Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.

ISAIAH 57:7KJV
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Isaiah 57:7 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 57:7 mean?

Isaiah 57:7 describes people setting up their place of worship or devotion on a high and prominent mountain, where they go to offer sacrifices. The verse points to the practice of seeking out elevated places for religious rituals, often associated with idol worship in ancient times.

In this verse, the prophet Isaiah is speaking to the people of Israel, highlighting their tendency to turn away from God and instead perform religious acts on "lofty and high" places. These mountains were often chosen for pagan worship, and the "bed" set there suggests a settled, deliberate choice to engage in these practices. The verse is part of a larger passage where Isaiah calls out the people's unfaithfulness and their pursuit of other gods.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 57:7

  • גָּבֹהַּ (gavohah, "lofty") and נָשָׂא (nasa, "high"): These words emphasize not just physical height but also the idea of seeking out places that seem impressive or closer to the divine, which was a common belief in ancient idol worship.
  • הַר (har, "mountain"): Mountains were often seen as sacred spaces in the ancient Near East, chosen for worship because they were thought to be nearer to the gods.
  • מִשְׁכָּב (mishkav, "bed"): This word can mean a literal bed or a resting place, but here it likely points to a settled spot for ritual activity, possibly with immoral associations in the context of pagan practices.
  • עָלָה (alah, "went up"): The act of "going up" to these high places underlines the deliberate effort to reach these sites for worship.
  • זָבַח (zavach, "offer") and זֶבַח (zevach, "sacrifice"): These words make clear that the activity was not just visiting but actively performing sacrifices, a core part of ancient religious rituals.

Why Isaiah 57:7 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the people's unfaithfulness was not accidental but involved intentional, organized worship in places associated with idolatry.
  • It highlights the contrast between worshiping God as He commanded and adopting the religious customs of surrounding nations, especially the use of high places.
  • Understanding the setting helps explain why Isaiah and other prophets so often condemned "high places"—these were not neutral sites but symbols of turning away from the God of Israel.

Where else these words appear

“lofty” Hebrew H1364 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 7:19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
  • Job 41:34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
  • Jeremiah 2:20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.

“bed” Hebrew H4904 · used in 44 verses

  • Genesis 49:4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
  • Judges 21:11 And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.
  • Job 33:19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

“offer” Hebrew H2076 · used in 127 verses

  • Genesis 31:54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
  • 1 Samuel 1:21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
  • 2 Chronicles 11:16 And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.