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

1Thus says Adonai: “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where then is the House you would build for Me? Where is the place of My rest? 2For My hand has made all these things, so all these things came to be,” declares Adonai. “But on this one will I look, one humble and of a contrite spirit, who trembles at My word.” One who kills an ox is like one who kills a man; 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 swine’s blood; one who burns incense is like one who blesses an idol. They have chosen their own ways, so their soul delights in their abominations. 4So I will choose their punishments and bring on them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, they did not listen. But they did what was evil in My eyes, and chose what I did not delight in. 5Hear the word of Adonai, you who tremble at His word: “Your brothers who hated you, excluding you for My Name’s sake, have said, ‘Let Adonai be glorified, 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• He that killethשָׁחַטshâchaţ · to slaughterH7819
• an oxשׁוֹרshôr · cattleH7794
• he slewנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• he that sacrificethזָבַחzâbach · to sacrificeH2076
• a lambשֶׂהώeh ώêy · sheepH7716
• he cut offעָרַף‛âraph · to break the neckH6202
• a dog’sכֶּ֫לֶבkeleb · dogH3611
• he that offerethעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: offer upH5927
• an oblationמִנְחָהminchâh · offeringH4503
• swine’sחֲזִירchăzîyr · swineH2386
• bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
• he that burnethזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
• incenseלְבֹנָהlebônâh lebônâh · frankincenseH3828
• he blessedבָּרַךְbârak · to blessH1288
• an idolאָ֫וֶן'âven · evil: wickednessH205
• Yea, they have chosenבָּחַרbâchar · to chooseH977
• their own waysדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• and their soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
• delightethחָפֵץchâphêts · to delight inH2654
• in their abominationsשִׁקּוּץshiqqûts shiqqûts · abominationH8251

Cross-references for Isaiah 66:3

• Isaiah 1:11“For what is it to Me— the multitude of your sacrifices?” says Adonai. “I am full of burnt offerings of rams and fat of fed animals. I have no delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or he-goats.
• Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Adonai, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
• 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 despise your festivals! I take no delight in your sacred assemblies.
• Deuteronomy 23:18“None of the daughters of Israel is to be a cult prostitute, nor any of the sons of Israel a cult prostitute.
• 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.
• Isaiah 65:3These people provoke Me continually to My face, sacrificing in gardens, burning incense on bricks,
• Deuteronomy 14:8The pig, because it splits the hoof but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you—you are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses.
• Leviticus 2:2He is to bring it to Aaron’s sons, the kohanim, and he should take from there his handful of its fine flour, and of its oil, with all its frankincense. Then the kohen should burn up as smoke its memorial portion on the altar, an offering made by fire—a soothing aroma to Adonai.
• Isaiah 65:12I will fate you to the sword, and all of you will kneel to slaughter. For I called, but you did not answer, I spoke, but you did not hear. So you did what was evil in My sight, and chose what I did not delight in.”
• Judges 5:8They chose new gods— then war was in the gates. No shield or spear was seen among 40,000 in Israel!
• Judges 10:14Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver 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