Berean Standard Bible
Jeremiah 6:20
20What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please Me.”
Jeremiah 6:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.
- New International Version (NIV)What do I care about incense from Sheba or sweet calamus from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please me.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)What use to me is frankincense that comes from Sheba, or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For what purpose to Me Comes frankincense from Sheba, And sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, Nor your sacrifices sweet to Me.”
Context of Jeremiah 6:20
18Therefore hear, O nations, and learn, O congregations, what will happen to them. 19Hear, O earth! I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their own schemes, because they have paid no attention to My word and have rejected My instruction. What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please Me.” 21Therefore this is what the LORD says: “I will lay stumbling blocks before this people; fathers and sons alike will be staggered; friends and neighbors will perish.” 22This is what the LORD says: “Behold, an army is coming from the land of the north; a great nation is stirred up from the ends of the earth.
Read all of Jeremiah 6Jeremiah 6:20 word by word
לָמָּה־זֶּ֨ה לִ֤י לְבוֹנָה֙ מִשְּׁבָ֣א תָב֔וֹא וְקָנֶ֥ה הַטּ֖וֹב מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מֶרְחָ֑ק עֹלֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ לֹ֣א לְרָצ֔וֹן וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֖ם לֹא־עָ֥רְבוּ לִֽי׃ סRead the interlinear
- What useמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
- What useזֶהzeh · thisH2088
- is frankincenseלְבֹנָהlebônâh lebônâh · frankincenseH3828
- from Shebaשְׁבָאshebâ' · ShebaH7614
- from Shebaבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- or sweetטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- caneקָנֶהqâneh · branch: stemH7070
- from a distantמֶרְחָקmerchâq · distanceH4801
- landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- Your burnt offeringsעֹלָה‛ôlâh ‛ôlâh · burnt offeringH5930
- are not acceptableלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
- are not acceptableרָצוֹןrâtsôn râtsôn · acceptanceH7522
- your sacrificesזֶ֫בַחzebach · sacrificeH2077
- pleaseעָרַב‛ârêb · to pleaseH6149
Cross-references for Jeremiah 6:20
- Psalms 40:6Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but my ears You have opened. Burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require.
- Psalms 50:7“Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God.
- Psalms 66:3Say to God, “How awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cower before You.
- Isaiah 1:11“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
- Isaiah 66:3Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations.
- Ezekiel 20:39And as for you, O house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you. But afterward, you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.
- Amos 5:21“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies.
- Micah 6:6With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?
- 1 Kings 10:1Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.
- Isaiah 60:6Caravans of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah, and all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
- Ezekiel 27:22The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your wares they exchanged gold, the finest of all spices, and precious stones.
- Isaiah 43:23You have not brought Me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, nor wearied you with frankincense.
- Jeremiah 7:21This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves!
Commentaries on Jeremiah 6:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Incense frown Sheba - Sheba was in Arabian famous for the best incense. It was situated towards the southern extremity of the peninsula of Arabia; and was, in respect of Judea, a far country. And the sweet cane from a far country - The calamus aromaticus, which, when dried and pulverized, yields a very fine aromatic smell; see on Isaiah 43:24; (note). This was employed in making the holy anointing oil. See Exodus 30:23.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-30Verses 18-30 God rejects their outward services, as worthless to atone for their sins. Sacrifice and incense were to direct them to a Mediator; but when offered to purchase a license to go on in sin, they provoke God. The sins of God's professing people make them an easy prey to their enemies. They dare not show themselves. Saints may rejoice in hope of God's mercies, though they see them only in the promise: sinners must mourn for fear of God's…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20The Lord found the offerings of expensive frankincense and fragrant perfumes offensive because of the people's rebellion (Jeremiah 7:21–23; Exodus 30:23; Psalms 40:6; 50:7–9; Isaiah 1:11; 43:24; 66:3; Amos 5:21; Micah 6:6–7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Literally, "To what purpose is this to Me, that incense cometh to Me?" incense ... cane--(Is 43:24; 60:6). No external services are accepted by God without obedience of the heart and life (Jr 7:21; Psa 50:7-9; Is 1:11; Mi 6:6, &c.). sweet ... sweet--antithesis. Your sweet cane is not sweet to Me. The calamus.Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 6:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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