Jeremiah 6:20
18 Therefore hear, O nations, and learn, O congregations, what will happen to them.
19 Hear, O earth! I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their own schemes, because they have paid no attention to My word and have rejected My instruction.
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.”
21 Therefore this is what the LORD says: “I will lay stumbling blocks before this people; fathers and sons alike will be staggered; friends and neighbors will perish.”
22 This is what the LORD says: “Behold, an army is coming from the land of the north; a great nation is stirred up from the ends of the earth.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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.”
- 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.
- WEB
- To what purpose does frankincense from Sheba come to me, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, and your sacrifices are not pleasing to me.”
- ASV
- 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.
- DARBY
- To what purpose should there come to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, nor are your sacrifices pleasing unto me.
- BLB
- For what [is] this to Me, the frankincense [that] comes from Sheba and the sweet cane from a land far away? Your⁺ burnt offerings are not acceptable, and your⁺ sacrifices are not sweet to Me.”
- ÅB
- Hva skal jeg med virak fra Sjeba og med den beste kalmus fra et fjernt land? Deres brennoffer er ikke til velbehag for meg, og deres slaktoffer vil jeg ikke ha.
- OTB
- Hva bryr jeg meg om røkelse fra Saba eller søt stokk fra et fjernt land? Deres brennoffer er ikke akseptable; deres ofre behager meg ikke.
- B1930
- Hvad skal jeg med virak fra Sjeba og med den beste kalmus fra et fjernt land? Eders brennoffer er ikke til velbehag for mig, og eders slaktoffer vil jeg ikke ha.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 1:11
“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
Read in contextAmos 5:21–22
“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies.
Read in contextMicah 6:6–8
With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?
Read in contextPsalms 40:6
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but my ears You have opened. Burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require.
Read in contextPsalms 50:7–13
“Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God.
Read in contextJeremiah 7:21–23
This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves!
Read in contextIsaiah 43:23–24
You have not brought Me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, nor wearied you with frankincense.
Read in contextIsaiah 60:6
Caravans of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah, and all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
Read in context