Isaiah 65:5

"who sit among the graves, and spend nights in secret places; who eat pig’s meat, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;"

Key Reflection

In first-century Israel, this passage would have been a stark critique of those who engaged in behaviors considered unholy and unclean by religious standards. The imagery of sitting among graves and spending nights in secret places evokes the idea of hiding from judgment or engaging in forbidden practices away from public view. Eating pig’s meat and drinking broth made from abominable things directly references dietary laws, reminding the audience that these individuals were deliberately defying God's commands for ritual purity.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Which say, Stand by thyself -Who at the time that they engage in these abominations are distinguished for spiritual pride. The most worthless people are commonly the most proud; and they who have wandered farthest from God have in general the most exalted idea of their own goodness. It was a characteristic of a large part of the Jewish nation, and especially of the Pharisees, to be self-righteous and proud. A striking illustration of this we have in the following description of the Hindu yogis, by Roberts: ‘Those men are so isolated by their superstition and penances, that they hold but little contact with the rest of mankind.

Related Verses

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