Isaiah 65:7

both for your iniquities and for those of your fathers,” says the LORD. “Because they burned incense on the mountains and scorned Me on the hills, I will measure into their laps full payment for their former deeds.”

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Yahweh addresses the rebellious descendants of Israel in Isaiah 65, positioned between a declaration of imminent repayment for idolatry (65:6) and a promise to preserve a remnant of faithful servants (65:8).

The words — The text emphasizes עֲוֹנֹתֵיכֶם ('A.vo.no.tei./khem) and אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם ('a.vo.tei./Khem) to denote "your iniquities" and "your ancestors," establishing a chain of guilt. It uses קִטְּרוּ (ki.te.Ru) for "they made smoke" or burned incense, specifying the physical act of mountain worship that provoked divine judgment.

The thread — This linkage of ancestral sin and high-place worship recurs in Exodus 20:5, which describes God visiting the iniquity of the fathers, and Isaiah 57:7, which condemns making a bed and offering sacrifices on lofty hills. Ezekiel 20:27 similarly records Yahweh confronting Israel with the pattern of their fathers' rebellion.

Why it lands — The text requires a reader to recognize that persistent idolatry and scorn toward God accumulate a measured debt, while the surrounding context demands a clear distinction between the fate of the rebellious and the preserved remnant.

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

עֲ֠וֹנֹתֵיכֶם'A.vo.no.tei./kheminiquities/ your וַעֲוֹנֹ֨תva./'a.vo.Notand/ [the] iniquities of אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֤ם'a.vo.tei./Khemancestors/ your יַחְדָּו֙yach.Davtogether אָמַ֣ר'a.Marhe says יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.Sherwho קִטְּרוּ֙ki.te.Ruthey made smoke עַל־'al-on הֶ֣הָרִ֔יםhe./ha.Rimthe/ mountains וְעַל־ve./'al-and/ on הַגְּבָע֖וֹתha./ge.va.'otthe/ hills חֵרְפ֑וּנִיche.re.Fu./nithey taunted/ me וּמַדֹּתִ֧יu./ma.do.Tiand/ I will measure פְעֻלָּתָ֛םfe.'u.la.Ta/mwork/ their רִֽאשֹׁנָ֖הri.sho.Nahfirst אֶל'al-into חֵיקָֽם׃ סchei.Ka/mbosom/ their

King James Version

Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.

Cross-references

Isaiah 57:7 On a high and lofty hill you have made your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifices.
Ezekiel 20:27 Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: In this way also your fathers blasphemed Me by their unfaithfulness against Me.
Exodus 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Isaiah 22:14 The LORD of Hosts has revealed in my hearing: “Until your dying day, this sin of yours will never be atoned for,” says the Lord GOD of Hosts.
Isaiah 65:6 Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will pay it back into their laps,
Jeremiah 13:25 This is your lot, the portion I have measured to you,” declares the LORD, “because you have forgotten Me and trusted in falsehood.
Leviticus 26:39 Those of you who survive in the lands of your enemies will waste away in their iniquity and will decay in the sins of their fathers.
Psalms 106:6 We have sinned like our fathers; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
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?