Jeremiah 7:21-23
Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh. For in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to your fathers or command them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
God isn't just dismissing sacrifices here; He's sarcastically telling them to add burnt offerings (which were entirely consumed by fire) to their other sacrifices. He's essentially saying their offerings are so meaningless to Him in their current state that they might as well pile everything up and eat it themselves, because God is not accepting them at all.
Jeremiah is confronting the people of Jerusalem within the very walls of the Temple, directly challenging their misplaced confidence in their religious practices. He has just exposed their sins of idolatry and injustice, revealing that their outward worship is a hollow pretense that angers God, not appeases Him. God declares that their countless sacrifices are meaningless and that they might as well just eat the meat themselves, because He finds no savor in their offerings when their hearts are far from Him and they refuse to obey His commands.
God's voice booms through Jeremiah, 'Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh.' It sounds like permission to feast, but it’s a divine dismissal.
Jeremiah 7:21 delivers a shocking message: God isn't impressed with the Jews' elaborate sacrifices. He sarcastically tells them to pile on the offerings and eat the meat themselves, implying these sacrifices mean nothing to Him.
Why the Disdain?
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Jeremiah 7:21-23 is available in the Sola app.
God declares He didn't primarily command sacrifices when bringing Israel out of Egypt. So what did He command? The answer is a stark contrast to the overflowing altars.
Jeremiah reveals God’s core requirement, contrasting it sharply with the Jews' misplaced devotion:
The True Commandment
Understand the original words
Tzeva'ot · Hebrew Noun
A divine title emphasizing God's sovereignty over the heavenly armies and the entire universe; it portrays Him as the Almighty King and protector of His people.
'olah · Hebrew Noun
A sacrificial offering where the entire animal was consumed by fire, symbolizing total dedication, complete surrender, and atonement for sin.
zevach · Hebrew Noun
Ritual slaughtering of animals as an act of worship, fellowship with God, or an offering for sin; while prescribed by law, God prioritizes the heart-attitude behind them over the ritual itself.
shama' · Hebrew Verb
To hear with the intent of response; it implies active, submissive, and faithful hearing that results in action or obedience.
'am · Hebrew Noun
A relational term describing the covenantal commitment where God chooses a people to be His own, promising His presence and protection, while they acknowledge Him as their sole sovereign.
halakh · Hebrew Verb
In biblical usage, refers to the lifestyle or conduct of a person; to walk in God's way is to conform one's life to His revealed moral and ethical standards.
This verse is spoken during a critical period when Jerusalem is under siege and facing its imminent destruction. The people are clinging to the rituals of the Temple, believing their sacrifices will protect them, but God, through Jeremiah, declares their rituals meaningless without obedience. The historical context of the Babylonian exiles underscores the severity of God's judgment on a people who offered sacrifices while their hearts were far from Him.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, deporting many Israelites and scattering them among its vast empire. This event serves as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
c. 626 BC
Jeremiah begins prophetic ministry
Jeremiah is called by God to prophesy during a time of spiritual decline in Judah, amidst the rising power of the Babylonian Empire.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's religious reforms seemingly fail
King Josiah attempts a religious revival based on a newly discovered scroll (likely Deuteronomy), but his efforts fail to fully turn the people from their corrupt practices after his death.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports a group of Judean elites and skilled workers, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation.
c. 597 BC— this verse
Second Babylonian Deportation
Another wave of deportations to Babylon occurs, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel. Jerusalem's temple treasures are also taken.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar finally destroys Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and leading to a final, massive deportation of the remaining population to Babylon.
This passage directly echoes Jeremiah's message, emphasizing that obedience is far more valuable to God than any sacrifice or offering, directly challenging the people's focus on ritual over genuine heart change.
Isaiah 1:11-17Isaiah also confronts a similar hypocrisy, explaining that God is weary of the people's numerous sacrifices because they are not accompanied by justice and righteousness, mirroring Jeremiah's point that outward acts mean nothing without inner transformation.
Hosea 6:6This verse highlights God's desire for steadfast love and knowledge of Him, rather than sacrifices, reinforcing the theme that God prioritizes the inner disposition and relationship over mere religious rituals, just as Jeremiah is saying.
Matthew 9:13Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6 when confronted by the Pharisees, showing that this principle of prioritizing mercy and a right relationship with God over sacrifice is a consistent theme throughout Scripture, even in the New Testament.
John 4:23-24Jesus explains to the Samaritan woman that true worship is not tied to a specific place but is 'in spirit and truth,' underscoring the core message of Jeremiah that God seeks a genuine, spiritual connection, not just outward religious performance.
calvinJeremiah 7:21-24: "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh."
Quia non loquutus sum cum patribus vestris, et non praecepi illis quo die eduxi eos e terra Egypti super verbis (hoc est, rationibus, nam rvd proprie significat rationem Latine; Hebraei enim ita passim usurpant hanc vocem, sicuti Latini rationem, super rationibus ergo) holocaustorum et victimae:
But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I…
cambridgeJeremiah 7:21: "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh."
21 . Add your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices ] Burnt offerings were consumed whole, while of sacrifices certain portions were reserved to be eaten by the priest and the offerer. Accordingly the sense here is either (i) appropriate for your own use the offerings of which ye now consume the whole: I care not, for whether ye do this or not ye are breaking a higher l…
God isn't just dismissing sacrifices here; He's sarcastically telling them to add burnt offerings (which were entirely consumed by fire) to their other sacrifices. He's essentially saying their offerings are so meaningless to Him in their current state that they might as well pile everything up and eat it themselves, because God is not accepting them at all.
Jeremiah is confronting the people of Jerusalem within the very walls of the Temple, directly challenging their misplaced confidence in their religious practices. He has just exposed their sins of idolatry and injustice, revealing that their outward worship is a hollow pretense that angers God, not appeases Him. God declares that their countless sacrifices are meaningless and that they might as well just eat the meat themselves, because He finds no savor in their offerings when their hearts are far from Him and they refuse to obey His commands.
Jeremiah is confronting the people of Jerusalem within the very walls of the Temple, directly challenging their misplaced confidence in their religious practices. He has just exposed their sins of idolatry and injustice, revealing that their outward worship is a hollow pretense that angers God, not appeases Him. God declares that their countless sacrifices are meaningless and that they might as well just eat the meat themselves, because He finds no savor in their offerings when their hearts are far from Him and they refuse to obey His commands.
"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh. For in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to your fathers or command them concerning burnt…" — God isn't just dismissing sacrifices here; He's sarcastically telling them to add burnt offerings (which were entirely consumed by fire) to their other sacrifices. He's essentially saying their off…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
