When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
When ye come {H935} to appear {H7200} before {H6440} me, who hath required {H1245} this at your hand {H3027}, to tread {H7429} my courts {H2691}?
Yes, you come to appear in my presence; but who asked you to do this, to trample through my courtyards?
When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you— this trampling of My courts?
When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to trample my courts?
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Exodus 34:23
Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. -
Exodus 23:17
Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD. -
Deuteronomy 16:16
Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: -
Micah 6:8
He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? -
Isaiah 58:1
¶ Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. -
Isaiah 58:2
Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. -
Matthew 23:5
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
In Isaiah 1:12, the prophet Isaiah delivers a powerful message of divine disapproval to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. This verse is part of a broader indictment in the opening chapter, where God expresses His profound disappointment with their spiritual state despite their outward religious observances.
Context
Chapter 1 of Isaiah serves as a legal indictment against Israel. God is portrayed as a prosecuting attorney, laying out charges against His unfaithful people. Although they continued to perform religious rituals, sacrifices, and appear in the Temple courts, their hearts were far from Him. Their society was rife with injustice, oppression, and moral corruption. God was not pleased with their mere presence in His holy place when their lives did not reflect His righteousness. This verse specifically questions the sincerity and necessity of their ritualistic appearances, highlighting a disconnect between their actions and their true devotion.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "tread my courts" (Hebrew: רָמַס - ramas) implies their physical presence in the Temple, but the word ramas itself can carry a strong connotation of trampling, disrespect, or even oppression. While it can simply mean "to walk," in this context, coupled with God's displeasure, it suggests their presence was not honoring but perhaps even defiling due to their unholy lives. God is essentially saying, "Why are you even here, trampling my sacred space, when your lives are so far from my will?" It's a powerful rhetorical challenge to their misguided worship practices.
Practical Application
Isaiah 1:12 serves as a timeless reminder for believers today. It challenges us to examine the sincerity of our own worship and spiritual practices. Are we merely "treading the courts" – attending church, participating in rituals, or performing religious duties – without a genuine heart for God? This verse calls us to move beyond outward observance to a life transformed by true repentance, justice, and love. Our worship should flow from a heart that seeks to learn to do good, seek justice, and relieve the oppressed (as stated in Isaiah 1:17). God desires our hearts and our obedience more than any ritualistic performance.