Isaiah 57:6 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?

◄ Isaiah 57:6 ►

New International Version
The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion; indeed, they are your lot. Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings and offered grain offerings. In view of all this, should I relent?

New Living Translation
Your gods are the smooth stones in the valleys. You worship them with liquid offerings and grain offerings. They, not I, are your inheritance. Do you think all this makes me happy?

English Standard Version
Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I relent for these things?

Berean Standard Bible
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?

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
Among the smooth stones of the stream Is your portion; They, they, are your lot! Even to them you have poured a drink offering, You have offered a grain offering. Should I receive comfort in these?

New American Standard Bible
“Among the smooth stones of the ravine Is your portion, they are your lot; Even to them you have poured out a drink offering, You have made a grain offering. Should I relent of these things?

NASB 1995
“Among the smooth stones of the ravine Is your portion, they are your lot; Even to them you have poured out a drink offering, You have made a grain offering. Shall I relent concerning these things?

NASB 1977
“Among the smooth stones of the ravine Is your portion, they are your lot; Even to them you have poured out a libation, You have made a grain offering. Shall I relent concerning these things?

Legacy Standard Bible
Among the smooth stones of the ravine Is your portion, they are your lot; Even to them you have poured out a drink offering; You have made a grain offering. Shall I relent concerning these things?

Amplified Bible
“Among the smooth stones of the ravine Is your portion, they (the idols) are your lot; Even to them you have poured out a drink offering, You have offered a grain offering. Should I be quiet concerning these things [leaving them unpunished—bearing them with patience]?

Christian Standard Bible
Your portion is among the smooth stones of the wadi; indeed, they are your lot. You have even poured out a drink offering to them; you have offered a grain offering; should I be satisfied with these?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Your portion is among the smooth stones of the wadi; indeed, they are your lot. You have even poured out a drink offering to them; you have offered a grain offering; should I be satisfied with these?

American Standard Version
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?

Contemporary English Version
You have chosen to worship idols made of stone; you have given them offerings of wine and grain. Should I be pleased?

English Revised Version
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?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Your idols are among the smooth stones in the ravine. They are your destiny. You have given them wine offerings and sacrificed grain offerings to them. Do you think I am pleased with all this?

Good News Translation
You take smooth stones from there and worship them as gods. You pour out wine as offerings to them and bring them grain offerings. Do you think I am pleased with all this?

International Standard Version
"Among the smooth stones of the ravines is your portion— there they are as your lot. To them you have poured out drink offerings; you have brought grain offerings. Should I be lenient over such things?

Majority Standard Bible
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?

NET Bible
Among the smooth stones of the stream are the idols you love; they, they are the object of your devotion. You pour out liquid offerings to them, you make an offering. Because of these things I will seek vengeance.

New Heart English Bible
Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they are your lot; you have even poured a drink offering to them. You have offered an offering. Shall I be appeased for these things?

Webster's Bible Translation
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?

World English Bible
Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion. They, they are your lot. You have even poured a drink offering to them. You have offered an offering. Shall I be appeased for these things?

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Your portion [is] among the smooth things of a brook, "" They [are] your lot, "" You have also poured out an oblation to them, "" You have caused a present to ascend, "" Am I comforted in these things?

Young's Literal Translation
Among the smooth things of a brook is thy portion, They -- they are thy lot, Also to them thou hast poured out an oblation, Thou hast caused a present to ascend, For these things am I comforted?

Smith's Literal Translation
In the smoothnesses of the torrent they thy portion, they thy lot; also to them thou didst pour out a libation, thou didst bring up a gift Shall I be comforted with these?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
In the parts of the torrent is thy portion, this is thy lot: and thou hast poured out libations to them, thou hast offered sacrifice. Shall I not be angry at these things?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Your portion is in the currents of the torrent; this is your lot! And you yourselves have poured out libations to them; you have offered sacrifice. Should I not be angry over these things?

New American Bible
Among the smooth stones of the wadi is your portion, they, they are your allotment; Indeed, you poured out a drink offering to them, and brought up grain offerings. With these things, should I be appeased?

New Revised Standard Version
Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I be appeased for these things?

