Isaiah 43:23

King James Version (KJV)

Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.

Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Thou hast not brought me - As a people you have witcheld from me the sacrifices which were commanded. They had not maintained and observed his worship as he had required.

The small cattle - Margin, ‹Lambs,‘ or ‹kids.‘ The Hebrew word (שׂה s'eh ) denotes properly one of a flock - a sheep or a goat. It should have been so rendered here. These animals were used for burnt-offerings, and the Jews were required to offer them daily to God.

Of thy burnt-offerings - (Compare Exodus 29:38; Numbers 28:3). The burnt-offering was wholly consumed on the altar.

With thy sacrifices - Bloody offerings. There is little difference between this word and that rendered ‹burnt-offerings.‘ If there is any, it is that the word rendered ‹sacrifice‘ (זבח zebach ) is of wider signification, and expresses sacrifice in general; the word rendered ‹burnt-offering‘ (עלה ‛olâh ), denotes that which is consumed, or which ascends as an offering. The holocaust refers to its being burned; the sacrifice to the offering, however made.

I have not caused thee to serve with an offering - ‹I have not made a slave of thee; I have not exacted such a service as would be oppressive and intolerable - such as is imposed on a slave.‘ The word used here (עבד ‛âbad ), is often used in such a sense, and with such a reference Leviticus 25:39; ‹Thou shalt not compel him to serve the service of a bondman‘ Exodus 1:14; Jeremiah 22:13; Jeremiah 25:14; Jeremiah 30:8. The sense is, that the laws of God on the subject, were not grievous and oppressive.

With an offering - The word used here (מנחה minchāh ) denotes properly a bloodless oblation, and is thus distinguished from those mentioned before. It consisted of flour mingled with salt, oil, and incense; or of the fruits of the earth, etc. (see the notes at Isaiah 1:11; compare Leviticus 2:2; Numbers 28:5.

Nor wearied thee - By exacting incense. I have not so exacted it as to make it burdensome and wearisome to you.

With incense - (See the note at Isaiah 1:13). The word לבונה lebônâh (Greek λίβανος libanos ) denotes properly frankincense, a substance so called from its white color, from לבן lāban “to be white.” It is found in Arabia Isaiah 60:6; Jeremiah 6:20, and in Palestine Exodus 30:8; Exodus 37:29; Leviticus 16:13.