Isaiah 29:13
in Isaiah 29Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw nigh unto me, and with their mouth and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which hath been taught them;
KJV
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
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This verse in Isaiah 29
Commentary
29 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Wherefore the Lord said - This verse, with the following, is designed to denounce the divine judgment on their formality of worship. They kept up the forms of religion, but they witcheld the affections of their hearts from God; and he, therefore, says that he will proceed to inflict on them exemplary and deserved punishment. This people draw near me - That is, in the temple, and in the forms of external devotion. And with their lips do honor me - They professedly celebrate my praise, and acknowledge me in the forms of devotion.
This site's exposition
These people draw near to Me
on Isaiah 29:13-14
"These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me". Jesus quotes this verse against the Pharisees at Matthew 15:8 and 9. So the LORD will "confound these people with wonder upon wonder".
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
We heard in the Gospel the voice of the Lord saying, "Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven." To whom does this word pertain? It is doubtlessly to those to whom he had said in another place: "This …
A commentator
Ambrose of MilanCommentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms 36.69 · Written before 397.
proposed
Again the form of righteousness is described and magnified when Scripture says, "The law of his God is in his heart, and his stride will not be broken." The law of God is in the heart of the righteous. Which law? It is not the written law but the natural law, because "the law was not laid down for the righteous but for the unrighteous." The law is in his heart, not superficially, as it is on the lips of the Jews, for "he who believes with his heart is justified." The one who believes also speaks, but the one who speaks does not necessarily believe. For instance, the people did not believe about whom it is written: "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
Leah, too, got children by her handmaid, from the desire of having a numerous family. Zilpah, her handmaid, is, interpreted, an open mouth. So Leah's handmaid represents those who are spoken of in Scripture as engaging in the preaching of the gospel with open mouth, but not with open heart. Thus it is written of some: "This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." To such the apostle says: "Thou that preachest that a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery?"
"My friends and my neighbours" then "drew near and stood over against me, and my neighbours stood afar off." You understand what I said. I called those neighbours who "drew nigh," and at the same time "stood afar off." For they "drew nigh" in the body, but "stood afar off" in their heart. Who were in the body so near to Him as those who lifted Him on the Cross? Who in heart so as those who blasphemed Him? Hear this sort of distance described by the Prophet Isaiah; observe this nearness and distance at one and the same time. "This people honours Me with their lips:" behold, with their body they draw near; "but their heart is far from Me." The same persons are at the same time "near" and "afar off" also: with their lips they are near, in heart afar off. However, because the Apostles also stood afar off, through fear, we understand it more simply and properly of them; so that we mean by it, that some drew near, and others stood afar off; since even Peter, who had followed more boldly than the rest, was still so far off, that being questioned and alarmed, he thrice denied the Lord, with whom he had promised to "be ready to die."
"Lo! I will not refrain my lips, O Lord, and that Thou knowest." My lips speak; I will not "refrain" them from speaking. My lips indeed sound audibly in the ears of men; but "Thou knowest" mine heart. "I will not refrain my lips, O Lord; that Thou knowest." It is one thing that man heareth; another that God "knoweth." That the "declaring" of it should not be confined to the lips alone, and that it might not be said of us, "Whatsoever things they say unto you, do; but do not after their works;" or lest it should be said to the people, "praising God with their lips, but not with their heart," "This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me;" do thou make audible confession with thy lips; draw nigh with thine heart also. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; but with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." In case like unto which that thief was found, who, hanging on the Cross with the Lord, did on the Cross acknowledge the Lord. Others had refused to acknowledge Him while working miracles; this man acknowledged Him when hanging on the Cross. That thief had every other member pierced through; his hands were fastened by the nails; his feet were pierced also; his whole body was fastened to the tree; the body was not disengaged in its other members; the heart and the tongue were disengaged; "with the heart" he "believed; with the tongue" he made "confession." "Remember me, O Lord," he said, "when Thou comest into Thy kingdom." He hoped for the coming of his salvation at a time far remote; he was content to receive it after a long delay; his hope rested on an object far remote. The day, however, was not postponed! The answer was, "This day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise."
22 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers14 voices
For the speaking in this way or in that is not the cause of the thought within us; but the hidden conception of the heart supplies the motive for such and such words; "for from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." We make the words interpret the thought; we do not by a reverse process gather the thought from the words. Should both be at hand, a man may certainly be ready in both, in clever thinking and clever expression; but if the one should be wanting, the loss to the illiterate is slight, if the knowledge in his soul is perfect in the direction of moral goodness. "This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." What is the meaning of that? That the right attitude of the soul towards the truth is more precious than the propriety of phrases in the sight of God, who hears the "groanings that cannot be uttered." Phrases can be used in opposite senses; the tongue readily serving, at his will, the intention of the speaker; but the disposition of the soul, as it is, so is it seen by Him Who sees all secrets.
