Isaiah 66 3

Isaiah 66:3 kjv

He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

Isaiah 66:3 nkjv

"He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog's neck; He who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine's blood; He who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol. Just as they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations,

Isaiah 66:3 niv

But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a person, and whoever offers a lamb is like one who breaks a dog's neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig's blood, and whoever burns memorial incense is like one who worships an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and they delight in their abominations;

Isaiah 66:3 esv

"He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog's neck; he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig's blood; he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol. These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations;

Isaiah 66:3 nlt

But those who choose their own ways ?
delighting in their detestable sins ?
will not have their offerings accepted.
When such people sacrifice a bull,
it is no more acceptable than a human sacrifice.
When they sacrifice a lamb,
it's as though they had sacrificed a dog!
When they bring an offering of grain,
they might as well offer the blood of a pig.
When they burn frankincense,
it's as if they had blessed an idol.

Isaiah 66 verses

Isaiah 66 3 Meaning

This verse speaks of sacrificing animals that are known to be imperfect, such as the blind, lame, or diseased, as offerings to God. Such offerings are declared unacceptable and will be rejected by God. It emphasizes that God desires sincere and wholehearted devotion, not superficial or compromised obedience.

Isaiah 66 3 Context

Chapter 66 of Isaiah concludes the book by proclaiming God's ultimate sovereignty and the coming judgment and restoration. Verses 1-4 specifically address the hypocrisy of the people who, while outwardly performing religious rituals and building elaborate temples, were inwardly far from God. They continued in wickedness and oppression, offering worthless sacrifices. This verse is part of God's rebuff to such empty religious activities, emphasizing that genuine worship and obedience are what He desires, not the outward show of flawed or insincere offerings. Historically, this speaks to the religious corruption present among the people of Judah before and during the Babylonian exile, and it serves as a warning and a declaration of divine justice.

Isaiah 66 3 Word analysis

• "He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man;"
  • killeth: (Hebrew: shachat - לשׁחת) To slaughter, kill; in the context of sacrifice, it implies performing the ritual killing.
  • ox: Refers to cattle, a common sacrificial animal.
  • as if: Indicates a comparison or consequence, highlighting the gravity of offering a blemished animal.
  • he slew a man: Compares the act of sacrificing a defective animal to the shedding of human blood, emphasizing the moral offense.
• "he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's head;"
  • sacrificeth: (Hebrew: zabach - זבח) To offer a sacrifice by slaughter.
  • lamb: A common and highly valued sacrificial animal, often representing purity.
  • cut off a dog's head: A vivid, offensive image. Dogs were considered unclean animals in ancient Israel. To sever a dog's head would be a perversion of a sacred act, signifying utter defilement and disrespect.
• "he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered blood;"
  • offereth an oblation: (Hebrew: minchah - מנחה) A cereal offering or gift, often accompanying a blood sacrifice.
  • as if he offered blood: This connects the unacceptability of the oblation to blood, likely symbolizing an illegitimate or unauthorized shedding of blood, akin to murder, thus compounding the impurity.
• "he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol."
  • burneth incense: (Hebrew: qatar - קטר) To make a smoke offering, typically of incense, signifying prayer and acceptance.
  • blessed an idol: An act of idolatry, which God vehemently opposes. To offer incense in this manner is to offer it to false gods or in a way that corrupts the sacred act of worship.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• The grouping of varied sacrificial acts (killing ox, sacrificing lamb, offering oblation, burning incense) covers the main categories of offerings mentioned in the Mosaic Law.
• The consistent use of "as if" creates a parallel structure, equating each improper sacrifice with a serious moral or spiritual transgression: murder, ritual impurity, blood profanation, and idolatry. This highlights that these actions were not merely mistakes but affronts to God's holiness and covenant.

Isaiah 66 3 Bonus section

The rejection of flawed sacrifices in Isaiah 66:3 echoes the priestly instruction in Leviticus 22:20-25, which explicitly forbids offering any animal with a defect. The prophet is drawing on the established laws but intensifying their application, showing that when these laws are violated in the spirit of disobedience or carelessness, the consequences are spiritually severe. This passage serves as a stark reminder that God looks not only at the act of worship but also at the heart and attitude behind it. The modern application is to ensure our "offerings"—our time, talents, tithes, and our very lives—are presented to God with sincerity, devotion, and the best we can give, not grudgingly or with a heart of compromise. It's about presenting our "bodies as living sacrifices" (Romans 12:1) that are holy and acceptable, not merely going through the motions.

Isaiah 66 3 Commentary

This verse powerfully condemns a ritualistic religion devoid of genuine heart. God declares that offering imperfect animals (blind, lame, blemished) is equivalent to the gravest sins like murder or associating with idols. This means superficial worship, presenting God with something less than our best, is seen as an affront and an act of rebellion. The underlying principle is that God desires pure, sincere, and wholehearted worship. The prophets frequently contrasted outward rituals with the need for inward righteousness and justice. This verse is a severe indictment against those who thought they could appease God with rituals while their hearts remained unrepentant and their actions unjust. It foreshadows Christ's ultimate sacrifice, which was perfect and complete, replacing the Levitical system and demanding true, spiritual worship.