He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

ISAIAH 66:3KJV
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Isaiah 66:3 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 66:3 mean?

Isaiah 66:3 says that people who offer sacrifices and religious rituals without true devotion are as guilty as those who commit terrible acts, like murder or offering unclean animals. The verse compares empty worship to actions God finds detestable, showing that God rejects rituals done with the wrong heart.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Isaiah to people in Jerusalem who are performing sacrifices and offerings. The situation is that these people are following outward religious practices, but their hearts are far from God—they are choosing their own ways and delighting in things God calls abominations. Isaiah uses strong comparisons to show how meaningless and even offensive these rituals are when not matched by genuine faithfulness.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 66:3

  • "Abominations" (תּוֹעֵבָה, toʿevah) refers to things that are deeply offensive or detestable to God, not just minor mistakes. This word emphasizes how seriously God views empty or hypocritical worship.
  • "Chosen" (בָּחַר, bachar) means to deliberately select or prefer something. The verse highlights that the people are not just drifting into error—they are actively choosing their own ways over God's instructions.
  • "Soul" (נֶפֶשׁ, nefesh) here means the inner self or deepest desires. The verse points out that their delight in wrong things comes from within, not just from outward actions.

Why Isaiah 66:3 matters

  • Isaiah 66:3 clears up the idea that God is pleased with rituals or sacrifices by themselves; it shows that the heart and intent behind worship matter most.
  • The verse connects to the wider message of Isaiah, where God often calls out hypocrisy and insists on genuine devotion rather than empty ceremony.
  • This verse helps explain why God sometimes rejects religious acts in the Bible—they can become offensive if done without sincerity or obedience.

Where else these words appear

“off” Hebrew H6202 · used in 6 verses

  • Exodus 13:13 And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.
  • Exodus 34:20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.
  • Deuteronomy 21:6 And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:

“swine's” Hebrew H2386 · used in 7 verses

  • Leviticus 11:7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
  • Psalms 80:13 The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.
  • Isaiah 65:4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;

“incense” Hebrew H3828 · used in 21 verses

  • Exodus 30:34 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:
  • Leviticus 6:15 And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour, even the memorial of it, unto the LORD.
  • Song of Solomon 4:6 Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.

“abominations” Hebrew H8251 · used in 26 verses

  • Deuteronomy 29:17 And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:)
  • Jeremiah 13:27 I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?
  • Ezekiel 20:8 But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.