The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
Parallel translations
- WEB The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
- BSB The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill 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 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 66:3He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
- Matt 23:13But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
- Prov 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
- Jer 6:20To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.
- 1 Sam 15:21–23But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
- Isa 1:11–16To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
- Amos 5:21–22I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
- Jer 7:11–12Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.
- Prov 28:9He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
- 1 Sam 13:12–13Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
- Ps 50:8–13I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually 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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