Isaiah 65:7

KJV

Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.

KJV (with Strong's)

Your iniquities {H5771}, and the iniquities {H5771} of your fathers {H1} together {H3162}, saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}, which have burned incense {H6999} upon the mountains {H2022}, and blasphemed {H2778} me upon the hills {H1389}: therefore will I measure {H4058} their former {H7223} work {H6468} into their bosom {H2436}.

Complete Jewish Bible

your own crimes and those of your ancestors together," says ADONAI. "They offered incense on the mountains and insulted me on the hills. First I will measure out their wages and then repay them in full."

Berean Standard Bible

both for your iniquities and for those of your fathers,” says the LORD. “Because they burned incense on the mountains and scorned Me on the hills, I will measure into their laps full payment for their former deeds.”

American Standard Version

your own iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith Jehovah, that have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I first measure their work into their bosom.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 65:7 sternly declares the Lord's indictment against His people, holding them accountable for both their own persistent iniquities and the accumulated sins of their ancestors. Their rebellion is vividly portrayed through acts of idolatry—burning incense upon the mountains and blaspheming God upon the hills—which represent open defiance and a rejection of the covenant. Consequently, God promises a just and full recompense for their past deeds, indicating that the consequences of their deep-seated disobedience will be fully meted out to them.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 65 is a pivotal chapter within the latter part of the book, shifting from the broader prophetic pronouncements of judgment and hope to a more direct dialogue between God and His people. The chapter opens with God expressing His availability to those who did not seek Him ([Isaiah 65:1](/isaiah/65-1 "Isaiah 65:1 - God's Openness to the Gentiles")), a clear foreshadowing of Gentile inclusion, while simultaneously lamenting the stubborn and rebellious nature of Israel ([Isaiah 65:2](/isaiah/65-2 "Isaiah 65:2 - Israel's Disobedience")). Verse 7 specifically falls within a section (verses 3-7) where the Lord meticulously lists the specific abominations committed by His people, detailing their idolatrous practices and spiritual defilement. This indictment serves as the divine justification for the impending judgment, which is then contrasted with the promise of restoration and a new creation for the faithful remnant in the subsequent verses ([Isaiah 65:8-25](/isaiah/65 "Isaiah 65 - Judgment and Restoration")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophet Isaiah ministered during the tumultuous 8th century BCE in Judah, a period marked by significant political upheaval and spiritual decline. The "mountains" and "hills" mentioned in the verse refer to the widespread practice of establishing "high places" for pagan worship, a pervasive issue throughout Israel's history, as seen in books like [1 Kings](/1_kings/1 "1 Kings - History of the Kings of Israel and Judah") and [2 Kings](/2_kings/1 "2 Kings - Continuation of the Kings of Israel and Judah"). These sites were often dedicated to Baal, Asherah, or other Canaanite deities, involving rituals that included burning incense, sacrificing, and sometimes even cultic prostitution or child sacrifice. Such practices were a direct violation of the First and Second Commandments, representing a profound rejection of Yahweh as the one true God and a betrayal of the covenant established at Sinai. The reference to "fathers" implies a long-standing, generational pattern of apostasy that had become deeply entrenched in the national psyche and religious life of Judah.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Isaiah. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Justice and Retribution**, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to hold His people accountable for their actions, both individually and corporately. The concept of "measuring their former work into their bosom" highlights the principle of *lex talionis*—reaping what one sows—a foundational aspect of biblical justice found throughout Scripture, such as in [Galatians 6:7](/galatians/6-7 "Galatians 6:7 - Sowing and Reaping"). Secondly, the verse emphasizes the pervasive nature of **Idolatry and Apostasy** as the root cause of Israel's spiritual decay and God's anger. The specific acts of burning incense and blaspheming on high places illustrate the depth of their spiritual infidelity. Lastly, it touches upon the theme of **Generational Sin and Corporate Responsibility**, suggesting that while each generation is accountable for its own choices, there is also a cumulative effect of sin that can persist and be perpetuated across generations, leading to a deeper state of rebellion.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **iniquities (Hebrew, _ʻâvôn'_):** This term denotes perversity, moral evil, or fault. It encompasses not just the act of sin but also the guilt and punishment associated with it. Here, it emphasizes the deep-seated moral corruption and deviation from God's righteous standards, which has accumulated over generations.
* **blasphemed (Hebrew, _châraph'_):** This primitive root means to pull off, expose, or figuratively, to carp at or defame. In this context, it signifies open defiance, contempt, and severe reproach directed at God. It's not merely a failure to worship, but an active, public dishonoring of His name and character, often in the context of worshipping other gods.
* **bosom (Hebrew, _chêyq'_):** This word refers to the bosom, lap, or the fold of a garment above the belt. It's used here idiomatically to represent the place where one receives something directly and fully, as if a merchant pours a full measure of goods into a customer's lap. Thus, "into their bosom" vividly conveys the idea of a complete, personal, and inescapable recompense for their deeds.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD":** This opening clause establishes the dual accountability for sin. The current generation is not only guilty of their own transgressions but is also seen as continuing and participating in the long-standing pattern of rebellion initiated by their ancestors. The phrase "saith the LORD" underscores the divine authority and certainty of this pronouncement.
* **"which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills":** This section specifies the nature of their iniquities. Burning incense on mountains and blaspheming on hills are direct references to idolatrous worship at "high places," which were prominent sites for pagan rituals. These acts represent open, public, and egregious violations of the covenant, demonstrating a profound spiritual infidelity and contempt for God.
* **"therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom":** This concluding clause declares the consequence of their sin. "Therefore" signals a direct causal link between their actions and God's response. "Measure their former work" signifies that God will justly and precisely account for all their past deeds. "Into their bosom" is a powerful idiom indicating that they will personally and fully receive the retribution for their accumulated wickedness, implying a complete and unavoidable repayment of consequences.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 65:7 employs several potent **Literary Devices** to convey its message of divine judgment. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, seen in the pairing of "your iniquities" with "the iniquities of your fathers," and "upon the mountains" with "upon the hills." This reinforces the idea of both cumulative and widespread sin. The phrase "measure their former work into their bosom" is a vivid **Idiom**, drawing on the cultural practice of measuring goods into a garment's fold, thereby symbolizing a full and personal recompense. This also functions as a form of **Metaphor**, where the act of measuring serves as a stand-in for divine judgment. The mention of "mountains" and "hills" carries strong **Symbolism**, representing the "high places" of idolatry and rebellion, sites where God's covenant was openly defied. Finally, the declaration "saith the LORD" is a common prophetic **Formula**, lending divine authority and absolute certainty to the pronouncement.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 65:7 profoundly underscores God's unwavering justice and His intolerance for sin, particularly idolatry and open defiance. It reveals that God meticulously records and remembers the deeds of humanity, and that while His patience is immense, there will inevitably be a day of reckoning where the consequences of rebellion are fully meted out. The verse highlights the cumulative nature of sin, where generations can perpetuate patterns of disobedience, leading to a deeper state of spiritual alienation and necessitating divine intervention. This principle of reaping what is sown is a consistent theological truth throughout Scripture, emphasizing personal and corporate accountability before a holy God.

