Jeremiah 6:20

KJV

To 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

To what purpose cometh {H935} there to me incense {H3828} from Sheba {H7614}, and the sweet {H2896} cane {H7070} from a far {H4801} country {H776}? your burnt offerings {H5930} are not acceptable {H7522}, nor your sacrifices {H2077} sweet {H6149} unto me.

Complete Jewish Bible

What do I care about incense from Sh'va or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are unacceptable, your sacrifices don't please me."

Berean Standard Bible

What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please Me.”

American Standard Version

To what purpose cometh there to me frankincense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing unto me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 6:20 delivers a scathing divine indictment against the people of Judah, revealing God's absolute rejection of their elaborate and costly religious rituals. Despite importing precious incense from Sheba and sweet cane from distant lands for their burnt offerings and sacrifices, these acts of worship were deemed utterly unacceptable and displeasing to the Lord. The verse powerfully underscores the futility of outward religious performance when the hearts and lives of the worshippers are steeped in disobedience, injustice, and spiritual corruption, emphasizing that God values genuine righteousness and sincere devotion over mere ceremonial observance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 6:20 is situated within a broader section (chapters 6-10) where the prophet Jeremiah intensifies his warnings of impending judgment against Judah. Chapter 6 specifically portrays Jerusalem as a city under siege, facing the dire consequences of its persistent rebellion and spiritual apathy. Verses immediately preceding 6:20 describe the people's obstinate refusal to heed God's warnings, their widespread moral decay, and their dangerous, false sense of security rooted in superficial religious practices. This verse serves as a direct and piercing challenge to their hypocritical worship, highlighting the profound chasm between their external piety and their internal corruption. It meticulously sets the stage for further pronouncements of judgment and fervent calls for true repentance, which, tragically, the people consistently reject.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah prophesied during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of Josiah, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah (late 7th to early 6th century BC). Despite King Josiah's earlier reforms, the nation had largely reverted to widespread idolatry, pervasive social injustice, and a superficial, formalistic adherence to the Mosaic Law. The temple cult continued, with offerings and sacrifices being performed, often accompanied by valuable imports. Sheba, located in modern-day Yemen/Ethiopia, was renowned for its frankincense, myrrh, and gold, making its incense a luxury item, indicative of significant expense. "Sweet cane" (likely calamus) was another expensive aromatic ingredient, specifically prescribed for use in the holy anointing oil, as detailed in [Exodus 30:23](/exodus/30-23 "Exodus 30:23 - Ingredients for Holy Anointing Oil"). The people mistakenly believed that by offering such costly and ritually prescribed items, they were fulfilling their religious duties and thereby ensuring God's favor, even while their daily lives flagrantly contradicted the covenant. Jeremiah profoundly exposes this deep disconnect, revealing that God was not impressed by the material value or ritual precision of their offerings but by the spiritual state of their hearts.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 6:20 powerfully articulates several core themes prevalent throughout the prophetic books and the book of Jeremiah itself. First, it highlights the **rejection of hypocritical worship**, asserting unequivocally that God finds no delight in religious rituals performed without genuine devotion and obedience. This theme is consistently echoed by other prophets who vehemently emphasize that external acts of piety are meaningless if the heart is far from God and if justice and righteousness are neglected, as seen in passages like [Isaiah 1:11-17](/isaiah/1-11-17 "Isaiah 1:11-17 - God's Weariness with Empty Rituals") and [Amos 5:21-24](/amos/5-21-24 "Amos 5:21-24 - God Desires Justice, Not Just Rituals"). Second, the verse underscores the **supremacy of obedience over ritual**. God's primary demand is for covenant faithfulness, which manifests in righteous living and social justice, not merely ceremonial adherence. This foundational principle is famously articulated in [1 Samuel 15:22](/1_samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience is Better than Sacrifice"). Finally, the passage emphasizes the **importance of the heart in worship**. It profoundly reveals that God looks beyond outward appearances to the inner condition of the worshipper, making the sincerity and integrity of one's life the true measure of acceptable worship.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Incense (Hebrew, _lᵉbôwnâh'_):** (H3828) Refers to frankincense, likely named for its whiteness or the color of its smoke. In the Old Testament, frankincense was a component of the holy incense for the tabernacle/temple and was offered with grain offerings. Its presence here signifies a costly and ritually prescribed offering, yet God questions its "purpose," indicating its utter futility in the absence of genuine devotion.
* **Sweet (Hebrew, _ṭôwb'_):** (H2896) Meaning "good" in the widest sense, encompassing pleasant, beautiful, or excellent. Applied to the "cane," it refers to its aromatic quality. However, when God uses it in the second part of the verse ("nor your sacrifices sweet unto me"), the parallel Hebrew word is different (`ʻârêb`). The use of `ṭôwb` for the cane highlights its inherent pleasantness, contrasting sharply with God's declaration that the *sacrifices themselves* are not pleasing.
