Isaiah 43:24

24 You didn't buy incense for me or satisfy me with the fat of your animals. Instead you burdened me with your sins; you wore me out with the wrongs you have committed.

Isaiah 43:24 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 43:24

Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money
Or "calamus" F18, which was used in the anointing oil, and for the perfume or incense, ( Exodus 30:7 Exodus 30:23 ) , this they thought too expensive, and so left it out of the composition, or neglected the whole this being put a part for the whole. Jarchi gives it as the sense, that they had no need to buy it, since it grew in great plenty in the land of Israel, which he took to be cinnamon; though this is distinguished from calamus, or the sweet cane, ( Song of Solomon 4:14 ) , wherefore Kimchi much better observes, that it was not to be had in the land of Israel, but came from a land afar off; and therefore must be bought; see ( Jeremiah 6:20 ) , hence grudging to give the price for it, and to be at the expense of it, bought it not, and disused it: neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices;
they did not multiply their sacrifices, offered only just what the law required, if so many, and those of the leaner sort; and whereas the fat of the sacrifices was the Lord's, there was little of it for him in these: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with
thine iniquities;
they were so many, and so aggravated, that he could not bear with them any longer, his patience was worn out; they were an uneasiness to him, as it were a burden upon him, and therefore would ease himself, as he sometimes does, by avenging himself, ( Isaiah 1:24 ) , but here by pardoning them, as in the following verse. Some think that these are the words of Christ, the surety of his people, who took upon him the form of a servant for the sake of them, and had all their sins laid upon him, and which he bore, and made satisfaction for; and were to the human nature a burden, and a weariness to it; see ( Psalms 40:12 ) . This must be understood of the remnant according to the election of grace, among these people so sadly corrupted, for whose sins of omission and commission Christ made atonement; and upon the foot of his satisfaction, remission of sins proceeds, as in the next verse: this they thought too chargeable, and so left it out of the composition, or neglected the whole this being put a part for the whole. Jarchi gives it as the sense, that they had no need to buy it, since it grew in great plenty in the land of Israel, which he took to be cinnamon; though this is distinguished from calamus, or the sweet cane, ( Song of Solomon 4:14 ) , wherefore Kimchi much better observes, that it was not to be had in the land of Israel, but came from a land afar off; and therefore must be bought; see ( Jeremiah 6:20 ) , hence grudging to give the price for it, and to be at the expense of it, bought it not, and disused it: neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices;
they did not multiply their sacrifices, offered only just what the law required, if so many, and those of the leaner sort; and whereas the fat of the sacrifices was the Lord's, there was little of it for him in these: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with
thine iniquities;
they were so many, and so aggravated, that he could not bear with them any longer, his patience was worn out; they were an uneasiness to him, as it were a burden upon him, and therefore would ease himself, as he sometimes does, by avenging himself, ( Isaiah 1:24 ) , but here by pardoning them, as in the following verse. Some think that these are the words of Christ, the surety of his people, who took upon him the form of a servant for the sake of them, and had all their sins laid upon him, and which he bore, and made satisfaction for; and were to the human nature a burden, and a weariness to it; see ( Psalms 40:12 ) . This must be understood of the remnant according to the election of grace, among these people so sadly corrupted, for whose sins of omission and commission Christ made atonement; and upon the foot of his satisfaction, remission of sins proceeds, as in the next verse.


FOOTNOTES:

F18 (hnq) "calamum", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus; "calamum odoratum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Vitringa.

Isaiah 43:24 In-Context

22 The Lord says, "But you were tired of me, Israel; you did not worship me.
23 You did not bring me your burnt offerings of sheep; you did not honor me with your sacrifices. I did not burden you by demanding offerings or wear you out by asking for incense.
24 You didn't buy incense for me or satisfy me with the fat of your animals. Instead you burdened me with your sins; you wore me out with the wrongs you have committed.
25 And yet, I am the God who forgives your sins, and I do this because of who I am. I will not hold your sins against you.
26 "Let us go to court; bring your accusation! Present your case to prove you are in the right!
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.