Isaiah 29:13
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Original Language Analysis
אֲדֹנָ֗י
Wherefore the Lord
H136
אֲדֹנָ֗י
Wherefore the Lord
Strong's:
H136
Word #:
2 of 19
the lord (used as a proper name of god only)
יַ֚עַן
Forasmuch
H3282
יַ֚עַן
Forasmuch
Strong's:
H3282
Word #:
3 of 19
properly, heed; by implication, purpose (sake or account); used adverbially to indicate the reason or cause
כִּ֤י
H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
4 of 19
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
נִגַּשׁ֙
draw near
H5066
נִגַּשׁ֙
draw near
Strong's:
H5066
Word #:
5 of 19
to be or come (causatively, bring) near (for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; religious to worship; causati
הָעָ֣ם
as this people
H5971
הָעָ֣ם
as this people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
6 of 19
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
הַזֶּ֔ה
H2088
בְּפִ֤יו
me with their mouth
H6310
בְּפִ֤יו
me with their mouth
Strong's:
H6310
Word #:
8 of 19
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
וּבִשְׂפָתָיו֙
and with their lips
H8193
וּבִשְׂפָתָיו֙
and with their lips
Strong's:
H8193
Word #:
9 of 19
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
כִּבְּד֔וּנִי
do honour
H3513
כִּבְּד֔וּנִי
do honour
Strong's:
H3513
Word #:
10 of 19
to be heavy, i.e., in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively, to make weighty (in the same
וְלִבּ֖וֹ
their heart
H3820
וְלִבּ֖וֹ
their heart
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
11 of 19
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
רִחַ֣ק
far
H7368
רִחַ֣ק
far
Strong's:
H7368
Word #:
12 of 19
to widen (in any direction), i.e., (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation)
מִמֶּ֑נִּי
H4480
מִמֶּ֑נִּי
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
13 of 19
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
וַתְּהִ֤י
H1961
וַתְּהִ֤י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
14 of 19
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
אֹתִ֔י
H853
אֹתִ֔י
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
16 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִצְוַ֥ת
by the precept
H4687
מִצְוַ֥ת
by the precept
Strong's:
H4687
Word #:
17 of 19
a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the law)
Cross References
Jeremiah 12:2Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.Jeremiah 3:10And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.Proverbs 30:6Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.Colossians 2:22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?Jeremiah 5:2And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.
Historical Context
By Isaiah's time, Israel's religion had ossified into ritualism. The Temple functioned, sacrifices continued, festivals were observed—all the machinery of Mosaic worship operated. But hearts were far from God, pursuing idolatry and injustice. This pattern repeated: by Jesus's day, Pharisees meticulously tithed garden herbs while neglecting justice and mercy (Matthew 23:23).
Questions for Reflection
- How do we 'draw near' to God with words while our hearts remain distant?
- What's the difference between fearing God reverently versus following religious traditions mechanically?
- In what areas might your spiritual practices be 'taught by the precept of men' rather than flowing from genuine love?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me (וַיֹּאמֶר אֲדֹנָי יַעַן כִּי נִגַּשׁ הָעָם הַזֶּה בְּפִיו וּבִשְׂפָתָיו כִּבְּדוּנִי, vayomer Adonai ya'an ki nigash ha'am hazeh befiw uvisefataw kibeduni)—they נִגַּשׁ (nigash, draw near) with פֶּה (peh, mouth) and שְׂפָתַיִם (sefatayim, lips) to כִּבֵּד (kibed, honor) God. But have removed their heart far from me (וְלִבּוֹ רִחַק מִמֶּנִּי, velibo richaq mimeni)—their לֵב (lev, heart) is רָחַק (rachaq, far, distant). And their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men (וַתְּהִי יִרְאָתָם אֹתִי מִצְוַת אֲנָשִׁים מְלֻמָּדָה, vatehi yir'atam oti mitsvat anashim melumdah)—their יִרְאָה (yir'ah, fear/reverence) is merely human tradition, מְלֻמָּדָה (melumdah, taught/learned by rote).
Jesus quoted this verse verbatim when confronting Pharisaic tradition-worship (Matthew 15:8-9, Mark 7:6-7). The diagnosis: externalized religion divorced from internal transformation. Lips move in prayer, rituals are performed, but the heart—center of will and affection—remains distant. The fear of God has devolved into human tradition, rules taught by rote rather than reverent response to God's character. Orthodoxy without heart equals hypocrisy.