English Standard Version
Isaiah 1:11
11"What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.
Isaiah 1:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
- New International Version (NIV)“The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?” says the Lord. “I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle. I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
Context of Isaiah 1:11
9If the Lord of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah. 10Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! "What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. 12"When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? 13Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
Read all of Isaiah 1Isaiah 1:11 word by word
לָמָּה־לִּ֤י רֹב־זִבְחֵיכֶם֙ יֹאמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה שָׂבַ֛עְתִּי עֹל֥וֹת אֵילִ֖ים וְחֵ֣לֶב מְרִיאִ֑ים וְדַ֨ם פָּרִ֧ים וּכְבָשִׂ֛ים וְעַתּוּדִ֖ים לֹ֥א חָפָֽצְתִּי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- To whatמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
- the multitudeרֹבrôb · abundanceH7230
- of your sacrificesזֶ֫בַחzebach · sacrificeH2077
- unto me? saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- I am fullשָׂבֵעַώâba‛ ώâbêa‛ · to satisfyH7646
- of the burnt offeringsעֹלָה‛ôlâh ‛ôlâh · burnt offeringH5930
- of ramsאַ֫יִל'ayil · ramH352
- and the fatחֵ֫לֶבcheleb chêleb · fatH2459
- of fed beastsמְרִיאmerîy' · fatlingH4806
- and I delightחָפֵץchâphêts · to delight inH2654
- not in the bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
- of bullocksפַּרpar pâr · bullockH6499
- or of lambsכֶּ֫בֶשׂkebeώ · lambH3532
- or of he goatsעַתּוּד‛attûd ‛attûd · goatH6260
Cross-references for Isaiah 1:11
- Isaiah 66:3"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;
- 1 Samuel 15:22And Samuel said, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
- Psalms 50:8Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me.
- Psalms 51:16For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
- Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
- Proverbs 21:27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent.
- Jeremiah 6:20What 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.
- Jeremiah 7:21Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: "Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh.
- Amos 5:21"I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
- Micah 6:7Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"
- Matthew 9:13Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
Commentaries on Isaiah 1:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11To what purpose, etc. "What have I to do" - The prophet Amos has expressed the same sentiments with great elegance: - I hate, I despise your feasts; And I will not delight in the odour of your solemnities: Though ye offer unto me burnt-offerings And your meat-offerings, I will not accept: Neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fatlings. Take away from me the noise of your songs; And the melody of your viols I will not hear. But let judgment…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11To what purpose - לי למה lâmâh lı̂y What is it to me; or what profit or pleasure can I have in them?‘ God here replies to an objection which might be urged by the Jews to the representation which had been made of their guilt. The objection would be, that they were strict in the duties of their religion, and that they even abounded in offering victims of sacrifice. God replies in this and the following verses, that all this would be of no use, and would…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-15Verses 10-15 Judea was desolate, and their cities burned. This awakened them to bring sacrifices and offerings, as if they would bribe God to remove the punishment, and give them leave to go on in their sin. Many who will readily part with their sacrifices, will not be persuaded to part with their sins. They relied on the mere form as a service deserving a reward. The most costly devotions of wicked people, without thorough reformation of heart and life…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-15The people had sinned so much that God no longer found joy in their sacrifices. The Lord wanted Judah to stop the religious practices he had commanded them to do rather than to continue them in a manner that was sinful and false (Isaiah 1:13). Ceremony cannot replace true godliness.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. God does not here absolutely disparage sacrifice, which is as old and universal as sin (Ge 3:21; 4:4), and sin is almost as old as the world; but sacrifice, unaccompanied with obedience of heart and life (1Sa 15:22; Psa 50:9-13; 51:16-19; Ho 6:6). Positive precepts are only means; moral obedience is the end. A foreshadowing of the gospel, when the One real sacrifice was to supersede all the shadowy ones, and "bring in everlasting righteousness" (Psa…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 1:11
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 1
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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