Isaiah 43:23

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 43:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Thou hast not brought me of thy sheep for burnt-offerings; neither hast thou honored me with thy sacrifices. I have not burdened thee with offerings, nor wearied thee with frankincense.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Thou hast not brought me of thy sheep for burnt-offerings; neither hast thou honored me with thy sacrifices. I have not burdened thee with offerings, nor wearied thee with frankincense.
Isaiah 43:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 43

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
23Thou hast not brought me of thy sheep for burnt-offerings; neither hast thou honored me with thy sacrifices. I have not burdened thee with offerings, nor wearied thee with frankincense.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings, &c.] 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…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“small cattle--rather, the "lamb" or "kid," required by the law to be daily offered to God (Exo 29:38; Num 28:3). sacrifices--offered any way; whereas the Hebrew for "holocaust," or "burnt offering," denotes that which ascends as an offering consumed by fire. I have not caused thee to serve--that is, to render the the service of a slave (Mat 11:30; Rom 8:15; Jo1 4:18; Jo1 5:3). offering--bloodless (Lev 2:1-2). wearied--antithetical to Isa 43:22, "Thou hast been weary of Me." Though God in the law required such offerings, yet not so as to "weary" the worshipper, or to exact them in cases where, as in the Babylonish captivity, they were physically unable to render them; God did not require…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Thou hast not brought me - As a people you have witcheld from me the sacrifices which were commanded. They had not maintained and observed his worship as he had required. The small cattle - Margin, ‘Lambs,’ or ‘kids.’ The Hebrew word (שׂה s'eh) denotes properly one of a flock - a sheep or a goat. It should have been so rendered here. These animals were used for burnt-offerings, and the Jews were required to offer them daily to God. Of thy burnt-offerings - (Compare Exodus 29:38; Numbers 28:3). The burnt-offering was wholly consumed on the altar. With thy sacrifices - Bloody offerings. There is little difference between this word and that rendered ‘burnt-offerings.’ If there is any, it is…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Honoured - Either thou didst neglect sacrificing to me; or didst perform it merely out of custom or didst dishonour me, and pollute thy sacrifices by thy wicked life. Although - Altho' God had not laid such heavy burdens upon them, nor required such costly offerings, as might give them cause to be weary, nor such as idolaters did freely perform in the service of their idols. Isaiah 43:24”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“hast not: Amo 5:25; Mal 1:13, Mal 1:14, Mal 3:8 small cattle: Heb. lambs, or kids honoured: Isa 1:11-15, Isa 66:3; Pro 15:8, Pro 21:27; Amo 5:21, Amo 5:22; Zac 7:5, Zac 7:6; Mat 11:30 Isaiah 43:24”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification