God’s Word Translation
Isaiah 1:12
12When you appear in my presence, who asked you to trample on my courtyards?
Isaiah 1:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
- New International Version (NIV)When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts?
- English Standard Version (ESV)"When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts?
- New King James Version (NKJV)“When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, To trample My courts?
Context of Isaiah 1:12
10Listen to the Lord’s word, you rulers of Sodom! Pay attention to the teachings from our God, you people of Gomorrah! 11The Lord asks, “What do your many animal sacrifices mean to me? I’ve had enough of your burnt offerings of rams and enough fat from your fattened calves. I’m not pleased with the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats. When you appear in my presence, who asked you to trample on my courtyards? 13Don’t bring any more worthless grain offerings. Your incense is disgusting to me, so are your New Moon Festivals, your days of rest—holy days, and the assemblies you call. I can’t stand your evil assemblies. 14I hate your New Moon Festivals and your appointed festivals. They’ve become a burden to me, and I’m tired of putting up with them.
Read all of Isaiah 1Isaiah 1:12 word by word
כִּ֣י תָבֹ֔אוּ לֵרָא֖וֹת פָּנָ֑י מִי־בִקֵּ֥שׁ זֹ֛את מִיֶּדְכֶ֖ם רְמֹ֥ס חֲצֵרָֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Isaiah 1:12
- Isaiah 58:1Cry aloud! Don’t hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Tell my people about their rebellion and the descendants of Jacob about their sins.
- Exodus 23:17“These are the three times each year that all your men must come into the presence of the Master, the Lord.
- Exodus 34:23“Three times a year all your men must come into the presence of the Master, the Lord God of Israel.
- Deuteronomy 16:16Three times a year all your men must come into the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Booths. But no one may come into the presence of the Lord without an offering.
- Ecclesiastes 5:1Watch your step when you go to the house of God. It is better to go there and listen than to bring the sacrifices fools bring. Fools are unaware that they are doing ⌞something⌟ evil.
- Matthew 23:5“They do everything to attract people’s attention. They make their headbands large and the tassels on their shawls long.
- Psalms 40:6You were not pleased with sacrifices and offerings. You have dug out two ears for me. You did not ask for burnt offerings or sacrifices for sin.
- Micah 6:8You mortals, the Lord has told you what is good. This is what the Lord requires from you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to live humbly with your God.
Commentaries on Isaiah 1:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12When ye come to appear - Instead of לראות leraoth, to appear, one MS. has לראות liroth, to see. See De Rossi. The appearing before God here refers chiefly to the three solemn annual festivals. See Exodus 23:14. Tread my courts (no more) - So the Septuagint divide the sentence, joining the end of this verse to the beginning of the next: , ; "To tread my court ye shall not add - ye shall not be again accepted in worship."Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12When you come to appear before me - The temple was in Jerusalem, and was regarded as the habitation, or dwelling-place, of the God of Israel. Particularly, the most holy place of the temple was deemed the place of his sacred abode. The Shekinah - from שׁכן shâkan to dwell - the visible symbol of his presence, rested on the cover of the ark, and from this place he was accustomed to commune with his people, and to give responses to their requests. Hence…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. 1212. appear before me--in the temple where the Shekinah, resting on the ark, was the symbol of God's presence (Ex 23:15; Psa 42:2). who hath required this--as if you were doing God a service by such hypocritical offerings (Job 35:7). God did require it (Ex 23:17), but not in this spirit (Mi 6:6, 7). courts--areas, in which the worshippers were. None but priests entered the temple itself.Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 1:12
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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