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Isaiah 57:6

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Among the smooth [stones] of the stream [is] thy portion; they, they [are] thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?

Among the smooth {H2511} stones of the stream {H5158} is thy portion {H2506}; they, they are thy lot {H1486}: even to them hast thou poured {H8210} a drink offering {H5262}, thou hast offered {H5927} a meat offering {H4503}. Should I receive comfort {H5162} in these?

Your place is among the smooth stones in the vadi; these, these are what you deserve; you pour out drink offerings to them, you offer grain offerings to them. Should I calmly ignore these things?

Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley; indeed, they are your lot. Even to them you have poured out a drink offering and offered a grain offering. Should I relent because of these?

Among the smooth stones of the valley is thy portion; they, they are thy lot; even to them hast thou poured a drink-offering, thou hast offered an oblation. Shall I be appeased for these things?

Commentary

Context of Isaiah 57:6

Isaiah chapter 57 continues the prophet's strong condemnation of Judah's spiritual corruption and idolatry, a pervasive issue during his ministry, likely in the pre-exilic period. The preceding verses lament the passing of the righteous, while the wicked persist in their ungodly ways. Verse 6 specifically targets the people's deep-seated devotion to pagan practices. The imagery of "smooth stones of the stream" refers to objects of idolatrous worship, often found by rivers or in natural settings, smoothed by water, which were then venerated or believed to house deities. This verse highlights the extent to which the people had abandoned the true God, choosing these false gods as their "portion" or inheritance, and even offering them sacrifices.

Key Themes in Isaiah 57:6

  • Pervasive Idolatry: The verse vividly portrays the nation's spiritual unfaithfulness, showing how they chose inanimate objects or pagan deities as their primary source of security and devotion. The act of pouring a "drink offering" and providing a "meat offering" (grain offering) to these "smooth stones" underscores a complete misdirection of worship and sacrifice away from the Lord.
  • Divine Displeasure and Rejection: The rhetorical question, "Should I receive comfort in these?", powerfully conveys God's utter rejection and disgust with their actions. It signifies that such blatant idolatry is an affront to His holiness and cannot possibly bring Him pleasure or allow Him to offer comfort to those engaged in it. Instead, it implies divine judgment for their spiritual rebellion.
  • False Security and Misplaced Trust: The people sought solace, protection, or prosperity from these idols, believing they would provide true comfort. However, the verse implicitly critiques this misplaced trust, emphasizing that these objects are powerless and cannot offer genuine help or salvation. Their chosen "portion" is ultimately empty and futile, a stark contrast to the fountain of living waters that God alone provides.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "smooth [stones] of the stream" (Hebrew: חַלְּקֵי-נַחַל, ḥalləqê-naḥal) evokes a tangible image of river stones, which were often considered sacred in various ancient pagan religions, used in rituals, or believed to embody spirits. The "drink offering" (נֶסֶךְ, neseḵ) and "meat offering" (מִנְחָה, minḥâ), more accurately translated as a grain or meal offering, were specific types of sacrifices prescribed in the Mosaic Law for the worship of Yahweh (Leviticus 2:1; Numbers 28:7). The fact that the people were offering these sacred sacrifices to idols highlights the severity of their spiritual perversion and their profound departure from the covenant with God.

Practical Application

Isaiah 57:6 serves as a timeless warning against idolatry. While modern forms of idolatry may not involve literal "smooth stones," the principle remains: anything that takes the place of God in our hearts, demanding our ultimate devotion, trust, and resources, becomes an idol. This could be wealth, career, possessions, relationships, power, or even self-reliance. The verse challenges us to examine what our "portion" truly is and to whom we are pouring out our "offerings" (our time, energy, and deepest affections). God desires our exclusive devotion and cannot find comfort or approval in our divided loyalties. Our true comfort and security are found only in Him, not in the fleeting promises of the world or anything we elevate above Him, reminding us of the first commandment to have no other gods.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 3:9 (5 votes)

    And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.

  • Jeremiah 7:18 (4 votes)

    The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead [their] dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.

  • Habakkuk 2:19 (3 votes)

    Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it [is] laid over with gold and silver, and [there is] no breath at all in the midst of it.

  • Isaiah 66:3 (2 votes)

    He that killeth an ox [is as if] he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, [as if] he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, [as if he offered] swine's blood; he that burneth incense, [as if] he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

  • Jeremiah 5:29 (2 votes)

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

  • Jeremiah 19:13 (2 votes)

    And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.

  • Isaiah 65:11 (2 votes)

    ¶ But ye [are] they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.