Isaiah 1:11

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"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.
• 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.

Context of Isaiah 1:11

9If the Lord who commands armies had not left us a few survivors, we would have quickly become like Sodom, we would have become like Gomorrah. 10Listen to the Lord’s word, you leaders of Sodom! Pay attention to our God’s rebuke, people of Gomorrah! “Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?” says the Lord. “I am stuffed with burnt sacrifices of rams and the fat from steers. The blood of bulls, lambs, and goats I do not want. 12When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this – animals trampling on my courtyards? 13Do not bring any more meaningless offerings; I consider your incense detestable! You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations!

Isaiah 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 66:3The one who slaughters a bull also strikes down a man; the one who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog’s neck; the one who presents an offering includes pig’s blood with it; the one who offers incense also praises an idol. They have decided to behave this way; they enjoy these disgusting practices.
• 1 Samuel 15:22Then Samuel said, “Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as he does in obedience? Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice; paying attention is better than the fat of rams.
• Psalms 50:8I am not condemning you because of your sacrifices, or because of your burnt sacrifices that you continually offer me.
• Psalms 51:16Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice.
• Proverbs 15:8The Lord abhors the sacrifices of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
• Proverbs 21:27The wicked person’s sacrifice is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent!
• Jeremiah 6:20I take no delight when they offer up to me frankincense that comes from Sheba or sweet-smelling cane imported from a faraway land. I cannot accept the burnt offerings they bring me. I get no pleasure from the sacrifices they offer to me.’
• Jeremiah 7:21The Lord said to the people of Judah, “The Lord God of Israel who rules over all says: ‘You might as well go ahead and add the meat of your burnt offerings to that of the other sacrifices and eat it, too!
• Amos 5:21“I absolutely despise your festivals! I get no pleasure from your religious assemblies!
• Micah 6:7Will the Lord accept a thousand rams, or ten thousand streams of olive oil? Should I give him my firstborn child as payment for my rebellion, my offspring – my own flesh and blood – for my sin?
• Matthew 9:13Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come 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

• Church
• Formalism
• Hypocrisy
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Offerings
• Ordinance
• Wicked (People)
• Worship

In the dictionaries

• Convert
• Crib
• Eat
• Fade
• Goat
• Harlot
• Isaiah, The Book of
• Judgment
• Oblation
• Owner

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