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Kretzmann's Popular Commentary

Jeremiah 6:20

To what purpose cometh there to Me incense from Sheba, that from the coasts and islands of Southern Arabia, and the sweet cane, the calamus, from a far country? the root of which was used in the preparation of the anointing-oil. All external worship without faith of the heart and the obedience of love is an abomination to the Lord, who hates sham and hypocrisy in every form. Cf Isaiah 1:11; Amos 5:21. Your burnt offerings are not acceptable nor your sacrifices sweet unto Me, because the Lord was not deceived by outward appearances which were not in agreement with the true condition of the heart.

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See also Jeremiah 6:20 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Jeremiah 6:20. _INCENSE FROWN SHEBA_] Sheba was in Arabia, famous for the best incense. It was situated towards the southern extremity of the peninsula of Arabia; and was, in respect of Judea, _...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THE SWEET CANE - The same as the scented cane of Exodus 30:23 (see the note). YOUR BURNT OFFERINGS - The rejection of ritual observances is proclaimed by the two prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah, who chie...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 6 _ 1. The call to the children of Benjamin (Jeremiah 6:1) _ 2. Corruption and the deserved judgment (Jeremiah 6:9) 3. The prophet addressed (Jeremiah 6:27)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    Jeremiah 6:16. OBEDIENCE MORE THAN SACRIFICE. Yahweh vainly bade the people stand at the parting of the ways (Hebrew, by the ways), and seek the ancient road to prosperity, that they may find repose f...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    INCENSE. frankincense. Put by Figure of speech _Synecdoche_ (of the Part), App-6, ror the whole incense of which it was an ingredient. SHEBA. In the south of Arabia. NOT ACCEPTABLE. Compare Isaiah 1...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The third division. See introd. note to the ch....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    For the uselessness of ceremonial without obedience, cp. Isaiah 1:11; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21 ff.; Micah 6:6;...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    TO WHAT PURPOSE, &C.— Sheba was part of Arabia Felix, and famous for its incense and perfumes. Respecting the _sweet cane,_ see Isaiah 43:24. The prophet here reproves the hypocrisy of the Jews, who e...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    4. _Prescription for deliverance_ (Jeremiah 6:16-21) TRANSLATION (16) Thus said the LORD: Stand along side the ways and observe. Ask for the old ways where the good way is and walk in it and you will...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me. TO WHAT PURPOSE COMETH THE...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    6:20 cane (f-15) As 'sweet myrtle,' Exodus 30:23 ; 'calamus,' Song of Solomon 4:14 ; 'cane,' Isaiah 43:24 ....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    1-8. The hostile army approaches....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    SHEBA] in the S. of Arabia. The general sense of the v. is, 'To obey is better than sacrifice' (1 Samuel 15:22). CANE] i.e. calamus, a sweet-scented reed, used in making the anointing oil....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    INCENSE FROM SHEBA. — The land that had a proverbial fame both for gold and frankincense (Isaiah 60:6; Ezekiel 27:22), the _thus Sabæum of_ Virg., _Æn._ i. 416, 417. So Milton, _Par. Lost,_ 4 — “Sabæ...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    לָמָּה ־זֶּ֨ה לִ֤י לְבֹונָה֙ מִ שְּׁבָ֣א תָבֹ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Jeremiah 5:1; Jeremiah 6:1 CHAPTER IV THE SCYTHIANS AS THE SCOURGE OF GOD Jeremiah 4:3 - Jeremiah 6:30 IF we would under

