King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Complete Jewish Bible:
Then Adonai said: "Because these people approach me with empty words, and the honor they bestow on me is mere lip-service; while in fact they have distanced their hearts from me, and their 'fear of me' is just a mitzvah of human origin
Berean Standard Bible:
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.
American Standard Version:
And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw nigh unto me, and with their mouth and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which hath been taught them;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Wherefore the Lord{H136} said{H559}, Forasmuch{H3282} as this people{H5971} draw near{H5066} me with their mouth{H6310}, and with their lips{H8193} do honour{H3513} me, but have removed{H7368} their heart{H3820} far{H7368} from me, and their fear{H3374} toward me is taught{H3925} by the precept{H4687} of men{H582}:
Cross-References (KJV):
Mark 7:2
- And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
Mark 7:13
- Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Ezekiel 33:31
- And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee [as] my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, [but] their heart goeth after their covetousness.
Ezekiel 33:33
- And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.
Jeremiah 12:2
- Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou [art] near in their mouth, and far from their reins.
Matthew 15:2
- Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
Matthew 15:9
- But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Isaiah 29:13
Isaiah 29:13 is a verse that speaks to the hypocrisy and insincerity of the people of Judah during the prophet Isaiah's time. The historical context of this verse is set against the backdrop of the southern kingdom of Judah, which had fallen into spiritual decline. Despite outward religious observance and the recitation of pious words, the hearts of the people were far from genuine worship and reverence for God. They honored Him with their lips, engaging in rituals and saying the right things, but their actions were not backed by true devotion or understanding. The verse reflects a common theme in the prophetic books of the Bible, where the prophets condemn the empty practices of the people, emphasizing that God desires sincere faith and obedience from the heart, not merely external compliance with religious laws.
The verse also touches on the idea that the people's "fear toward me is taught by the precept of men," indicating that their reverence was based on human traditions and instructions rather than a personal relationship with God. This critique suggests that religious leaders had led the people astray, promoting a form of worship that was devoid of true spiritual connection. The Lord, through the prophet Isaiah, is calling for authenticity in faith, challenging the people to turn their hearts back to Him in genuine love and obedience, rather than simply following the customs and teachings of human origin. This call for authentic worship is a timeless message, relevant not only to the ancient Israelites but also to contemporary readers, reminding all that true faith involves the whole being, not just outward expressions.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H136
There are 910 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲדֹנָי
Transliteration: ʼĂdônây
Pronunciation: ad-o-noy'
Description: an emphatic form of אָדוֹן; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only); (my) Lord. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H3282
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יַעַן
Transliteration: yaʻan
Pronunciation: yah'-an
Description: from an unused root meaning to pay attention; properly, heed; by implication, purpose (sake or account); used adverbially to indicate the reason or cause; because (that), forasmuch ([phrase] as), seeing then, [phrase] that, [phrase] wheras, [phrase] why. - Strong's Number: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H5066
There are 112 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָגַשׁ
Transliteration: nâgash
Pronunciation: naw-gash'
Description: a primitive root; to be or come (causatively, bring) near (for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; religious to worship; causatively, to present; figuratively, to adduce an argument; by reversal, to stand back; (make to) approach (nigh), bring (forth, hither, near), (cause to) come (hither, near, nigh), give place, go hard (up), (be, draw, go) near (nigh), offer, overtake, present, put, stand. - Strong's Number: H6310
There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּה
Transliteration: peh
Pronunciation: peh
Description: from פָּאָה; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to; accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, tenor, [idiom] to, [phrase] two-edged, wish, word. - Strong's Number: H8193
There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂפָה
Transliteration: sâphâh
Pronunciation: saw-faw'
Description: or (in dual and plural) שֶׂפֶת; probably from סָפָה or שָׁפָה through the idea of termination (compare סוֹף); the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.); band, bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip, prating, (sea-)shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words. - Strong's Number: H3513
There are 109 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּבַד
Transliteration: kâbad
Pronunciation: kaw-bad'
Description: or כָּבֵד; a primitive root; to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable; causatively, to make weighty (in the same two senses); abounding with, more grievously afflict, boast, be chargeable, [idiom] be dim, glorify, be (make) glorious (things), glory, (very) great, be grievous, harden, be (make) heavy, be heavier, lay heavily, (bring to, come to, do, get, be had in) honour (self), (be) honourable (man), lade, [idiom] more be laid, make self many, nobles, prevail, promote (to honour), be rich, be (go) sore, stop. - Strong's Number: H7368
There are 56 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָחַק
Transliteration: râchaq
Pronunciation: raw-khak'
Description: a primitive root; to widen (in any direction), i.e. (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation); (a-, be, cast, drive, get, go, keep (self), put, remove, be too, (wander), withdraw) far (away, off), loose, [idiom] refrain, very, (be) a good way (off). - Strong's Number: H3820
There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לֵב
Transliteration: lêb
Pronunciation: labe
Description: a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything; [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom. - Strong's Number: H3374
There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִרְאָה
Transliteration: yirʼâh
Pronunciation: yir-aw'
Description: feminine of יָרֵא; fear (also used as infinitive); morally, reverence; [idiom] dreadful, [idiom] exceedingly, fear(-fulness). - Strong's Number: H3925
There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָמַד
Transliteration: lâmad
Pronunciation: law-mad'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to goad, i.e. (by implication) to teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive); (un-) accustomed, [idiom] diligently, expert, instruct, learn, skilful, teach(-er, -ing). - Strong's Number: H4687
There are 177 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִצְוָה
Transliteration: mitsvâh
Pronunciation: mits-vaw'
Description: from צָוָה; a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law); (which was) commanded(-ment), law, ordinance, precept. - Strong's Number: H582
There are 648 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱנוֹשׁ
Transliteration: ʼĕnôwsh
Pronunciation: en-oshe'
Description: from אָנַשׁ; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified אָדָם); hence,; a man in general (singly or collectively); another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare אִישׁ.