Verse

Isaiah 1:13

ESV Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
NIV Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations-- I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
NASB Do not go on bringing your worthless offerings, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and Sabbath, the proclamation of an assembly— I cannot endure wrongdoing and the festive assembly.
CSB Stop bringing useless offerings. Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons and Sabbaths, and the calling of solemn assemblies -- I cannot stand iniquity with a festival.
NLT Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting — they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings.
KJV Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

What does Isaiah 1:13 mean?

Israel's problem during this time was not a lack of religiosity. They were obeying the Lord's commands about participating in the sacrificial system. As well, they burned incense during offerings, observed the required celebrations, and participated in other local and national gatherings of God's people. The problem was that they were doing all these things while continuing in obvious sinful practices.

Without soft hearts and right actions, God called their offerings vain and their incense abominable. He says He cannot endure their sinfulness as they all gather for solemn assemblies as if they are righteous. Their gatherings amount to no more than playacting instead of representing the true nature of their hearts before God. The New Testament refers to this using a Greek term for an actor—hypokrites—which we express in English as "hypocrisy" (Matthew 6:5; 7:5; 23:15).
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