According to what the prophet says, "This people honors me with their lips, though their hearts are far from me." To them the Holy Spirit exclaims, "But to the wicked person God says, 'Why do you recite my statutes and profess my covenant with your …
For God is necessary to all things, but nothing is necessary to him. Because, however, he loved everything he created, by the great grace of his kindness he deemed it worthy to invite the soul to come to him through the law, through trials of …
Indeed, you are just, O Lord, if I argue with you; however, I will speak to you about judgments. What is it that the way of the wicked prospers? It is well for all who break the law and act unjustly. You have planted them and they have taken root, they grow and bear fruit. You are near their mouths, but far from their hearts. Truly, this is a discussion of all those who act unjustly, and the meaning is summarised in the 72nd Psalm, in which the Prophet says: How good is the God of Israel to those who are upright in heart! But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners, etc. However, this is especially said against heretics, who, though they are impious, prosper in their ways; and they beget children whom they have deceived in their heresy, and they act deceitfully and unjustly, so as to rob the Church. And while they persist in their wickedness of opinion, they boast that they are planted by God, and that they have sent forth roots, and have begotten children and brought forth fruit. But although they often repeat the name of Christ, they do not have God as their dweller, according to that of Isaiah: This people honors me with their lips: but their heart is far from me. And you, Lord, you know me: you have seen me, and you have tested my heart with you. Gather them together like a flock for the sacrifice, and sanctify them on the day of slaughter. There is no scandal, it is said, that the wicked, or all heretics, flourish for a time: For you, Lord, know me, and you have seen me, and you have tested my heart with you.
But if we are impure and unfaithful, all things are profane to us, either due to heresy inhabiting our hearts or to a sinful conscience. Moreover, if our conscience does not accuse us and if we have pious trust in the Lord, "we will pray with the spirit and we will pray with the mind; we will sing with the spirit and sing with the mind," and we will be far removed from those about whom it is here written: "their minds and consciences are polluted.""They claim to know God, but they deny him with their deeds. They are accursed, disobedient and repelled by every good deed." It is about these persons whose minds and consciences are polluted, who claim to know God but deny him with their deeds, that it is said in Isaiah: "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." See how they honor God with their lips while fleeing from him in their heart; professing belief in God with words, their works deny him.
The habit of sinners is … after they have achieved the aspiration of their most wicked plans, they then give thanks to the Godhead since they have attained their wish. But they in their utter wretchedness do not realize that he originates only successful aspirations …
If the fear of God is not mingled with love, he is not sought in the heart's entirety. It is certain that it is the keenest of sins for a person to say that he confesses to him with his tongue, while his heart deep …
Though we never withdraw ourselves from the Lord since he is wholly everywhere, we nonetheless become distant when we are displaced through the nature of our deeds.
A commentator
Fulgentius of RuspeBook TO VICTOR AGAINST THE SERMON OF FASTIDIOS THE ARIAN 5:1 · Written before 533.
proposed
God cannot be separated from his creatures by time or space but only by their iniquities. Of the iniquitous, therefore, he said, "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." He also said, "I am a God who draws …
A commentator
Clement of RomeClement's First Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 15 · Written before 99.
proposed
Let us cleave, therefore, to those who cultivate peace with godliness, and not to those who hypocritically profess to desire it. For [the Scripture] saith in a certain place, "This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." [Isaiah 29:13] And again: "They bless with their mouth, but curse with their heart." [Psalm 62:4] And again it saith, "They loved Him with their mouth, and lied to Him with their tongue; but their heart was not right with Him, neither were they faithful in His covenant." [Psalm 78:36-37] "Let the deceitful lips become silent," [and "let the Lord destroy all the lying lips, ] and the boastful tongue of those who have said, Let us magnify our tongue; our lips are our own; who is lord over us? For the oppression of the poor, and for the sighing of the needy, will I now arise, saith the Lord: I will place him in safety; I will deal confidently with him." [Psalm 12:3-5]
What is this obstinacy or what is this presumption to place human tradition before the divine plan and not to notice that God is offended and angered as often as human tradition subverts and disregards the divine precepts? He cries and says through Isaiah, the prophet, "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far separated from me. In vain, moreover, they honor me, teaching the commandments and doctrines of men."
