Bible Strands
Isaiah 57:5
who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet confronts the rebellious descendants of Israel, directly answering the rhetorical challenge posed in the preceding verse about their status as children of transgression. This occurs during a prophetic indictment of their covenant-breaking idolatry.
The words — The Hebrew נְחָמִים (ne.cha.Mim) literally means "inflame yourselves," describing their passionate pursuit of idolatry. The term שֹׁחֲטֵי (sho.cha.Tei) translates directly to "slaughter," specifying the violent act committed against their offspring.
The thread — The practice of child sacrifice in idolatrous contexts reappears in 2 Kings 16:3 and is condemned alongside sacred oak worship in Isaiah 1:29. Ezekiel 16:20 similarly records God's indictment of Israel for offering their sons and daughters to idols.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that idolatry consumes human devotion and destroys the very families it claims to serve. It requires the reader to assess the logical endpoint of covenant betrayal without excusing its violence.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 16:3 Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
- Isaiah 1:29 Surely you will be ashamed of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be embarrassed by the gardens that you have chosen.
- Ezekiel 16:20 You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough?
- Leviticus 18:21 You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
- 2 Kings 23:10 He also desecrated Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so that no one could sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire to Molech.
- Jeremiah 2:20 “For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.
- Jeremiah 3:13 Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God. You have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every green tree and have not obeyed My voice,’” declares the LORD.
- Jeremiah 7:31 They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind.
- Exodus 32:6 So the next day they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.
- Leviticus 20:2 “Tell the Israelites, ‘Any Israelite or foreigner living in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death. The people of the land are to stone him.