The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!
Parallel translations
- WEB The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
- KJV The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
- ESV The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent.
- NKJV The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more when he brings it with wicked intent!
- NASB The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, How much more when he brings it with evil intent!
- NLT The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable, especially when it is offered with wrong motives.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable, especially when offered with evil intent. It matters because God rejects worship from an unrepentant, scheming heart.
Overview
Religious offerings cannot please God when the worshiper persists in wickedness, all the more when the offering masks evil motives (Proverbs 15:8; Isaiah 1:11-15). God looks at the heart, not mere ritual. True worship requires a contrite, sincere heart cleansed by grace (Psalm 51:16-17).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Isa 66:3Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations.
- Matt 23:13Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.
- Prov 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
- Jer 6:20What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please Me.”
- 1 Sam 15:21–23The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”
- Isa 1:11–16“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
- Amos 5:21–22“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies.
- Jer 7:11–12Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Yes, I too have seen it, declares the LORD.
- Prov 28:9Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.
- 1 Sam 13:12–13I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will descend upon me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”
- Ps 50:8–13I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, and your burnt offerings are ever before Me.
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 21:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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