For if we, when sending children to teachers, should we see them reaping no benefit thereby, begin to be severe in blaming the teachers, and remove them often to others; what excuse shall we have for not bestowing upon virtue even so much diligence as upon these earthly things, but forever bringing our tablets home empty? And yet our teachers here are more in number and greater. For no less than prophets and apostles and patriarchs, and all righteous men, are by us set over you as teachers in every Church. And not even so is there any profit, but if you have joined in chanting two or three Psalms, and making the accustomed prayers at random and anyhow, are so dismissed, ye think this enough for your salvation. Have ye not heard the prophet, saying (or rather God by the prophet), "This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me?" Therefore, lest this be our case too, wipe thou out the letters, or rather the impressions, which the devil hath engraven in thy soul; and bring me a heart set free from worldly tumults, that without fear I may write on it what I will.
Suppose someone says, "We are Christians too; we believe in the Lord, the Savior." But it is necessary to believe in deed and not in word, not with the tongue but with the heart, lest it also be said to us, "This people honors me …
(Verse 13, 14) And the Lord said: Because this people draw near with their mouth, and with their lips glorify me, but their heart is far from me, and they fear me by the commandment of men, and teach me the precepts and doctrines of men. Therefore, behold, I will add to do wonders and great marvels among this people: for wisdom shall perish from their wise men, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.
The Medieval Church1 voice
660. And the Lord said. Here he sets out the cause of the blinding, namely, their own sins; and first, in the affections; second, in the intellect: woe to you that are deep of heart (Isa 29:15). Concerning the first, he does two things. First, …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
He that is greater than the heart, and knows all things, knows that though they draw nigh to him with their mouth, and honour him with their lips, yet they are not sincere worshippers. To worship God is to make our approaches to him, and to present our adorations of him; it is to draw nigh to him as those that have business with him, with an intention therein to honour him.
Draw near - Namely, in acts of worship. With lips - With outward devotions. But - They do not pay me that love, and fear, and obedience, which I require.
Wherefore the Lord said,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
precept of men--instead of the precepts of God, given by His prophets; also worship external, and by rule, not heartfelt as God requires (Joh 4:24). Compare Christ's quotation of this verse from the Septuagint.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
The Lord “Jehovah” - For אדני Adonai, sixty-three MSS. of Kennicott’s, and many of De Rossi’s, and four editions, read יהוה Yehovah, and five MSS. add יהוה. Kimchi makes some just observations on this verse. The vision, meaning the Divine revelation of all the prophets, is a book or letter that is sealed - is not easily understood. This is delivered to one that is learned - instructed in the law. Read this; and he saith, I cannot, for it is sealed; a full proof that he does not wish to know the contents else he would apply to the prophet to get it explained. See Kimchi on the place. And their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men “And vain is their fear of me teaching the commandments of men” - I read for ותהי vattehi, ותהו vethohu, with the Septuagint, Mat 15:9; Mar 8:7; and for מלמדה melummedah, מלמדים melummedim, with the Chaldee.
Modern Voices2 voices
The issue was never that worship, sacrifice, or religious practice were wrong. The problem was that these outward expressions had become disconnected from genuine love for God and people.
The vitality and recurrent victory of Christendom have been due to the power of the Thing to break out from time to time from its enveloping words and symbols. Without this power all civilisations tend to perish under a load of language and ritual. One …
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Because this people has come near Jonathan renders: Because this people has aggrandized itself. I.e., they have come near to raise themselves up to the heavens. They show themselves as though honoring Me with mouth and lip, but their heart they have drawn far away from Me.
2 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
And if the book is given And when they take it from him and open its seal and give it to one who does not understand the language of the letter, and they say to him, “now read this,” he will say, “I cannot read.
