Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD speaks through Isaiah to a community maintaining formal worship while ignoring His word. The moment follows the declaration that God esteems the humble and contrite, contrasting divine preference with the people's self-directed religious practice.
The words — The Hebrew שׁוֹחֵ֨ט (sho.Chet) means "one who slaughters," and עֹ֣רֵֽף ('O.ref) means "one who breaks the neck," establishing a direct lexical parallel between killing livestock and killing a man or a dog.
The thread — The text equates their ritual acts to abominations, a condemnation echoed in Isaiah 1:11, Proverbs 15:8, and Amos 5:21 where God rejects sacrifices offered without genuine obedience.
Why it lands — The passage states that God detests offerings when the worshiper has chosen their own ways and delighted in abominations, requiring the reader to examine whether external religious acts mask internal rebellion.
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
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.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
- Isaiah 1:11 “What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
- Amos 5:21 “I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies.
- Leviticus 2:2 and bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the flour and oil, together with all the frankincense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
- Isaiah 65:12 I will destine you for the sword, and you will all kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not listen; you did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”
- Isaiah 66:17 “Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves—to follow one in the center of those who eat the flesh of swine and vermin and rats—will perish together,” declares the LORD.
- Deuteronomy 14:8 as well as the pig; though it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. It is unclean for you. You must not eat its meat or touch its carcass.
- Deuteronomy 23:18 You must not bring the wages of a prostitute, whether female or male, into the house of the LORD your God to fulfill any vow, because both are detestable to the LORD your God.
- Proverbs 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!
- Isaiah 65:3 to a people who continually provoke Me to My face, sacrificing in the gardens and burning incense on altars of brick,