Jeremiah 7:21-23
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God dismisses their offerings with a sarcastic invitation to feast on the sacrifices, essentially saying, "Go ahead and eat all this meat; it's not for Me." This reveals that their sacrifices, meant to be sacred acts, had become mere opportunities for self-indulgence, completely missing their intended purpose.
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)
Jeremiah is addressing the people gathered at the Temple, exposing the hypocrisy of their religious practices. They are faithfully bringing sacrifices, believing these offerings will protect them, but their hearts are far from God, filled with sin and injustice. God declares that their sacrifices are meaningless and He desires obedience and a right heart far more than their rituals.
Jeremiah delivers a shocking message: God seems to reject the very sacrifices He commanded. What's going on here?
In Jeremiah 7:21, God, through the prophet, seems to dismiss Israel's sacrifices with a sarcastic, "Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh." This isn't a cancellation of the sacrificial system itself, but a stark illustration of God's perspective.
The Real Issue
God wasn't saying sacrifices were never important, but that they were meaningless, even offensive, when divorced from obedience and a sincere heart.
Ask a follow-up
If sacrifices aren't the main point, what does God really want from us?
Jeremiah 7:21-23 pivots dramatically from the rejected sacrifices to the core requirement of God's covenant: obedience. God wanted His people to understand that true worship isn't about the things they offer, but the way they live.
The Foundation of Relationship
This principle remains true today. God isn't impressed by our religious activities if they aren't rooted in a heart submitted to His will.
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.
Jeremiah's words cut through the empty ritualism of his day, reminding the people that God's original command at Sinai wasn't primarily about multiplying sacrifices, but about wholehearted obedience to His voice. The destruction of Jerusalem serves as the ultimate consequence of their misplaced religious priorities.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, marking the beginning of their covenant relationship with Him. This event is foundational to their national and religious identity.
c. 1445 BC
Giving of the Law at Sinai
God establishes the Mosaic Law, including detailed instructions for sacrifices and worship, at Mount Sinai. This covenant relationship hinges on obedience.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, scattering its people. This event serves as a stark warning to the Southern Kingdom of Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
The Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II begins deporting Judean elites and skilled workers to Babylon. This marks the start of Judah's decline and foreshadows further judgment.
c. 587/586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Southern Kingdom of Judah and exiling most of its remaining population. This is the context for Jeremiah's prophecies of judgment and future restoration.
This passage powerfully echoes Jeremiah's message by showing God's rejection of Saul's sacrifice because it was not accompanied by obedience, stating that obedience is far better than sacrifice.
Isaiah 1:11-15Isaiah also confronted a similar spiritual hypocrisy, with God expressing disgust for the multiplied sacrifices of a disobedient people, highlighting that worship without a pure heart is meaningless.
Matthew 9:13Jesus quotes Hosea to show that God's heart is for mercy and relationship, not merely outward ritual, stating 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' which aligns with Jeremiah's critique of empty religious performance.
Micah 6:6-8Micah asks a similar rhetorical question about what God desires, concluding that he requires justice, kindness, and humble obedience, rather than an abundance of sacrifices, mirroring Jeremiah's core message.
Romans 12:1-2The New Testament concept of presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God through spiritual worship, contrasts with the fleshly sacrifices Jeremiah condemns, emphasizing that true worship is a transformed life, not just ritual.
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 dismisses their offerings with a sarcastic invitation to feast on the sacrifices, essentially saying, "Go ahead and eat all this meat; it's not for Me." This reveals that their sacrifices, meant to be sacred acts, had become mere opportunities for self-indulgence, completely missing their intended purpose.
Jeremiah is addressing the people gathered at the Temple, exposing the hypocrisy of their religious practices. They are faithfully bringing sacrifices, believing these offerings will protect them, but their hearts are far from God, filled with sin and injustice. God declares that their sacrifices are meaningless and He desires obedience and a right heart far more than their rituals.
Jeremiah is addressing the people gathered at the Temple, exposing the hypocrisy of their religious practices. They are faithfully bringing sacrifices, believing these offerings will protect them, but their hearts are far from God, filled with sin and injustice. God declares that their sacrifices are meaningless and He desires obedience and a right heart far more than their rituals.
"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 dismisses their offerings with a sarcastic invitation to feast on the sacrifices, essentially saying, "Go ahead and eat all this meat; it's not for Me." This reveals that their sacrifices, meant…
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Last reviewed October 2026
