Isaiah 57:6

57:6 Among the smooth stones of the stream are the idols you love;

they, they are the object of your devotion. ¹ 

You pour out liquid offerings to them,

you make an offering.

Because of these things I will seek vengeance. ² 

Isaiah 66:3

66:3 The one who slaughters a bull also strikes down a man; ³ 

the one who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog’s neck; ⁴ 

the one who presents an offering includes pig’s blood with it; ⁵ 

the one who offers incense also praises an idol. ⁶ 

They have decided to behave this way; ⁷ 

they enjoy these disgusting practices. ⁸ 

Isaiah 66:20

66:20 They will bring back all your countrymen ⁹  from all the nations as an offering to the Lord. They will bring them ¹⁰  on horses, in chariots, in wagons, on mules, and on camels ¹¹  to my holy hill Jerusalem,” says the Lord, “just as the Israelites bring offerings to the Lord’s temple in ritually pure containers.

[57:6]  ¹ tn Heb “among the smooth stones of the stream [is] your portion, they, they [are] your lot.” The next line indicates idols are in view.

[57:6]  ² tn The text reads literally, “Because of these am I relenting?” If the prefixed interrogative particle is retained at the beginning of the sentence, then the question would be rhetorical, with the Niphal of נָחָם (nakham) probably being used in the sense of “relent, change one’s mind.” One could translate: “Because of these things, how can I relent?” However, the initial letter he may be dittographic (note the final he [ה] on the preceding word). In this case one may understand the verb in the sense of “console oneself, seek vengeance,” as in 1:24.

[66:3]  ³ tn Heb “one who slaughters a bull, one who strikes down a man.” Some understand a comparison here and in the following lines. In God’s sight the one who sacrifices is like (i.e., regarded as) a murderer or one whose worship is ritually defiled or idolatrous. The translation above assumes that the language is not metaphorical, but descriptive of the sinners’ hypocritical behavior. (Note the last two lines of the verse, which suggests they are guilty of abominable practices.) On the one hand, they act pious and offer sacrifices; but at the same time they commit violent crimes against men, defile their sacrifices, and worship other gods.

[66:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “one who sacrifices a lamb, one who breaks a dog’s neck.” Some understand a comparison, but see the previous note.

[66:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “one who offers an offering, pig’s blood.” Some understand a comparison, but see the note at the end of the first line.

[66:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “one who offers incense as a memorial offering, one who blesses something false.” Some understand a comparison, but see the note at the end of the first line. אָוֶן (’aven), which has a wide variety of attested nuances, here refers metonymically to an idol. See HALOT 22 s.v. and BDB 20 s.v. 2.

[66:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “also they have chosen their ways.”

[66:3]  ⁸ tn Heb “their being [or “soul”] takes delight in their disgusting [things].”

[66:20]  ⁵ tn Heb “brothers” (so NIV); NCV “fellow Israelites.”

[66:20]  ⁶ tn The words “they will bring them” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[66:20]  ⁷ tn The precise meaning of this word is uncertain. Some suggest it refers to “chariots.” See HALOT 498 s.v. *כִּרְכָּרָה.