Isaiah 1:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God declares all of Israel's religious observances—festivals, incense, assemblies—to be abominable when separated from genuine repentance and justice.
The Context of Isaiah 1:13
Comprehensive rejection of religious observance without righteousness.
What Does Isaiah 1:13 Mean?
This verse escalates God's rejection from specific sacrifice (burnt offerings) to the entire apparatus of Israel's religious calendar and practice. 'Vain oblations' (empty gifts), incense, new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and assemblies—the very framework of religious life—are called 'abomination' when disconnected from righteousness. The word 'abomination' is the strongest term of disgust available, indicating that God finds such observance repulsive rather than merely disappointing.
The phrase 'I cannot away with'—meaning 'I cannot tolerate' or 'I find unbearable'—conveys intense rejection. Even the 'solemn meeting' itself, the gathering for worship, becomes 'iniquity' (sin) when undertaken in a state of unrepentant injustice. God is making clear that the form of religion has become divorced from its substance, and this disconnection is itself sinful.
Isaiah 1:13 in the Original Language
tô'êbâh (תּוֹעֵבָה), 'abomination' — something deeply detested, repulsive to God; often used for practices that violate covenant relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 1:13
What does Isaiah 1:13 mean?
God declares all of Israel's religious observances—festivals, incense, assemblies—to be abominable when separated from genuine repentance and justice.
What is the context of Isaiah 1:13?
Comprehensive rejection of religious observance without righteousness.