Jeremiah 6:20
To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.
Original Language Analysis
לָמָּה
H4100
לָמָּה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
1 of 17
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
לְבוֹנָה֙
there to me incense
H3828
לְבוֹנָה֙
there to me incense
Strong's:
H3828
Word #:
4 of 17
frankincense (from its whiteness or perhaps that of its smoke)
מִשְּׁבָ֣א
from Sheba
H7614
מִשְּׁבָ֣א
from Sheba
Strong's:
H7614
Word #:
5 of 17
sheba, the name of three early progenitors of tribes and of an ethiopian district
תָב֔וֹא
To what purpose cometh
H935
תָב֔וֹא
To what purpose cometh
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
6 of 17
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
וְקָנֶ֥ה
cane
H7070
וְקָנֶ֥ה
cane
Strong's:
H7070
Word #:
7 of 17
a reed (as erect); by resemblance a rod (especially for measuring), shaft, tube, stem, the radius (of the arm), beam (of a steelyard)
הַטּ֖וֹב
and the sweet
H2896
הַטּ֖וֹב
and the sweet
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
8 of 17
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
מֶרְחָ֑ק
from a far
H4801
מֶרְחָ֑ק
from a far
Strong's:
H4801
Word #:
10 of 17
remoteness, i.e., (concretely) a distant place; often (adverbially) from afar
עֹלֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙
your burnt offerings
H5930
עֹלֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙
your burnt offerings
Strong's:
H5930
Word #:
11 of 17
a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
12 of 17
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֖ם
nor your sacrifices
H2077
וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֖ם
nor your sacrifices
Strong's:
H2077
Word #:
14 of 17
properly, a slaughter, i.e., the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act)
Cross References
Isaiah 1:11To 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.Isaiah 60:6The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.Psalms 40:6Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.Isaiah 66:3He 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.Exodus 30:23Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,
Historical Context
Despite growing moral corruption, Judah maintained temple worship with expensive imported spices and materials. This created false confidence that ritual observance would protect them from judgment.
Questions for Reflection
- How can religious activity become a substitute for genuine heart obedience?
- What makes worship acceptable or unacceptable to God?
- How should this verse inform our understanding of the relationship between liturgy and lifestyle?
Analysis & Commentary
God rejects their worship as meaningless: incense from Sheba (southwestern Arabia) and sweet cane from distant countries cannot compensate for covenant unfaithfulness. The rhetorical question 'To what purpose...?' exposes the futility of religious ritual without obedience. Their offerings are 'not acceptable' and sacrifices give no 'delight.' This illustrates the prophetic principle that God desires obedience over sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). External religious observance without heart transformation is offensive rather than pleasing to God. Reformed theology emphasizes that true worship must flow from regenerate hearts; otherwise, even biblically prescribed rituals become abominations.