Isaiah 66:3

Isaiah 66:3 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (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;
• English Standard Version (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;
• New King James Version (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,

Context of Isaiah 66:3

1This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is My throne and the earth is the footstool for My feet. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? 2For My hand made all these things, So all these things came into being,” declares the Lord. “But I will look to this one, At one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at My word. “But the one who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a person; The one who sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; One who offers a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; One who burns incense is like one who blesses an idol. As they have chosen their own ways, And their souls delight in their abominations, 4So I will choose their punishments And bring on them what they dread. Because I called, but no one answered; I spoke, but they did not listen. Instead, they did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight.” 5Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word: “Your brothers who hate you, who exclude you on account of My name, Have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, so that we may see your joy.’ But they will be put to shame.

Isaiah 66:3 word by word

שׁוֹחֵ֨ט הַשּׁ֜וֹר מַכֵּה־אִ֗ישׁ זוֹבֵ֤חַ הַשֶּׂה֙ עֹ֣רֵֽף כֶּ֔לֶב מַעֲלֵ֤ה מִנְחָה֙ דַּם־חֲזִ֔יר מַזְכִּ֥יר לְבֹנָ֖ה מְבָ֣רֵֽךְ אָ֑וֶן גַּם־הֵ֗מָּה בָּֽחֲרוּ֙ בְּדַרְכֵיהֶ֔ם וּבְשִׁקּוּצֵיהֶ֖ם נַפְשָׁ֥ם חָפֵֽצָה׃Read the interlinear

• the one who slaughtersשָׁחַטshâchaţ · to slaughterH7819
• an oxשׁוֹרshôr · cattleH7794
• one who killsנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• a personאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• The one who sacrificesזָבַחzâbach · to sacrificeH2076
• a lambשֶׂהώeh ώêy · sheepH7716
• one who breaksעָרַף‛âraph · to break the neckH6202
• a dog’sכֶּ֫לֶבkeleb · dogH3611
• One who offersעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: offer upH5927
• a grain offeringמִנְחָהminchâh · offeringH4503
• pig’sחֲזִירchăzîyr · swineH2386
• bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
• burnsזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
• incenseלְבֹנָהlebônâh lebônâh · frankincenseH3828
• one who blessesבָּרַךְbârak · to blessH1288
• an idolאָ֫וֶן'âven · evil: wickednessH205
• As they have chosenבָּחַרbâchar · to chooseH977
• waysדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• And their soulsנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
• delightחָפֵץchâphêts · to delight inH2654
• abominationsשִׁקּוּץshiqqûts shiqqûts · abominationH8251

Cross-references for Isaiah 66:3

• Isaiah 1:11“What are your many sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fattened cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats.
• Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
• Proverbs 21:27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, How much more when he brings it with evil intent!
• Amos 5:21“I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your festive assemblies.
• Deuteronomy 23:18You shall not bring the earnings of a prostitute or the money for a dog into the house of the Lord your God as payment for any vowed offering, because both of these are an abomination to the Lord your God.
• Isaiah 66:17“Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go to the gardens, Following one in the center, Who eat pig’s flesh, detestable things, and mice, Will come to an end altogether,” declares the Lord.
• Isaiah 65:3A people who continually provoke Me to My face, Offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on bricks;
• Deuteronomy 14:8And the pig, because it has a divided hoof but does not chew the cud, it is unclean for you. You shall not eat any of their flesh, nor touch their carcasses.
• Leviticus 2:2He shall then bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests; and he shall take from it his handful of its fine flour and of its oil, with all of its frankincense. And the priest shall offer it up in smoke as its memorial portion on the altar, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord.
• Isaiah 65:12I will destine you for the sword, And all of you will bow down to the slaughter. Because I called, but you did not answer; I spoke, but you did not listen. Instead, you did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight.”
• Judges 5:8New gods were chosen; Then war was in the gates. Not a shield or a spear was seen Among forty thousand in Israel.
• Judges 10:14Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.”

Commentaries on Isaiah 66:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man "He that slayeth an ox killeth a man" - These are instances of wickedness joined with hypocrisy; of the most flagitious crimes committed by those who at the same time affected great strictness in the performance of all the external services of religion. God, by the Prophet Ezekiel, upbraids the Jews with the same practices: "When they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man - Lowth and Noyes render this, He that slayeth an ox, killeth a man.‘ This is a literal translation of the Hebrew. Jerome renders it, He who sacrifices an ox is as if (quasi) he slew a man.‘ The Septuagint, in a very free translation - such as is common in their version of Isaiah - render it, The wicked man who sacrifices a calf, is as he who kills a dog; and he who offers to me fine flour, it is as the blood…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3delighted in their abominations: This refers to pagan worship practices. slaughters an ox … blesses an idol: Some wicked people offered sacrifices as the law of Moses required. But they continued to sin and worship idols. Because of this, their sacrifices were no better than pagan offerings in God’s sight (see Isaiah 1:11–17).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. God loathes even the sacrifices of the wicked (Is 1:11; Pr 15:8; 28:9). is as if--Lowth not so well omits these words: "He that killeth an ox (presently after) murders a man" (as in Eze 23:39). But the omission in the Hebrew of "is as if"--increases the force of the comparison. Human victims were often offered by the heathen. dog's neck--an abomination according to the Jewish law (De 23:18); perhaps made so, because dogs were venerated in Egypt. He…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 66:3

• Frankincense
• Hypocrisy
• Offerings
• Swine

In the dictionaries

• Abomination
• Boar
• Draw
• Extend
• Idol
• Swine
• Throne
• Abomination of Desolation
• Aven
• Delight

Commentaries on Isaiah 66

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings