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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 66:1-4

Here, I. The temple is slighted in comparison with a gracious soul, Isa. 66:1, 2. The Jews in the prophet's time, and afterwards in Christ's time, gloried much in the temple and promised themselves great things from it; to humble them therefore, and to shake their vain confidence, both the prophets and Christ foretold the ruin of the temple, that God would leave it and then it would soon be desolate. After it was destroyed by the Chaldeans it soon recovered itself and the ceremonial services... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 66:3

He that killeth an ox, is as if he slew a man ,.... Not that killed the ox of his neighbour, which, according to law, he was to pay for; or that killed one for food, which was lawful to be done; but that slew one, and offered it as a sacrifice; not blamed because blind or lame, or had any blemish in it, and so unfit for sacrifice; or because not rightly offered, under a due sense of sin, and with repentance for it, and faith in Christ; but because all sacrifices of this kind are now... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 66:3

He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man "He that slayeth an ox killeth a man" - These are instances of wickedness joined with hypocrisy; of the most flagitious crimes committed by those who at the same time affected great strictness in the performance of all the external services of religion. God, by the Prophet Ezekiel, upbraids the Jews with the same practices: "When they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it," Ezekiel... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:1-4

SECTION XII .— FINAL THREATENINGS AND PROMISES ( Isaiah 66:1-24 .). THE UNGODLY EXILES REBUKED . Israel, being about to return from the Captivity, had the design of rebuilding the temple and re-establishing the temple worship. God rebukes this design in persons devoid of any spirit of holiness, and warns them that mere formal outward worship is an abomination to him ( Isaiah 66:1-3 ). In Isaiah 66:4 he threatens them with punishment. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:3

He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man ; literally, is a manslayer. The full meaning seems to be, "He that, not being of a poor and contrite spirit, would offer me an ox in sacrifice, is as little pleasing to me as a murderer." Sacrifice, without the true spirit of sacrifice, is an abomination (comp. Isaiah 1:11 , "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord," etc.). There, however, the sacrifices are actually offered; here they are hypothetical. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:3-4

The rebuke of unrighteousness. We have— I. FOUR OFFENCES SPECIALLY HATEFUL TO THE HOLY ONE . 1 . Insincerity. These worshippers who brought their bullocks, their lambs, their prescribed oblations, were as guilty in the judgment of God as if they brought to his altar that which was an abomination in his sight. Their guilt lay in their insincerity; their heart was far from God when their feet were nigh his house. 2 . Heedlessness. When God calls and we pay no... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 66:3

He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man - Lowth and Noyes render this, ‘He that slayeth an ox, killeth a man.’ This is a literal translation of the Hebrew. Jerome renders it, ‘He who sacrifices an ox is as if (quasi) he slew a man.’ The Septuagint, in a very free translation - such as is common in their version of Isaiah - render it, ‘The wicked man who sacrifices a calf, is as he who kills a dog; and he who offers to me fine flour, it is as the blood of swine.’ Lowth supposes the sense to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:3

Isaiah 66:3. He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man Without this humble and devout temper of mind, killing an ox for a burnt-offering is no more acceptable to God than if a man offered his son in sacrifice to Moloch. “God here shows that the external ritual worship, offered to him by hypocrites and wicked persons, void of faith and virtue, was no more estimable in his sight than the material temple above spoken of; but that he was as much offended by the ritual worship of the impure,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 66:1-6

Attitudes towards ritual (66:1-6)This chapter continues the contrast between the majority of Israel who were the people of God in name only, and the godly minority who were his true people. The returning exiles were glad to hear that the temple was to be rebuilt, but the prophet reminds them that they are mistaken if they think that God’s sole dwelling place is a temple. God dwells everywhere. They are also mistaken if they think that God’s chief requirement for people is that they carry out... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 66:3

cut off = breaketh. oblation = gift, or meal offering. Hebrew. minchah . swine's blood. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 14:8 . Leviticus 11:7 ). Compare Isaiah 65:4 . burneth incense = maketh a memorial of frankincense. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 2:2 ). App-92 . chosen. See note on Isaiah 1:29 . their soul = they. Note the Introversion beginning with the last clause of Isaiah 66:3 , and including Isaiah 66:4 , They delight, &c. I also will choose, &c. When I called,... read more

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