Bible Strands
Isaiah 57:6
Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley; indeed, they are your lot. Even to them you have poured out a drink offering and offered a grain offering. Should I relent because of these?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God speaks to idolaters who have turned to valley worship, directly responding to the accusations in Isaiah 57:5 about lust under oaks and slaughter in rocky clefts. He confronts them as they designate smooth valley stones as their inherited lot and actively pour drink offerings to them.
The words — The text highlights חֶלְקֵךְ (chelkekha), meaning "your portion," and שָׁפַכְתּ (shaFakht), meaning "you have poured out." These terms describe how the people designate smooth valley stones as their inherited lot and actively pour drink offerings to them.
The thread — This pattern of treating inert objects as divine recipients of offerings appears in Jeremiah 3:9, which notes Israel defiling the land by committing adultery with stones and trees. It echoes Habakkuk 2:19, which condemns addressing silent stone as if it could give guidance.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that material idols cannot receive or respond to worship. It requires the reader to abandon substituting created objects for the Creator and cease ritual devotion to what cannot answer.
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
Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 3:9 Indifferent to her own infidelity, Israel had defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.
- Jeremiah 7:18 The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven; they pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger.
- Habakkuk 2:19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.”
- Deuteronomy 32:37 He will say: “Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge,
- Isaiah 65:11 But you who forsake the LORD, who forget My holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny,
- Isaiah 66:3 Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations.
- Jeremiah 5:9 Should I not punish them for these things?” declares the LORD. “Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?
- Jeremiah 5:29 Should I not punish them for these things?” declares the LORD. “Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?
- Jeremiah 9:9 Should I not punish them for these things? declares the LORD. Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?”
- Jeremiah 19:13 The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will be defiled like that place, Topheth—all the houses on whose rooftops they burned incense to all the host of heaven and poured out drink offerings to other gods.”