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:
Therefore the Lord said, 'These people come close to me with their words and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me. Their reverence for me is just something they learned from human teachings and traditions.'
God is pointing out that people were going through the motions of worship with their words while their hearts weren't truly connected to Him - their faith had become just empty religious routine.
📚 Historical Context
Isaiah was prophesying to the people of Judah during a time of mounting threats from the Assyrian empire, warning them of God's judgment for their spiritual complacency. The verse highlights the hypocrisy of the Israelites, who performed religious rituals and spoke words of honor to God, but their hearts were distant, influenced more by human traditions than genuine reverence. This critique was part of a broader call for true repentance amid political instability and false security.
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