What does Isaiah 57:6 mean?
"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?" - Isaiah 57:6
Isaiah 57:6 from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible reads, "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?" This verse is part of a larger passage in which the prophet Isaiah addresses the sinful actions and attitudes of the Israelites, condemning their idolatry and immorality. In order to fully understand the meaning and significance of Isaiah 57:6, it is important to consider the broader context of the passage in which it is found, as well as the historical and cultural background of the Israelite people at the time.
The book of Isaiah is a prophetic book in the Old Testament, attributed to the prophet Isaiah who lived in the 8th century BC. The overall message of the book is one of warning, judgment, and ultimately hope for the people of Israel. In this particular passage, Isaiah is addressing the people's unfaithfulness to God and their reliance on false gods and idols.
In Isaiah 57:6, the prophet uses the metaphor of smooth stones in a stream to depict the people's spiritual adultery. The Israelites are described as finding their portion and lot among these smooth stones, which likely represents the pagan idols and false gods they have turned to for fulfillment and security. The act of pouring out drink and meat offerings to these stones demonstrates the extent of their idolatry and the lengths to which they have gone to seek the favor of these false deities. However, the rhetorical question posed at the end of the verse, "Should I receive comfort in these?" conveys God's displeasure and disapproval of their actions.
The symbolism in this verse is rich and multi-layered. The smooth stones in the stream can be interpreted as the fleeting and shifting nature of the idols and false gods that the Israelites have turned to. These idols are as temporary and insubstantial as the stones in a stream, and yet the people have placed their trust and devotion in them. The act of pouring out drink and meat offerings to these stones represents the people's futile attempts to appease and gain favor from these lifeless objects, rather than turning to the one true God.
The broader theme of idolatry and unfaithfulness to God is central to the message of Isaiah 57:6. The prophet's words serve as a poignant reminder of the dangers of placing our trust and devotion in anything other than God himself. The Israelites' actions serve as a cautionary tale, demonstrating the consequences of turning away from the true source of life and security.
In a broader sense, Isaiah 57:6 speaks to the universal human tendency to seek fulfillment and meaning in things that ultimately cannot satisfy or save us. It serves as a reminder to examine our own lives and consider where we have placed our trust and devotion. Are we, like the Israelites, seeking comfort and fulfillment in "smooth stones of the stream," rather than in the God who created us and offers us true and lasting satisfaction?
Ultimately, Isaiah 57:6 points to the need for repentance and a return to God. The verse serves as a call to examine our own hearts and turn away from the false idols and sources of security that we have turned to, and instead to seek our portion and lot in the one who alone can satisfy our deepest longings.
In conclusion, Isaiah 57:6 from the King James Version of the Bible speaks to the timeless themes of idolatry, unfaithfulness, and the true source of fulfillment and security. Through the rich symbolism and powerful imagery of smooth stones in a stream, the verse conveys a stark warning and a call to repentance for all who have turned from the one true God. It is a sobering reminder of the consequences of seeking comfort and fulfillment in anything other than the Lord himself.
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Isaiah 57:6 - "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 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?" - Isaiah 57:6
Isaiah 57:1-2
Isaiah 57:21 - "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."
Isaiah 57:12 - "I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee."
Isaiah 57:3 - "¶ But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore."
Isaiah 57:20 - "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt."
"There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." - Isaiah 57:21
Isaiah 57:2 - "He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness."
Isaiah 57:5 - "Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?"
Isaiah 57:19 - "I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him."
Isaiah 57:14 - "And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people."
Isaiah 57:17 - "For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart."
Isaiah 57:7 - "Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice."
Isaiah 57:20-21 - "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked."
Isaiah 57:16 - "For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made."
Isaiah 57:1 - "The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come."
Isaiah 57:18 - "I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners."
Isaiah 57:9 - "And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell."
Isaiah 57:10 - "Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved."
John 6:57 - "As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me."
Isaiah 57:4 - "Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,"
"I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee." - Isaiah 57:12
"¶ But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore." - Isaiah 57:3
1 Chronicles 6:57 - "And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs,"
Isaiah 57:11 - "And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?"
Psalms 57:6 - "They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah."
Isaiah 57:15 - "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
Isaiah 57:1-2 - "The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous are taken away from calamity, they enter into peace; those who walk uprightly will rest on their beds."
Isaiah 57:18-19 - "I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the LORD. “And I will heal them.”"