Isaiah 57:6

6 Among the smooth stones of 1the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I relent for these things?

Isaiah 57:6 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 57:6

Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion
Or thy god; but the portion of Jacob is not like them, stocks and stones, ( Jeremiah 10:16 ) ( 2:27 ) . Whenever they could pick up smooth stones, and such as were fit for their purpose, whether in the stream of a brook, or in a valley, as the word also signifies, they polished and formed them into an image, and made gods of them; and these were their portion and inheritance, and which they left to their children. There is an elegant play on words F11 in the Hebrew tongue, between the word for "smooth stones", and that for a "portion F12", which cannot be expressed in our language: or, "in the smooth or slippery places of the valley shall be thy portions"; see ( Psalms 35:6 ) ( 73:18 ) . They, they are thy lot;
even those stones. Jarchi's note is, to stone thee with, the punishment of idolaters with the Jews; suggesting that those idols would be their ruin; as they will be the ruin of the idolatrous members of the church of Rome, who repent not of worshipping their idols of stone among others, ( Revelation 9:20 Revelation 9:21 ) : even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a
meat offering;
or a "bread offering", as well as a libation of wine, respecting the sacrifice of the mass, which consists of bread and wine, which is offered up in honour of their idols, angels and saints; hence "Michael mass" and "Martin mass" Should I receive comfort in these?
be pleased with such idolatrous sacrifices? no. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions render it, "should I not be angry for these?" I will; I have just reason for it. Or it may be rendered, "shall I repent of these F13?" of the evil I have threatened to bring, and am about to bring upon these idolaters? I will not.


FOOTNOTES:

F11 (Kqlx lhn yqlxb) .
F12 "In laevitatibus vallis erit portio tua", Gataker, Vitringa.
F13 (Mxna hla leh) "a me super his poenitebit?" Musculus; "poenitebit me", some in Vatablus.

Isaiah 57:6 In-Context

4 Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit,
5 you who burn with lust among the oaks, under every green tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
6 Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I relent for these things?
7 On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice.
8 Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your memorial; for, deserting me, you have uncovered your bed, you have gone up to it, you have made it wide; and you have made a covenant for yourself with them, you have loved their bed, you have looked on nakedness.

Cross References 1

  • 1. [2 Kings 23:10]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.