* [Jeremiah 32:18](/jeremiah/32-18 "Jeremiah 32:18 - God Repays Iniquity")
* [Romans 2:6](/romans/2-6 "Romans 2:6 - God's Impartial Judgment")
* [Revelation 20:12](/revelation/20-12 "Revelation 20:12 - Books Opened at the Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse serves as a sobering reminder of the gravity of sin and the certainty of God's justice. While we live in an age of grace, the principles of accountability and the consequences of rebellion remain immutable. For believers, Isaiah 65:7 challenges us to examine our own hearts for any "high places"—anything that competes with God for ultimate allegiance, be it success, comfort, relationships, or self-worship. It calls us to break cycles of sin, whether personal or generational, by actively pursuing repentance, confession, and obedience to God's Word. Recognizing that God sees and remembers all our "work" should motivate us not to fear, but to live lives that honor Him, knowing that He is just and merciful, and that true freedom comes from aligning our lives with His righteous standards. It also reminds us that while we are not condemned for the sins of our ancestors, we are responsible for our own choices and the spiritual legacy we leave for future generations.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "high places" or forms of idolatry might exist in my life today, subtly or overtly competing for God's rightful place?**
* **How might I be perpetuating patterns of sin, either personally or generationally, and what steps can I take to break these cycles through repentance and reliance on God's grace?**
* **How does the certainty of God "measuring our work into our bosom" motivate me to live a life of greater holiness and obedience?**

### FAQ
**Does "iniquities of your fathers together" mean I am punished for my ancestors' sins?**

Answer: No, the Bible teaches individual accountability for sin. [Ezekiel 18:20](/zekiel/18-20 "Ezekiel 18:20 - Individual Accountability for Sin") clearly states, "The soul who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity." However, Isaiah 65:7 highlights that the *effects* and *patterns* of ancestral sin can create a context of pervasive rebellion that the current generation *chooses* to continue. The judgment is for their *own* active participation in and perpetuation of those sinful practices, not for inherited guilt. They are held accountable for *their* iniquities, which are *together* with (i.e., in continuity with) those of their fathers.

**What does "measure their former work into their bosom" mean in practical terms?**

Answer: This is an ancient idiom signifying a full and direct recompense for one's actions. In the ancient Near East, the "bosom" or the fold of a garment was used as a pouch to carry goods. To "measure into their bosom" means to pour out a full measure of something directly to the person, ensuring they receive it completely. In the context of judgment, it means that God will fully and justly repay them for their accumulated deeds of rebellion and idolatry. It emphasizes that the consequences of their actions will be personally and inescapably experienced by them, as seen in other passages like [Psalm 79:12](/psalm/79-12 "Psalm 79:12 - Repaying Neighbors Sevenfold").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 65:7, with its stark declaration of judgment for generational and personal iniquity, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in Jesus Christ. The "iniquities" that accumulated over generations, leading to God's pronouncement of "measuring their former work into their bosom," represent the full weight of human sin that justly demanded divine retribution. However, Christ, the spotless [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bore the entirety of this accumulated sin and its just punishment on the cross. He became the ultimate sacrifice, taking into His own "bosom" (figuratively, His very being) the full measure of God's wrath against sin, thereby satisfying divine justice once and for all ([Romans 3:25](/romans/3-25 "Romans 3:25 - Propitiation through Faith")). Through His atoning work, believers are no longer subject to the curse of their own iniquities or the patterns of their fathers, but are declared righteous in Him ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). The "new heavens and new earth" promised later in Isaiah 65 ([Isaiah 65:17](/isaiah/65-17 "Isaiah 65:17 - The New Heavens and New Earth")), where former troubles are forgotten, are made possible only through Christ's redemptive work, ushering in an era where sin's power is broken and reconciliation with God is fully realized for all who believe ([Revelation 21:1-5](/revelation/21-1 "Revelation 21:1-5 - The New Jerusalem")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 57:7

Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.

Exodus 20:5

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;

Ezekiel 20:27

¶ Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

Ezekiel 20:28

[For] when I had brought them into the land, [for] the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.

Jeremiah 13:25

This [is] thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.

Leviticus 26:39

And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.

Jeremiah 5:9

Shall I not visit for these [things]? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?