* **Burnt Offerings (Hebrew, _ʻôlâh'_):** (H5930) Literally meaning "that which goes up," referring to a holocaust, where the entire animal was consumed by fire on the altar, ascending as smoke to God. This was a primary form of sacrifice for atonement and devotion. The rejection of these 'ascending' offerings signifies God's complete refusal to accept their attempts at appeasement or worship due to their unrighteousness.
* **Acceptable (Hebrew, _râtsôwn'_):** (H7522) Meaning delight, favor, or pleasure. When God states their offerings are "not acceptable," it means they bring Him no delight or satisfaction whatsoever. This word captures the essence of God's desired response to true worship – a sense of pleasure and approval – which is entirely absent in this context.
* **Sweet (Hebrew, _ʻârêb'_):** (H6149) A primitive root meaning "to be agreeable" or "pleasant." This word is used specifically in the context of the sacrifices being "not sweet" to God. It reinforces the idea that despite the pleasant aroma of the physical offerings, the spiritual "aroma" of their worship was repugnant to God because of their sin, directly contrasting with the "sweet cane" they brought.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country?":** This opening rhetorical question immediately challenges the very premise of their worship. God is not asking for information but expressing His profound disillusionment, exasperation, and ultimate rejection. He highlights the expensive and exotic nature of their offerings—incense (frankincense) from Sheba, a distant and wealthy land renowned for its aromatics, and "sweet cane" (calamus), another costly aromatic used in sacred oil. The question powerfully implies that these external acts, no matter how costly or ritually correct, are utterly meaningless and futile in His sight when the heart of the worshipper is estranged from Him through disobedience and injustice.
* **"your burnt offerings [are] not acceptable":** This clause delivers a direct and unequivocal declaration of rejection. "Burnt offerings" (`ʻôlâh`) were a fundamental part of Israelite worship, symbolizing complete dedication and atonement. Yet, God states they are "not acceptable" (`râtsôwn`), meaning they bring Him no delight, favor, or pleasure. This is a severe indictment, indicating that the very acts meant to secure divine favor are instead met with divine displeasure due to the people's unrighteous lives and unrepentant hearts, rendering their most significant sacrifices null and void.
* **"nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.":** This final clause reinforces the previous rejection with a powerful sensory image. "Sacrifices" (`zebach`) refers to various types of offerings, including peace offerings. The word "sweet" (`ʻârêb`) here means pleasing or agreeable. Despite the pleasant physical aroma of burning incense and offerings, God declares that the spiritual essence of their sacrifices is not pleasing to Him. The double negative ("not acceptable, nor sweet") emphasizes the totality of God's rejection, highlighting that their worship, though outwardly impressive and costly, was spiritually repugnant because it was divorced from true obedience, genuine love for God, and a righteous lifestyle.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 6:20 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message with striking impact. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question** ("To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba...?"), which is not meant to elicit an answer but to express God's profound exasperation, disillusionment, and the utter futility of their actions. This device immediately draws the listener into the divine perspective, forcing them to confront the inherent emptiness of their formalistic worship. **Irony** is also heavily present; the very items meant to be pleasing—the "sweet cane" and fragrant "incense"—are juxtaposed with God's declaration that their offerings are "not acceptable" and "not sweet" to Him. The pleasant physical aroma contrasts sharply and tragically with the foul spiritual stench of their hypocrisy and sin. Furthermore, the verse uses **Metaphor** and **Symbolism**, where the incense, sweet cane, burnt offerings, and sacrifices symbolize the people's attempts at worship and appeasement. God's rejection of these symbols powerfully underscores His rejection of the heart and life behind them. Finally, the use of **Parallelism** in the latter part of the verse ("your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me") reinforces the message of comprehensive rejection through repetition and slight variation, emphasizing the full and unreserved nature of God's displeasure with their formalistic and insincere worship.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 6:20 profoundly articulates a consistent biblical truth: God's ultimate desire is for a people whose hearts are genuinely devoted to Him, expressed through lives of righteousness, justice, and obedience, rather than mere external religious performance. This passage dismantles the illusion that ritualistic adherence or costly offerings can compensate for a lack of genuine faith and moral integrity. It reveals that God is not swayed by outward show but looks deeply into the heart, discerning the true motives and spiritual condition of His worshippers. This principle challenges any notion of earning divine favor through works or ceremonies, instead pointing to the necessity of a transformed life that aligns with God's character and covenant demands. The verse underscores the holiness of God, who cannot be appeased by superficial acts when His people are actively engaged in sin and injustice.