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This judgment the prophet now described. A fierce and relentless foe, acting under the word of Jehovah, is described as coming up against Jerusalem. The prophet declared that the city would be taken,...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    To what purpose cometh there to me (r) incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a distant country? your burnt offerings [are] not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet to me. (r) Read (Isaiah 1:11...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _To me. For want of proper dispositions; otherwise the offerings of the best things were enjoined, and commendable. The Jews are taught not to depend on external observances, while they neglect the he...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    In what strong terms doth the Lord set forth the folly of outward things, as the incense and the cane, when there was no inward offering of the heart. What are all acts of religion, when there is no r...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    The Prophet here replies to those hypocrites, who thought that they made an expiation when they had offered incense and sacrifices, as though that was all that was necessary in serving God: and hence...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 4, 5, AND 6. Chapter 4 resumes the subject of Chapter s 2, 3, and, applying it at that time to the people, tells them that, if they return, it must be unto th...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    TO WHAT PURPOSE COMETH THERE TO ME INCENSE FROM SHEBA,.... In Persia or Arabia, from whence incense was brought, and perhaps the best; see Isaiah 60:6, and yet the offering of this was of no esteem wi...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings [are] not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me. Ver. 20. _To what purpose c...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _To what purpose incense from Sheba?_ Sheba was a part of Arabia Felix, and famous for its spices and perfumes, Isaiah 9:6. Here the prophet reproves the hypocrisy of the Jews, who sought to cover the...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    18-30 God rejects their outward services, as worthless to atone for their sins. Sacrifice and incense were to direct them to a Mediator; but when offered to purchase a license to go on in sin, they p...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    OLBHeb; TO WHAT PURPOSE? an interrogation of expostulation and contempt, wherein God by the prophet meets with their hypocrisy, who pleased themselves with their outward oblations and sacrifices, and...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Jeremiah 6:20 Comes H935 (H8799) frankincense H3828 Sheba H7614 sweet H2896 cane H7070 far H4801 country H776 offeri

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    YHWH NOW DESCRIBES THE TOTAL INTRANSIGENCE OF HIS PEOPLE AND DISMISSES THEIR ATTEMPTS TO PACIFY HIM BY RELIGIOUS RITUAL AND OFFERINGS, CONFIRMING TO THEM THE JUDGMENT THAT IS INEVITABLY COMING ON THEM...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    IN VIEW OF JUDAH'S FAILURE TO RESPOND TO HIS WARNINGS YHWH STRESSES THAT THE INVASION IS NOW IMMINENT (JEREMIAH 6:1). Chapter 4 had predicted that invasion was coming, and chapter 5 had given the reas...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jeremiah's second message, continued. The terrors that should come because of sin. CHARACTERS: God, Jeremiah. CONCLUSION: The God of mercy is loath to depart even from a provoking people,...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Jeremiah 6:1. _Oh ye children of Benjamin flee out of the midst of Jerusalem._ Many of this tribe lived in the city. _Blow the trumpet_ [of alarm] _in Tekoa,_ a village twelve miles from Jerusalem, ac...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Your burnt offerings are not acceptable._ WASTE WORSHIP I. The manifest failure of these Jewish offerings. 1. By these their consecration was to be furthered. But they were foul. 2. By these thei...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JEREMIAH—NOTE ON JEREMIAH 6:20 Performing religious rituals, without faith and obedience, is unacceptable to God (Isaiah 1:10; Amos 5:

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES.—1. CHRONOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL POSITION OF THIS CHAPTER THE SAME. (Comp. notes on 3, 4, 5.) 2. GEOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES.— Jeremiah 6:1. “_Tekoa:_” a small town of defenc...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION A prophecy, in five stanzas or strophes, vividly describing the judgment and its causes, and enforcing the necessity of repentance. JEREMIAH 6:1 Arrival of a hostile army from the north,...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places, if you can find a man, if there be any that is executing judgment, and that is seeking truth; and...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 10:1; 1 Kings 10:10; 1 Kings 10:2; Amos 5:21; Amos 5:22;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Sheba — A country in Arabia Faelix, to which country frankincense was peculiar. The sweet cane — The same that is mentioned as an ingredient in the holy oil, Exodus 30:23. To what purpose art thou at...

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    Do the later prophets disavow the earlier sacrificial system of Moses? (See comments on Hosea 6:6)...

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