Isaiah 66:3
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.
Original Language Analysis
מַכֵּה
is as if he slew
H5221
מַכֵּה
is as if he slew
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
3 of 23
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
אִ֗ישׁ
a man
H376
אִ֗ישׁ
a man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
4 of 23
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
זוֹבֵ֤חַ
he that sacrificeth
H2076
זוֹבֵ֤חַ
he that sacrificeth
Strong's:
H2076
Word #:
5 of 23
to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice)
עֹ֣רֵֽף
as if he cut off
H6202
עֹ֣רֵֽף
as if he cut off
Strong's:
H6202
Word #:
7 of 23
to break the neck; hence (figuratively) to destroy
מַעֲלֵ֤ה
he that offereth
H5927
מַעֲלֵ֤ה
he that offereth
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
9 of 23
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
מִנְחָה֙
an oblation
H4503
מִנְחָה֙
an oblation
Strong's:
H4503
Word #:
10 of 23
a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary)
דַּם
blood
H1818
דַּם
blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
11 of 23
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
מַזְכִּ֥יר
he that burneth
H2142
מַזְכִּ֥יר
he that burneth
Strong's:
H2142
Word #:
13 of 23
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
לְבֹנָ֖ה
incense
H3828
לְבֹנָ֖ה
incense
Strong's:
H3828
Word #:
14 of 23
frankincense (from its whiteness or perhaps that of its smoke)
מְבָ֣רֵֽךְ
as if he blessed
H1288
מְבָ֣רֵֽךְ
as if he blessed
Strong's:
H1288
Word #:
15 of 23
to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as
אָ֑וֶן
an idol
H205
אָ֑וֶן
an idol
Strong's:
H205
Word #:
16 of 23
strictly nothingness; also trouble, vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol
גַּם
H1571
גַּם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
17 of 23
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
בָּֽחֲרוּ֙
Yea they have chosen
H977
בָּֽחֲרוּ֙
Yea they have chosen
Strong's:
H977
Word #:
19 of 23
properly, to try, i.e., (by implication) select
בְּדַרְכֵיהֶ֔ם
their own ways
H1870
בְּדַרְכֵיהֶ֔ם
their own ways
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
20 of 23
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
וּבְשִׁקּוּצֵיהֶ֖ם
in their abominations
H8251
וּבְשִׁקּוּצֵיהֶ֖ם
in their abominations
Strong's:
H8251
Word #:
21 of 23
disgusting, i.e., filthy; especially idolatrous or (concretely) an idol
Cross References
Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.Isaiah 66:17They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.Isaiah 65:12Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.Leviticus 2:2And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:Proverbs 21:27The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?Deuteronomy 14:8And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.Deuteronomy 23:18Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.Judges 10:14Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.
Historical Context
This addressed the post-exilic community that had rebuilt the temple and resumed sacrifices yet maintained corrupt hearts (Malachi 1:6-14, 3:13-15). Their ritually correct worship was spiritually worthless. Jesus made similar condemnations of Pharisaic religion—externally meticulous, internally corrupt (Matthew 23:25-28). The principle continues: religious observance divorced from heart transformation is abominable. True worship requires Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24), not merely external conformity to religious forms.
Questions for Reflection
- How might contemporary Christians maintain externally correct religious practices while harboring unregenerate hearts?
- What makes religious ritual become equivalent to abomination in God's eyes?
- How do we ensure our worship and religious observances flow from transformed hearts rather than mere tradition?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God condemns empty ritualism with shocking comparisons: "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." The Hebrew structure equates legitimate sacrifices performed with wrong heart to abominations—murder, dog sacrifice (prohibited), swine's blood (unclean), idol worship. God isn't rejecting the sacrificial system per se but exposing that religious performance without heart devotion is spiritually equivalent to paganism. The verse continues: "Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations." The root problem: self-chosen religion rather than God-prescribed worship, taking pleasure (chaphets) in what God abhors. From a Reformed perspective, this illustrates that externally correct worship performed from unregenerate hearts is abominable to God (Proverbs 21:27, Isaiah 1:11-15). The heart condition determines acceptability, not ritual correctness. Under the new covenant, this warns against empty sacramentalism—participating in baptism or communion without genuine faith and repentance.