What does it mean that killing an ox is like killing a man here?

The verse is not saying that every sacrifice of an ox is the same as murder. It is saying that when people offer sacrifices while their hearts are far from God, he views those acts as hateful, like terrible sins he clearly forbids. The people thought their rituals made them holy, but they refused to repent or listen to God. So even things he once commanded, like animal sacrifices, become as offensive to him as killing a person when they are done without faith, obedience, or respect for his word.

Why are sacrifices compared to a dog’s neck, swine’s blood, and blessing an idol?

These pictures show how disgusting false worship is to God. Dogs and pigs were unclean animals, and blessing an idol means praising a false god. When people offer lambs, grain offerings, and incense while they choose their own ways and delight in what God calls abominations, he says their worship is no better than pagan sacrifices. On the outside it looks like true religion, but inside it is rebellion. The point is that God cares more about a humble, repentant heart than about outward religious acts.

What does it mean that God will choose their delusions and bring their fears on them?

This is a hard but clear warning. The people have already chosen their own ways and loved their abominations. God has called to them, but they would not answer. He spoke, but they refused to hear and kept doing evil in front of him. So he says he will "choose their delusions," meaning he will give them over to the path they insisted on and let the very fears they dreaded come upon them. Their false hopes will fail, and their chosen sins will lead to the judgment they tried to ignore.

Who are those that tremble at God’s word and are cast out by their brethren?

These are the people who take God’s word seriously, who are humble and shaken by what he says, and who want to honor his name. In this passage, others who claim to be their brothers hate them and cast them out for God’s name’s sake. They even use religious language, saying, "Let the LORD be glorified," while mistreating those who truly fear God. God speaks comfort to the ones who tremble at his word, promising that he will appear to their joy and that the hypocrites who rejected them will be put to shame.

What is the voice from the city and temple that renders recompense to God’s enemies?

The “voice of noise from the city” and “from the temple” is described as the voice of the Lord repaying his enemies. Those enemies would not listen when he spoke gently through his prophets and his word, so now they will hear a different kind of voice, one of judgment. The language hints at trouble, fire, and slaughter, a serious payback for hardened rebellion. It shows that God does not ignore evil forever. He will act from the very place associated with his presence to set things right and to answer the wrongs done to his faithful people.

What does it mean that Zion gives birth before she travails and without pain?

The picture of a woman giving birth before labor pains is meant to show how sudden and surprising God’s work will be. Usually, childbirth comes with long pain, but here the child arrives quickly and unexpectedly. Zion represents God’s people, and the “male child” and later “children” point to a sudden increase and restoration. This can be seen in how quickly people were gathered in when the good news was preached, and it points to God’s power to grow his church and restore his people in ways that go beyond what anyone expected or thought possible.

How can a nation be born in one day, and what nation is this talking about?

The questions about the earth bringing forth in one day and a nation being born at once show how unusual this work of God is. Humanly speaking, it seems impossible. Here, the nation is linked with Zion’s children, a picture of God’s people being gathered and renewed. Many see this in the rapid spread of faith when large numbers believed in a short time, and in the promised future turning of many from Israel. The main point is that God can raise up a whole people for himself very quickly when he chooses to act.

What does God mean when he asks if he will bring to birth and not cause to bring forth?

God is using a comforting picture. Just as he rules over a woman’s labor and delivery, he rules over the birth of his people as a renewed community. He asks if he would bring a pregnancy to the point of birth and then stop it, or open the womb and then shut it. The answer is no. If he has started this work in Zion, he will finish it. This is meant to assure those who tremble at his word that his plans for his church and for their restoration will not fail halfway through.

How does this passage speak to people who feel rejected for following God today?

The passage shows that being hated or cast out "for my name’s sake" is not new. Those who truly tremble at God’s word were pushed away by people who still used religious words and claimed to honor the Lord. God speaks directly to the rejected ones and promises that he will appear for their joy and that those who mocked them will be ashamed. This can comfort anyone today who faces scorn or exclusion for trusting Christ. It reminds them that God sees, that false religion will not have the last word, and that he will vindicate his own.

Isa.66.3

Isaiah 66:3

KJV GOD

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.

Heaven Is My Throne

Heaven Is God’s Throne

Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Hypocrisy Rebuked

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.

I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

¶ Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his enemies.

Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.

Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.

Joy in Jerusalem’s Future

Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:

That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.

For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.

As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.