within God's house |
| Jeremiah 16:10 | "And when you tell this people all these words, and they say to you, ‘Why has the LORD pronounced this great evil against us?" | Judgment for wrongdoing |
| Hosea 4:6 | "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you..." | Rejection of God's ways |
| Zephaniah 1:5 | "and those who worship the host of the heavens on the housetops, and those who worship and swear by the LORD and then swear by Malcam—" | Worshiping heavenly bodies and false gods |
| Matthew 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters..." | Cannot serve God and wealth (idols) |
| 1 Corinthians 10:20 | "No, I sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons." | Warning against demonic communion |
| 1 John 5:21 | "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." | Exhortation against idolatry |
| Revelation 9:20 | "The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor cease worshiping demons and idols..." | Persistence in demonic worship |
| Isaiah 57:7 | "On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed; there you went up to make your sacrifice." | Practices of pagan worship |
| Deuteronomy 18:10 | "There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes..." | Forbidden Canaanite practices |
| 1 Kings 14:23 | "and they built for themselves high places, pillars, and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree," | Common places of idol worship |
| Isaiah 1:11 | "“What to me is the abundance of your sacrifices?” declares the LORD..." | Empty ritual without true heart |
| Isaiah 65:10 | "And Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down..." | Contrast with desolate places |
| Romans 1:23 | "...and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things." | Idolaters exchanging truth for lies |
Isaiah 65 verses
Isaiah 65 11 Meaning
The verse describes a spiritual preparation and offering, contrasting those who disregard divine commands with those who adhere to them, leading to God's favor and abundant blessing in the messianic age.
Isaiah 65 11 Context
This verse is part of Isaiah's prophetic vision of a new heaven and a new earth, a time of renewal and redemption. The preceding verses speak of God’s eagerness to be found and the joyous creation that anticipates this restoration. However, chapter 65 contrasts God’s faithfulness and future blessings with the persistent sinfulness and apostasy of His people, particularly their participation in idolatrous practices and their abandonment of God’s ways. This specific verse directly addresses those who have turned away from the LORD, highlighting their faulty spiritual devotion and misguided preparations, which stand in stark contrast to the faithful remnant who seek God. The historical context involves ancient Israel's frequent struggles with syncretism and the worship of Canaanite deities.
Isaiah 65 11 Word Analysis
And you: wĕ’attâ (וְאַתֶּם). Connects to the preceding discourse about God’s accessibility, emphasizing a direct address to a specific group.
who forsake: mĕ‘ôzᵉbîm (מְעֹזְבִים). Present participle from ‘āzāḇ (עָזַב), meaning to leave, abandon, forsake. Highlights a continuous action of disloyalty.
the LORD: Yĕhôwâ (יְהוָה). The covenant name of God, emphasizing His relationship and promises. Forsaking Him is a breach of covenant.
who forget: šōkĕḥîm (שׁוֹכְחִים). Present participle from šāḵaḥ (שָׁכַח), meaning to forget, neglect. Implies an active, willful omission of God's commands and presence from their remembrance.
my holy mountain: hâr qodšî (הַר־קׇדְשִׁי). Refers to Mount Zion or Jerusalem, the place where God’s presence was uniquely manifested and where worship was to be centered. Forgetting it signifies a turning away from the locus of divine worship and revelation.
who prepare: mĕḵînîm (מְכִינִים). Present participle from kônan (כּוֹנֵן), meaning to set up, establish, prepare, make ready. Denotes deliberate action and arrangement for an event or practice.
a table: šulḥan (שֻׁלְחָן). Typically a table for meals or offerings. Here, it implies preparations for a feast or religious observance.
for: lâ (לְ). Preposition indicating the recipient or purpose of the preparation.
the demon: gad (גָּֽד). Hebrew word for good fortune or luck. In Semitic paganism, Gad was often personified as a god of fortune, particularly venerated in Mesopotamia and Canaan. Its inclusion here implies the people are making preparations for pagan worship associated with fortune deities.
and that which: ûmĕmĕlĕ’â (וּמְמַלֵּֽאת). Likely referring to the rest of the provisions or offerings associated with the worship of fortune, perhaps including mingling with pagan practices. Some translations interpret this more broadly as "and filling" or "and the mixture." The sense is adding to the worship of gad.
who prepare a table for [the demon] Fortune and that which (fill up the measure for) Fate: This phrase paints a vivid picture of syncretism and apostasy. It refers to the practice of setting out food and offerings on a table as part of rituals to appease or honor pagan deities associated with luck (gad) and destiny (měmĕlĕ’â, which can be understood as filling or appointed portions). These practices were strictly forbidden by the Mosaic Law, as they constituted a rejection of reliance on Yahweh and participation in forbidden idolatry. This action demonstrates a deliberate turning away from the worship prescribed by God, replacing it with superstitious and illicit rituals.
Isaiah 65 11 Bonus Section
The reference to preparing "a table for Fortune" is significant. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, practices related to divination and securing good fortune through appeasing deities were common. The Hebrew word gad (גָּֽד), translated here in its pagan divine sense, points to a common god of luck and destiny venerated in Canaanite and Mesopotamian traditions. This suggests a spiritual contamination and a deliberate departure from the monotheistic worship of Israel, embracing polytheistic or superstitious beliefs. This spiritual compromise is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament and a major reason for God’s judgment. The verse’s structure implies that their preparations for idols are a direct consequence of their forsaking the LORD.
Isaiah 65 11 Commentary
Isaiah condemns a specific group within the community for their deep-seated apostasy and syncretism. They have actively abandoned the LORD, forgetting His presence symbolized by "my holy mountain" (Jerusalem/Zion). Instead of devotion to God, they are meticulously preparing ritualistic feasts and offerings for pagan deities, specifically identified as "Fortune" (gad) and the fulfillment of destiny. This signifies a complete disregard for the covenant and a reliance on worldly appeasement rather than divine grace. Their actions are described with present participles, highlighting a continuous and willful engagement in these forbidden practices. The verse starkly contrasts the impending judgment on such people with God's gracious plan for the faithful remnant, as described in the surrounding context.