Isaiah 65:3

Isaiah 65:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;
• New International Version (NIV)a people who continually provoke me to my very face, offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on altars of brick;
• English Standard Version (ESV)a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and making offerings on bricks;
• New King James Version (NKJV)A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face; Who sacrifice in gardens, And burn incense on altars of brick;

Context of Isaiah 65:3

1“I was sought by those who did not ask for Me, I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Hineni, hineni!’ to a nation not called by My Name. 2I have stretched out My hands all day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own thoughts. These people provoke Me continually to My face, sacrificing in gardens, burning incense on bricks, 4sitting among graves, spending the night in cave-tombs; eating swine’s flesh, and the broth of detestable things is in their pots, 5who say, ‘Keep to yourself, don’t come to me, for I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day.

Isaiah 65:3 word by word

הָעָ֗ם הַמַּכְעִיסִ֥ים אוֹתִ֛י עַל־פָּנַ֖י תָּמִ֑יד זֹֽבְחִים֙ בַּגַּנּ֔וֹת וּֽמְקַטְּרִ֖ים עַל־הַלְּבֵנִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• A peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• that provoketh me to angerכָּעַסka‛as · to provokeH3707
• continuallyתָּמִידtâmîyd · continuallyH8548
• to my faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• that sacrificethזָבַחzâbach · to sacrificeH2076
• in gardensגַּנָּהgannâh · gardenH1593
• and burneth incenseקָטַרqâţar · to offer: offerH6999
• upon altars of brickלְבֵנָהlebênâh · brickH3843

Cross-references for Isaiah 65:3

• Isaiah 3:8For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah is fallen. For their tongue and their actions are against Adonai, defying the eyes of His glory.
• Deuteronomy 32:16They made him jealous with strangers, with abominations they angered Him.
• 2 Kings 17:14Yet they would not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not trust in Adonai their God.
• 2 Kings 22:17For they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, in order to provoke Me with all the work of their hands. Therefore My wrath has been kindled against this place and it will not be quenched.’
• Psalms 78:40How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert!
• Jeremiah 32:30For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done nothing but evil in My sight from their youth; indeed, the children of Israel have done nothing but provoke Me with the work of their hands,” declares Adonai.
• Ezekiel 8:17He said to me, “Have you seen this, son of man? Is it too light a thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations they practice here, that they must also fill the land with violence and provoke Me still more? Look, they are putting the twig to My nose!
• Matthew 23:32Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers!
• Job 1:11But now, stretch out Your hand and strike everything he has, and he will certainly curse You to Your face!”
• Job 2:5But now, stretch out Your hand and strike his bone and his flesh, and he will certainly curse You to Your face!”
• Isaiah 1:29For they will be ashamed of the sacred oaks that you desired, and embarrassed because of the gardens that you have chosen.
• Isaiah 66:17Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves, following after one in the midst, who eat swine’s flesh, vermin and mice, will come to an end altogether. It is a declaration of Adonai.
• Leviticus 17:5Thus Bnei-Yisrael may bring their sacrifices that they were making in the open field to Adonai, at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting to the kohen, and offer them as sacrifices of fellowship offerings to Adonai.
• Jeremiah 3:6Then Adonai said to me in the days of King Josiah: “Have you seen what backsliding Israel did? She went up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there she committed adultery.
• Ezekiel 20:28When I brought them into the land, which I lifted up My hand to give to them, they saw every high hill and every leafy tree. There they slaughtered their sacrifices and presented their offensive offering. There they made their soothing aroma and poured out their drink offerings.
• Exodus 20:24You are to make an altar of earth for Me, and there you will sacrifice your burnt offerings, your fellowship offerings—your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I cause My name to be mentioned I will come to you and bless you.

Commentaries on Isaiah 65:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3That sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick "Sacrificing in the gardens, and burning incense on the tiles" - These are instances of heathenish superstition, and idolatrous practices, to which the Jews were immoderately addicted before the Babylonish captivity. The heathen worshipped their idols in groves; whereas God, in opposition to this species of idolatry, commanded his people, when they should come into the promised land, to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3A people - This verse contains a specification of the reasons why God had rejected them, and brought the calamities upon them. That provoketh me to anger - That is, by their sins. They give constant occasion for my indignation. Continually - (תמיד tâmı̂yd ). It is not once merely, but their conduct as a people is constantly such as to excite my displeasure. To my face - There is no attempt at concealment. Their abominations are public. It is always…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3Sacred gardens were a part of the fertility religion of Baal.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. continually--answering to "all the day" (Is 65:2). God was continually inviting them, and they continually offending Him (De 32:21). to my face--They made no attempt to hide their sin (Is 3:9). Compare "before Me" (Ex 20:3). in gardens--(See on Is 1:29; Is 66:17; Le 17:5). altars of brick--Hebrew, "bricks." God had commanded His altars to be of unhewn stone (Ex 20:25). This was in order to separate them, even in external respects, from idolaters; also…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 65:3

• Altar
• Backsliders
• Brick
• Church
• Condescension of God
• Idolatry
• Self-Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Cry
• Face
• Sought
• Thence
• Garden
• Isaiah
• Oreb; Zeeb
• Salvation

Commentaries on Isaiah 65

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings