Isaiah 57:3-6

3 But you, draw near, sons of the sorceress, 1offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.
4 Whom are you mocking? Against whom 2do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of 3transgression, 4the offspring of deceit,
5 you who burn with lust among 5the oaks,[a] under every green tree, 6who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
6 Among the smooth stones of 7the 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 57:3-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 57

This chapter contains complaints of the stupidity and idolatry of the people, described in the latter part of the preceding chapter; and some promises of grace to the people of God. The stupidity of the former is observed, Isa 57:1 they not taking notice of the death of good men, nor of impending calamities they were taken from, whose happiness is described, Isa 57:2, then these idolatrous people are summoned before the Lord, Isa 57:3 and are charged with deriding the saints with idolatry and murder, Isa 57:4-6 and their idolatry is represented under the notion of adultery, attended with very aggravating circumstances, Isa 57:7-9 and yet these people still entertained presumptuous hopes of happiness, and boasted of, and trusted in, their righteousness and good works, which would be exposed, and be of no advantage to them, Isa 57:10-12, next follow promises of grace to the saints, that such that trusted in Christ should inherit the holy mountain, Isa 57:13 that the stumblingblock of his people should be removed, Isa 57:14, that he should dwell with the humble and contrite, Isa 57:15, and not be always wroth and contend with them, for a reason given, Isa 57:16 and that though he had smote them, and hid his face from them because of their sins, yet would heal them, lead them, and comfort them, and speak peace unto them, Isa 57:17-19 and the chapter is concluded with the character of the wicked, and an assurance that there is no peace for them, Isa 57:20,21.

Cross References 7

  • 1. [John 8:41, 42]
  • 2. [Psalms 35:21]
  • 3. Isaiah 46:8, 9
  • 4. [Isaiah 1:4]
  • 5. Isaiah 1:29; 2 Kings 16:4
  • 6. Ezekiel 16:20, 21
  • 7. [2 Kings 23:10]

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or among the terebinths
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.