The Meaning of Isaiah 65:3 Explained

Isaiah 65:3

KJV: A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;

YLT: The people who are provoking Me to anger, To My face continually, Sacrificing in gardens, and making perfume on the bricks:

Darby: the people that provoke me to anger continually to my face, sacrificing in gardens and burning incense upon the bricks;

ASV: a people that provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens, and burning incense upon bricks;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

A people  that provoketh me to anger  continually  to my face;  that sacrificeth  in gardens,  and burneth incense  upon altars of brick; 

What does Isaiah 65:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Israelites provoked the Lord by offering their sacrifices in ways that were unacceptable to Him-and then claimed that He was unresponsive to them. Gardens were unauthorized places for sacrificing, and bricks were unauthorized materials for an altar (cf. Exodus 20:25; Deuteronomy 27:5-6; Joshua 8:31).

Context Summary

Isaiah 65:1-12 - A Seed Rescued From Destruction
The prophet now enumerates the reasons that forced the Lord to turn aside from the Chosen People, and call in the Gentiles to occupy the place and perform the mission which they had despised and forfeited. Paul makes memorable reference to this passage. See Romans 10:20-21. Their gardens were scenes of debauchery; their altars were covered by polluting engravings; they practiced necromancy in the graveyards, and ate swine's flesh, Isaiah 65:3-4. Fortune and destiny were their chosen deities, Isaiah 65:11, r.v. While professing greater holiness than others, the land was filled with abominations.
But the Lord ever discriminates between the righteous and the wicked. Did He not spare Noah and Lot and Caleb? There has always been a faithful remnant, and these become the seed germs of a new nation. Ponder Isaiah 65:8-10. Then ask that your life may be like the new young grapes of the vineyard, on which the blessing of God rests! [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 65

1  The calling of the Gentiles,
2  and the rejection of the Jews, for their incredulity, idolatry, and hypocrisy
8  A remnant shall be saved
11  Judgments on the wicked, and blessings on the godly
17  The blessed state of the new Jerusalem

What do the individual words in Isaiah 65:3 mean?

a people who provoke to anger Me to My face continually who sacrifice in gardens and burn incense on [altars] of brick
הָעָ֗ם הַמַּכְעִיסִ֥ים אוֹתִ֛י עַל־ פָּנַ֖י תָּמִ֑יד זֹֽבְחִים֙ בַּגַּנּ֔וֹת וּֽמְקַטְּרִ֖ים עַל־ הַלְּבֵנִֽים

הָעָ֗ם  a  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הַמַּכְעִיסִ֥ים  who  provoke  to  anger 
Parse: Article, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural
Root: כָּעַס  
Sense: to be angry, be vexed, be indignant, be wroth, be grieved, provoke to anger and wrath.
אוֹתִ֛י  Me 
Parse: Direct object marker, first person common singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
פָּנַ֖י  My  face 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
תָּמִ֑יד  continually 
Parse: Adverb
Root: תָּמִיד  
Sense: continuity, perpetuity, to stretch.
זֹֽבְחִים֙  who  sacrifice 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: זָבַח  
Sense: to slaughter, kill, sacrifice, slaughter for sacrifice.
בַּגַּנּ֔וֹת  in  gardens 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: גַּנָּה  
Sense: garden, orchard.
וּֽמְקַטְּרִ֖ים  and  burn  incense 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural
Root: מֻקְטָר 
Sense: .
הַלְּבֵנִֽים  [altars]  of  brick 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: לְבֵנָה  
Sense: tile, brick.