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Your portion and your heritage is in the parts of the valleys; even upon them you have poured a drink offering, you have offered meal offerings. Should I receive comfort in these things?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Your portion and your inheritance is with the part of the valleys, also upon them you poured out drink offerings and you sacrificed gifts. Shall I be comforted for these things?

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
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 a meal-offering. Should I pacify Myself for these things?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
That is thy portion, this is thy lot: and to them hast thou poured forth drink-offerings, and to these hast thou offered meat-offerings. Shall I not therefore be angry for these things?

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

God Condemns Idolatry
…5who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? 6Your 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? 7On a high and lofty hill you have made your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifices.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Jeremiah 3:9
Indifferent to her own infidelity, Israel had defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.

Ezekiel 16:15-22
But because of your fame, you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot. You lavished your favors on everyone who passed by, and your beauty was theirs for the asking. / You took some of your garments and made colorful high places for yourself, and on them you prostituted yourself. Such things should not have happened; never should they have occurred! / You also took the fine jewelry of gold and silver I had given you, and you made male idols with which to prostitute yourself. ...

Hosea 4:12-14
My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God. / They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery. / I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.

2 Kings 23:10
He also desecrated Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so that no one could sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire to Molech.

Psalm 106:37-38
They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. / They shed innocent blood—the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.

1 Corinthians 10:20-21
No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. / You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.

Deuteronomy 32:17
They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they had not known, to newly arrived gods, which your fathers did not fear.

Leviticus 17:7
They must no longer offer their sacrifices to the goat demons to which they have prostituted themselves. This will be a permanent statute for them for the generations to come.’

2 Chronicles 28:3
Moreover, Ahaz burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

2 Kings 17:17
They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

Ezekiel 20:28-29
When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, presented offerings that provoked Me, sent up their fragrant incense, and poured out their drink offerings. / So I asked them: ‘What is this high place to which you go?’ (And to this day it is called Bamah.)

1 Kings 14:23
They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

Jeremiah 7:31
They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind.

2 Kings 21:6
He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

2 Kings 16:3
Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

Treasury of Scripture

Among the smooth stones of the stream is your portion; they, they are your lot: even to them have you poured a drink offering, you have offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?

the smooth

Jeremiah 3:9
And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.

Habakkuk 2:19
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.

to them

Isaiah 65:11
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.

Deuteronomy 32:37,38
And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted, …

Jeremiah 7:18
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.

should

Isaiah 66:3
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.

Ezekiel 20:39
As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.

Jump to Previous

Appeased Ascend Brook Caused Cereal Comfort Comforted Drink Drink-Offering Grain Heritage Idols Lot Meal Meal-Offering Meat Meat-Offering Oblation Offered Offering Overlooked Pacify Portion Possible Poured Present Ravine Ravines Receive Relent Smooth Stones Stream Torrent Valley

Jump to Next

Isaiah 57

1. The blessed death of the righteous
3. God reproves the People for their idolatry
13. He gives promises of mercy to the penitent

Berean Study Bible

Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley
The phrase "smooth stones of the valley" refers to the practice of idolatry prevalent among the Israelites during Isaiah's time. The Hebrew word for "smooth stones" is "חַלָּק" (chalak), which can also mean "slippery" or "deceptive." This imagery suggests the allure and deceit of idol worship, which was often conducted in secluded valleys. Historically, these valleys were sites of pagan rituals, where stones were venerated as deities. The "portion" indicates a chosen inheritance or destiny, implying that the people have chosen idolatry over their covenant with God.

indeed, they are your lot
The term "lot" (Hebrew: "גּוֹרָל" - goral) signifies a destiny or fate, often determined by casting lots. In a spiritual sense, it reflects the consequences of the Israelites' choices. By aligning themselves with idols, they have determined their own spiritual inheritance, which is separation from God. This serves as a warning about the dangers of forsaking divine guidance for worldly or false securities.

Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings
"Drink offerings" (Hebrew: "נֶסֶךְ" - nesek) were libations poured out as part of worship rituals. In the context of idol worship, these offerings were made to false gods, signifying devotion and allegiance. The act of pouring out drink offerings to idols highlights the misplaced worship and the spiritual adultery of the people. It underscores the gravity of their actions, as they have diverted what belongs to God to lifeless idols.

and offered grain offerings
"Grain offerings" (Hebrew: "מִנְחָה" - minchah) were typically offerings of flour or grain, symbolizing the fruits of one's labor and thanksgiving to God. Offering these to idols represents a profound betrayal of the covenant relationship with Yahweh. Historically, such offerings were integral to Israelite worship, meant to honor God and acknowledge His provision. By offering them to idols, the people have not only violated the first commandment but have also shown ingratitude for God's blessings.

Should I relent because of these?
This rhetorical question from God challenges the people to consider the seriousness of their actions. The Hebrew word for "relent" (נָחַם - nacham) can mean to comfort or to change one's mind. Here, it implies divine judgment and the impossibility of God overlooking their idolatry. It serves as a call to repentance, emphasizing that God's patience has limits when faced with persistent unfaithfulness. The question invites reflection on the nature of true worship and the consequences of turning away from God.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) Among the smooth stones . . .--The worship of stones was almost as widely diffused as that of trees and serpents. In Genesis 28:18 we have, at least, an analogous practice, which might easily become identical. Among the Ph?nicians such stones were known as B?tulia (probably a Grecised form of Bethel), and were connected with the worship of the reproductive powers of nature. As the true portion of Israel was emphatically Jehovah (Jeremiah 10:16; Psalm 16:5) there is an indignant irony in the word thus used. The idolaters had chosen a fetish instead of the Eternal One. In thy portion, we have the feminine singular, designating Israel as the faithless wife.

Should I receive comfort in these?--i.e., better, Should I be quiet in spite of all this? (Comp. Jeremiah 5:7.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion. Smooth stones, rounded by water-action, were among the objects worshipped by many Semitic peoples. Such stones were called βαίτυλοι or βαιτύλια - Bethels, or "houses of God " - and received libations of oil and wine from their worshippers (see Genesis 28:18; and comp. Herod., 3:8; Arnob., 'Adv. Gentes,' 1:39; Lucian, 'Pseudomant.,' p. 30; Apul., p. 349; etc.). Stones of this kind, the prophet says, had now become "the portion" of Israel, instead of Jehovah (Psalm 119:57; comp. Psalm 16:5). To such objects they offered their "meat offerings" and "drink offerings." Should I receive comfort in these? Can I, Jehovah, be comforted, when my people indulge in such practices?

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Among the smooth [stones]
בְּחַלְּקֵי־ (bə·ḥal·lə·qê-)
Preposition-b | Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2511: Smooth

of the valley
נַ֣חַל (na·ḥal)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5158: A stream, a winter torrent, a, valley, a shaft

[is] your portion;
חֶלְקֵ֔ךְ (ḥel·qêḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 2506: Portion, tract, territory

indeed, they
הֵ֥ם (hêm)
Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

are your lot.
גּוֹרָלֵ֑ךְ (gō·w·rā·lêḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 1486: Lot -- a lot (for casting)

Even
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

to them you have
לָהֶ֞ם (lā·hem)
Preposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

poured out
שָׁפַ֥כְתְּ (šā·p̄aḵt)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 8210: To spill forth, to expend, to sprawl out

a drink offering,
נֶ֙סֶךְ֙ (ne·seḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5262: A libation, a cast idol

you have offered
הֶעֱלִ֣ית (he·‘ĕ·lîṯ)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

a grain offering.
מִנְחָ֔ה (min·ḥāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4503: A donation, tribute, a sacrificial offering

Should I relent
אֶנָּחֵֽם׃ (’en·nā·ḥêm)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5162: To sigh, breathe strongly, to be sorry, to pity, console, rue, to avenge

because of
הַ֥עַל (ha·‘al)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

these?
אֵ֖לֶּה (’êl·leh)
Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

Links

Isaiah 57:6 NIV
Isaiah 57:6 NLT
Isaiah 57:6 ESV
Isaiah 57:6 NASB
Isaiah 57:6 KJV

Isaiah 57:6 BibleApps.com
Isaiah 57:6 Biblia Paralela
Isaiah 57:6 Chinese Bible
Isaiah 57:6 French Bible
Isaiah 57:6 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Isaiah 57:6 Among the smooth stones of the valley (Isa Isi Is)