Isaiah 43:23

23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings. You have not honored me with your sacrifices. I have not loaded you down by requiring grain offerings. I have not made you tired by requiring you to burn incense.

Isaiah 43:23 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 43:23

Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy
burnt offerings
The kids and the lambs, which, according to the law, should have been brought for burnt offerings daily, morning and evening; and much less did they bring the larger cattle of burnt offerings, as oxen and bullocks. The Targum and Vulgate Latin render it, "the rams of thy burnt offerings"; the Septuagint version, "the sheep"; and the Syriac and Arabic versions, "the lambs"; and these were not brought to him, but to their idols; or, however, were not brought in a right way and manner, and from right principles, and with right views. Kimchi thinks this refers to the times of Ahaz, when the service of God ceased in the temple, and idolatry was practised at Jerusalem but it seems to respect later times, nearer the times of Christ; see ( Malachi 1:13 Malachi 1:14 ) ( Malachi 3:7 Malachi 3:8 ) : neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices;
what sacrifices they did offer were not offered to God, but to their idols; or they were such as were not according to the law of God; or they were not offered up in the faith of the Messiah, nor with a true spirit of devotion, and with a sincere view to the glory of God, and in the exercise of repentance for sins; but rather as an atonement for them, and that they might go on in them with ease of mind; see ( Isaiah 1:11-15 ) : I have not caused thee to serve with an offering;
the "minchah", a meat offering or bread offering, which was a freewill offering, and they were not obliged to it; it was at their own option whether they would bring it or not, and which was not very chargeable to them: nor wearied thee with incense;
or frankincense, which was put upon the meat or bread offering; see ( Leviticus 2:1 ) . Some understand this of all offerings in general, that they were not so many that were commanded them, as to be a burden to them; nor so expensive but that they were able to bear the charge of them, considering the fruitfulness of the land of Canaan, and especially the numerous and costly sacrifices of Heathen idolaters: and others think it has reference to the time of Israel's coming out of Egypt, and the covenant of God with them, when no mention was made of sacrifices, nor were they enjoined them, ( Jeremiah 7:21 Jeremiah 7:22 ) .

Isaiah 43:23 In-Context

21 I do it for the people I made for myself. I want them to sing praise to me.

22 "Family of Jacob, you have not prayed to me as you should. People of Israel, you have not even begun to get tired while doing it.

23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings. You have not honored me with your sacrifices. I have not loaded you down by requiring grain offerings. I have not made you tired by requiring you to burn incense.

24 But you have not bought any sweet-smelling cane for me. You have not given me the fattest parts of your animal sacrifices. Instead, you have loaded me down with your sins. You have made me tired with the wrong things you have done.

25 "I am the one who wipes out your lawless acts. I do it because of who I am. I will not remember your sins anymore.