The Meaning of Isaiah 1:13 Explained

Isaiah 1:13

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.

YLT: Add not to bring in a vain present, Incense -- an abomination it is to Me, New moon, and sabbath, calling of convocation! Rendure not iniquity -- and a restraint!

Darby: Bring no more vain oblations! Incense is an abomination unto me, new moon and sabbath, the calling of convocations wickedness and the solemn meeting I cannot bear.

ASV: Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; new moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies,- I cannot away with iniquity and the solemn meeting.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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?

Context Summary

Isaiah 1:10-20 - Religion Without Righteousness Vain
The prophet points out, first the misery that had overtaken the country, Isaiah 1:4-9; and then the sins of the ruling classes, Isaiah 1:10; Isaiah 1:17; Isaiah 1:21-23. What may be called personal and private sins, such as drunkenness, vanity, bribery, and the oppression of the poor, are viewed in their public hearing, as bringing wrath and disaster on the whole nation. No man can sin by himself. His most private sins react on the whole community. Thistle-down floats far and wide. In reply, the nation pointed to the splendid ritual and innumerable sacrifices of the Temple service. But these observances only added to the tale of their sins, because they were formal and perfunctory. The sacrifice of God is a broken and contrite heart. The outward is absolutely worthless, unless it is the expression of the inward and the spiritual. But where a pure and holy spirit is present, the simplest forms are magnificent in their significance and value. To atone becomes the base of a ladder to heaven, and the thorn-bush flames with Deity. But forgiveness is freely offered to the guilty. Crimson and scarlet are the most lasting of all colors, and their removal impresses the completeness of God's pardoning love. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 1

1  Isaiah complains of Judah for her rebellion
5  He laments her judgments
10  He upbraids their whole service
16  He exhorts to repentance, with promises and threats
21  Bewailing their wickedness, he denounces God's judgments
25  He promises grace
28  And threatens destruction to the wicked

What do the individual words in Isaiah 1:13 mean?

no more bring sacrifices futile Incense an abomination is to Me the New Moons and the Sabbaths and the calling of assemblies cannot I endure iniquity and the sacred meeting
לֹ֣א תוֹסִ֗יפוּ הָבִיא֙ מִנְחַת־ שָׁ֔וְא קְטֹ֧רֶת תּוֹעֵבָ֛ה הִ֖יא לִ֑י חֹ֤דֶשׁ וְשַׁבָּת֙ קְרֹ֣א מִקְרָ֔א לֹא־ אוּכַ֥ל אָ֖וֶן וַעֲצָרָֽה

לֹ֣א  no 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תוֹסִ֗יפוּ  more 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: יָסַף 
Sense: to add, increase, do again.
הָבִיא֙  bring 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
מִנְחַת־  sacrifices 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מִנְחָה  
Sense: gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering.
שָׁ֔וְא  futile 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁוְא  
Sense: emptiness, vanity, falsehood.
קְטֹ֧רֶת  Incense 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: קְטֹרֶת  
Sense: incense, smoke, odour of (burning) sacrifice.
תּוֹעֵבָ֛ה  an  abomination 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּועֵבָה  
Sense: a disgusting thing, abomination, abominable.
לִ֑י  to  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
חֹ֤דֶשׁ  the  New  Moons 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: the new moon, month, monthly.
וְשַׁבָּת֙  and  the  Sabbaths 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular
Root: שַׁבָּת  
Sense: Sabbath.
קְרֹ֣א  and  the  calling 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
מִקְרָ֔א  of  assemblies 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִקְרָא  
Sense: convocation, convoking, reading, a calling together.
לֹא־  cannot 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אוּכַ֥ל  I  endure 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
אָ֖וֶן  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָוֶן 
Sense: trouble, wickedness, sorrow.
וַעֲצָרָֽה  and  the  sacred  meeting 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֲצָרָה  
Sense: assembly, solemn assembly.