* [1 Samuel 15:22](/1_samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience is Better Than Sacrifice")
* [Hosea 6:6](/hosea/6-6 "Hosea 6:6 - God Desires Mercy, Not Sacrifice")
* [Isaiah 1:11-17](/isaiah/1-11-17 "Isaiah 1:11-17 - God's Weariness with Empty Rituals")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 6:20 serves as a timeless and convicting mirror for believers across all generations. It compels us to critically examine the sincerity and authenticity of our own worship and religious practices. In an age where external religiosity can easily overshadow internal transformation, this verse reminds us that attending services, participating in rituals, or giving offerings, no matter how grand or costly, hold no value in God's eyes if our hearts are not truly yielded to Him and our lives do not reflect His righteousness. It challenges us to move beyond mere duty or tradition, urging us to cultivate a genuine, heartfelt relationship with God that manifests in ethical living, love for our neighbor, and a commitment to justice. True worship is not confined to sacred spaces or specific times but permeates every aspect of our daily existence, transforming our character and actions to align with God's will.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be prioritizing outward religious performance over genuine heart transformation and obedience to God's commands?**
* **How does my daily life—my interactions, my ethics, my priorities—reflect the sincerity of my worship, or does it reveal a disconnect?**
* **Am I seeking to impress God with my religious activities, or am I truly seeking to honor Him with a life of integrity and love?**
* **What practical steps can I take to ensure that my worship is "sweet" and "acceptable" to God, flowing from a heart fully devoted to Him?**

### FAQ
**Why did God reject their offerings if they were following the Law by bringing them?**

Answer: God rejected their offerings not because the offerings themselves were inherently wrong or contrary to the Law, but because the hearts and lives of the people bringing them were corrupt and disobedient to God's covenant. While they performed the rituals of the Law, their society was rife with injustice, idolatry, and moral decay. God's rejection was a profound statement that He values the spiritual condition of the worshipper—their obedience, righteousness, and genuine faith—far more than the mere outward act of sacrifice. The prophets consistently taught that true worship involves a transformed heart and a life lived in accordance with God's will, as seen in passages like [1 Samuel 15:22](/1_samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience is Better Than Sacrifice") and [Isaiah 1:11-17](/isaiah/1-11-17 "Isaiah 1:11-17 - God's Rejection of Empty Rituals").

**What is "sweet cane" and why is it mentioned?**

Answer: "Sweet cane" (Hebrew: `qâneh` H7070) most likely refers to calamus, an aromatic reed or grass. It was an expensive and imported spice, notably listed as an ingredient in the holy anointing oil in [Exodus 30:23](/exodus/30-23 "Exodus 30:23 - Ingredients for Holy Anointing Oil"). Its mention here, alongside incense from Sheba, highlights the costly and exotic nature of the offerings the people were bringing. The irony is that while the physical substances were inherently "sweet" and valuable, God declares their sacrifices were not "sweet" to Him, emphasizing the spiritual repugnance of their worship due to their sin.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 6:20 finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ. The Old Testament sacrifices, including burnt offerings and incense, were ultimately shadows pointing to the perfect and singular sacrifice of Jesus. The very problem Jeremiah highlights—the inability of external rituals to atone for sin or make worship truly acceptable when the heart is unrighteous—is precisely what Christ addresses. Through His sinless life and His atoning death on the cross, Jesus became the ultimate and fully acceptable [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), whose one sacrifice forever cleanses us from sin and makes us righteous before God ([Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11-14 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")). Therefore, our worship is no longer dependent on costly external offerings or the physical aroma of incense, but on our spiritual union with Christ. As believers, we are called to offer ourselves as "living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship" ([Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Romans 12:1 - Living Sacrifices")). True worship under the New Covenant is not about what we bring to God from a "far country," but about worshipping Him "in spirit and truth" ([John 4:23-24](/john/4-23-24 "John 4:23-24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth")), empowered by the Holy Spirit, with hearts transformed by Christ's grace ([Philippians 3:3](/philippians/3-3 "Philippians 3:3 - Worship by the Spirit of God")). Jesus Himself is the "sweet aroma" that ascends to God, and through Him, our lives of obedience and faith become a pleasing offering to the Father ([Ephesians 5:2](/ephesians/5-2 "Ephesians 5:2 - Christ's Sacrificial Love")).

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 1:11

To 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.

Psalms 40:6

¶ Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

Micah 6:6

¶ Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, [and] bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

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?

Amos 5:21

¶ I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.

Amos 5:22

Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept [them]: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.

Isaiah 60:6

The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.