Isaiah 65:5 kjv
Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
Isaiah 65:5 nkjv
Who say, 'Keep to yourself, Do not come near me, For I am holier than you!' These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day.
Isaiah 65:5 niv
who say, 'Keep away; don't come near me, for I am too sacred for you!' Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day.
Isaiah 65:5 esv
who say, "Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you." These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all the day.
Isaiah 65:5 nlt
Yet they say to each other,
'Don't come too close or you will defile me!
I am holier than you!'
These people are a stench in my nostrils,
an acrid smell that never goes away.
Isaiah 65 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 65:5 | "Who say, 'Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am set apart from you.' Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all the time." | Explicit verse |
| Leviticus 20:26 | "You are to be holy to me, for I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own." | God's calling to holiness |
| Romans 12:2 | "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." | Separation from worldliness |
| 1 Corinthians 6:18 | "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body." | Specific sin causing separation |
| Galatians 5:19-21 | "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy and fits of rage; selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I also warned you, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." | Characteristics of those set apart |
| Ephesians 5:11 | "Have no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." | Avoidance of sin |
| James 4:4 | "You adulterous people, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." | Worldliness as enmity |
| 1 John 2:15-17 | "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires, and whatever dooms it, are passing away, but the one who does the will of God lives forever." | The nature of world-love |
| 2 Timothy 3:1-5 | "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" | Description of defiant individuals |
| Isaiah 1:28 | "But rebels and sinners will be broken together, and those who forsake the Lord will be consumed." | Judgment on rebels |
| Isaiah 57:3-4 | "But you, here! Come near, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of an adulterer and a harlot! Whom do you mock? At whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of a lie?" | God's critique of sinful lineage |
| Jeremiah 7:29 | "‘Cut off your hair and throw it away; raise a lament on the barren heights, for the Lord has rejected and abandoned this generation that incurs his wrath.'" | Divine rejection and abandonment |
| Ezekiel 22:7-12 | Describes widespread sin and corruption within Jerusalem, leading to God's judgment. | Societal sin and judgment |
| Psalm 10:3 | "For the wicked boast of their heart's desire, and the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord." | Boasting and greed |
| Proverbs 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Warning against pride |
| Matthew 23:37-39 | Jesus laments over Jerusalem, their rejection of him, and impending judgment. | Jesus' lament over a rebellious city |
| Acts 17:30 | "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." | Command for repentance |
| Romans 1:18 | "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their ungodliness suppress the truth." | Revelation of God's wrath |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:7 | "For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness." | God's call to holiness |
| Revelation 21:8 | "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." | Final judgment on unrighteous |
Isaiah 65 verses
Isaiah 65 5 Meaning
This verse speaks of individuals who set themselves apart from the general populace, engaging in specific actions that provoke divine anger. It highlights their self-separation and the subsequent outpouring of God's wrath upon them due to their defiant choices and prideful demeanor.
Isaiah 65 5 Context
Chapter 65 of Isaiah addresses a future restoration for Israel, yet also prophesies judgment on those who persist in their sinful ways. The verse specifically critiques a segment of people within this context who have alienated themselves from God and His people through their pride and specific practices. This occurs within a prophetic message that contrasts future blessings for the faithful with doom for the unrepentant. The historical setting is that of post-exilic Israel, or more broadly, a future time of both judgment and salvation. The prophecy speaks to a generation that continues to provoke God, setting themselves apart not in holiness, but in sin.
Isaiah 65 5 Word Analysis
- asher (asher): "who," "that," a relative pronoun.
- yitroch (yitroch): (from root ytr - yatar), "he separates himself," "he sets himself apart." This implies a voluntary, distinct choice to remain isolated or specialized.
- ti-khb'du-ni (ti-khb'du-ni): "do not come near me" or "do not touch me." The suffix "ni" refers to "me." This expresses a strong aversion and boundary setting.
- ki-kadash-ti (ki-kadash-ti): "for I have sanctified myself," "for I have made myself holy," "for I have set myself apart." The prefix "ki" means "for" or "because." The root "kadash" refers to holiness, separateness, and consecration. This is a declaration of their perceived distinctness, presented here as a source of pride and defiance.
- othchem (othchem): "you" (plural). This is the object of the statement being made to the people.
- ye-sherfu (ye-sherfu): "they are burned," "they are consumed," "they are accounted for." This verb signifies being burned or judged, often by fire, indicating complete destruction or removal. It’s a passive form, suggesting they are acted upon by divine judgment.
- kettereth (kettereth): "smoke." A symbol of transience, but also of God's consuming presence in judgment.
- sh'imcha (sh'imcha): "your nostrils" (singular of nose), though the suffix "cha" refers to "your." In Hebrew idiom, "nostrils" is often linked with anger and indignation (e.g., "the Lord’s anger burned in his nostrils").
- ash (ash): "fire." A powerful symbol of God's presence, purification, and judgment.
- lakhachom (lakhachom): "all the day," "continuously." This intensifies the nature of their defiance and the ensuing divine response.
Word Group Analysis:
- "Who say, 'Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am set apart from you.'": This phrase encapsulates an arrogant self-isolation. Their claim of being "set apart" is not from God's calling to holiness, but a self-appointed status that isolates them from communal worship and righteousness, leading to provocation.
- "Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all the time.": This imagery vividly portrays God's fierce, consuming anger. Smoke is acrid and irritating to the nostrils, and a fire that burns continuously represents relentless judgment, fueled by the offense of their proud separation.
Isaiah 65 5 Bonus Section
The phrase "set apart" (Hebrew: kadash) is used in the Bible both for God's unique holiness and for His people being consecrated to Him. Here, however, it’s a perversion. The individuals have set themselves apart in pride, not consecrated themselves to God. This twisting of holiness into an exclusive, judgmental pride is a recurring theme in prophetic critique, particularly against those who fail to exercise righteous judgment or exhibit mercy. The fire and smoke imagery echoes descriptions of God's wrath in other prophetic contexts and emphasizes the personal and immediate nature of His displeasure against such self-exaltation.
Isaiah 65 5 Commentary
This verse describes a group who arrogantly isolate themselves, proclaiming their distinctiveness in a way that provokes God. Their self-proclaimed holiness or separateness is actually a rebellious act against God and His people. This attitude is seen as highly offensive, described with the potent imagery of irritating smoke in God's nostrils, signifying intense displeasure, and a consuming fire, symbolizing unending judgment for their persistent defiance. This stands in stark contrast to the divine call to be set apart in holiness for God.