Therefore, I will continue I am He Who will continue to perform additional obscurity upon obscurity, concealment upon concealment, sealing upon sealing. And what is this obscurity upon obscurity? And the wisdom of their wise men shall be lost.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
19 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אֲדֹנָ֗י | ʾadonai | [the] Lord | H136 → | 440 times |
| יַ֚עַן | yaan | because | H3282 → | 99 times |
| כִּ֤י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| נִגַּשׁ֙ | nigash | it has drawn near | H5066 → | 125 times |
| הָעָ֣ם | haam | the people | H5971 → | 1873 times |
| הַזֶּ֔ה | hazeh | <the> this | H2088 → | 1180 times |
| בְּפִ֤יו | befiv | with mouth its | H6310 → | 498 times |
| וּבִשְׂפָתָיו֙ | uvisfatav | and with lips its | H8193 → | 176 times |
| כִּבְּד֔וּנִי | kibeduni | they have honored me | H3513 → | 113 times |
| וְלִבּ֖וֹ | velibo | and heart its | H3820 → | 595 times |
| רִחַ֣ק | richak | it has made far away | H7368 → | 57 times |
| מִמֶּ֑נִּי | mimeni | from me | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| וַתְּהִ֤י | vatehi | and it has been | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| יִרְאָתָם֙ | yiratam | fear their | H3374 → | 45 times |
| אֹתִ֔י | ʾoti | [of] me | H853 → | 10935 times |
| מִצְוַ֥ת | mitzvat | a commandment of | H4687 → | 181 times |
| אֲנָשִׁ֖ים | ʾanashim | people | H582 → | 566 times |
| מְלֻמָּדָֽה׃ | melumadah | [which] has been taught | H3925 → | 85 times |
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
אֲדֹנָ֗י[the] Lord
ʾadonaiH136 →440 times
יַ֚עַןbecause
yaanH3282 →99 times
כִּ֤יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
נִגַּשׁ֙it has drawn near
nigashH5066 →125 times
הָעָ֣םthe people
haamH5971 →1873 times
הַזֶּ֔ה<the> this
hazehH2088 →1180 times
בְּפִ֤יוwith mouth its
befivH6310 →498 times
וּבִשְׂפָתָיו֙and with lips its
uvisfatavH8193 →176 times
כִּבְּד֔וּנִיthey have honored me
kibeduniH3513 →113 times
וְלִבּ֖וֹand heart its
veliboH3820 →595 times
רִחַ֣קit has made far away
richakH7368 →57 times
מִמֶּ֑נִּיfrom me
mimeniH4480 →1188 times
וַתְּהִ֤יand it has been
vatehiH1961 →3559 times
יִרְאָתָם֙fear their
yiratamH3374 →45 times
אֹתִ֔י[of] me
ʾotiH853 →10935 times
מִצְוַ֥תa commandment of
mitzvatH4687 →181 times
אֲנָשִׁ֖יםpeople
ʾanashimH582 →566 times
מְלֻמָּדָֽה׃[which] has been taught
melumadahH3925 →85 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Jeremiah 12:2You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.
it leads to
- Titus 1:16
They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.
- Matthew 15:8
‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.
- Jeremiah 11:17
The LORD of Hosts, who planted you, has decreed disaster against you on account of the evil that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have brought upon themselves, provoking Me to…
- Ezekiel 33:31
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest…
- Jeremiah 45:4
Thus Jeremiah was to say to Baruch: “This is what the LORD says: Throughout the land I will demolish what I have built and uproot what I have planted.
- Titus 1:16
Through
Jeremiah 3:10Yet in spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the LORD.
it leads to
- Hosea 7:14
They do not cry out to Me from their hearts when they wail upon their beds. They slash themselves for grain and new wine, but turn away from Me.
- Jeremiah 12:2
You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.
- Psalms 78:36–37
But they deceived Him with their mouths, and lied to Him with their tongues.
- Hosea 7:14
Where this verse is studied
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About Isaiah
This page draws on 29 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Ambrose of Milan, Commentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms 36.69; Arnobius the Younger, COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 77; Augustine of Hippo, REPLY TO FAUSTUS THE MANICHAEAN 22:55; Augustine of Hippo, EXPLANATIONS OF THE PSALMS 37:17; Augustine of Hippo, EXPLANATIONS OF THE PSALMS 39:15; Caesarius of Arles, SERMON 133:4; Cassiodorus, EXPOSITION OF THE PSALMS 48:14; Cassiodorus, EXPOSITION OF THE PSALMS 77:37; Cassiodorus, EXPOSITION OF THE PSALMS 94:1; Clement of Rome, Clement's First Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 15; Cyprian, Epistle LXXIII:3; Eusebius of Gaul, HOMILY 7:1; Fulgentius of Ruspe, Book TO VICTOR AGAINST THE SERMON OF FASTIDIOS THE ARIAN 5:1; GK Chesterton, A Miscellany of Men, The Thing (1912); Gregory of Nyssa, AGAINST EUNOMIUS 1:37; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Jeremiah; Jerome, Commentary on Titus 1:15-16; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 11:9; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Maximus of Turin, SERMON 102:3; Rabbi Jason Sobel, Recovering God's Design pt. 1 (Ask the Rabbi series) and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.