CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Isaiah 65:5 They say, 'Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am holier than you!' Such people are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/isaiah/65-5.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/3/23_Isa_65_05.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Isaiah 65:5 - Judgments and Promises" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="They say, 'Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am holier than you!' Such people are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/isaiah/65-5.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/isaiah/65-5.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/isaiah/">Isaiah</a> > <a href="/isaiah/65.htm">Chapter 65</a> > Verse 5</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/isaiah/65-4.htm" title="Isaiah 65:4">◄</a> Isaiah 65:5 <a href="/isaiah/65-6.htm" title="Isaiah 65:6">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/isaiah/65.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/isaiah/65.htm">New International Version</a> who say, &#8216Keep away; don&#8217t come near me, for I am too sacred for you!&#8217 Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day. <a href="/nlt/isaiah/65.htm">New Living Translation</a> Yet they say to each other, ‘Don’t come too close or you will defile me! I am holier than you!’ These people are a stench in my nostrils, an acrid smell that never goes away. <a href="/esv/isaiah/65.htm">English Standard Version</a> who say, “Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.” These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all the day. <a href="/bsb/isaiah/65.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> They say, ‘Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ Such people are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long. <a href="/kjv/isaiah/65.htm">King James Bible</a> Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. <a href="/nkjv/isaiah/65.htm">New King James Version</a> Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, Do not come near me, For I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day. <a href="/nasb_/isaiah/65.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> “Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, For I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day. <a href="/nasb/isaiah/65.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220Who say, &#8216Keep to yourself, do not come near me, For I am holier than you!&#8217 These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day. <a href="/nasb77/isaiah/65.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, For I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day. <a href="/lsb/isaiah/65.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, For I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day. <a href="/amp/isaiah/65.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, For I am too holy for you [and you might defile me]!’ These [people] are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day. <a href="/csb/isaiah/65.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> They say, ‘Keep to yourself, don’t come near me, for I am too holy for you! ’ These practices are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all day long. <a href="/hcsb/isaiah/65.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> They say, &#8216Keep to yourself, don&#8217t come near me, for I am too holy for you!&#8217 These practices are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long. <a href="/asv/isaiah/65.htm">American Standard Version</a> that say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me, for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. <a href="/cev/isaiah/65.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> And then they say to others, "Don't come near us! We're dedicated to God." Such people are like smoke, irritating my nose all day. <a href="/erv/isaiah/65.htm">English Revised Version</a> which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me, for I am holier than thou: these are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. <a href="/gwt/isaiah/65.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> They said, "Stay away! Don't touch me! I'm holier than you are." They have become like smoke in my nose, like a smoldering fire all day long. <a href="/gnt/isaiah/65.htm">Good News Translation</a> And then they say to others, 'Keep away from us; we are too holy for you to touch!' I cannot stand people like that--my anger against them is like a fire that never goes out. <a href="/isv/isaiah/65.htm">International Standard Version</a> who say, 'Keep to yourself!' 'Don't touch me!' and 'I am too holy for you!' "Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day long. <a href="/msb/isaiah/65.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> They say, ?Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am holier than you!? Such people are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long. <a href="/net/isaiah/65.htm">NET Bible</a> They say, 'Keep to yourself! Don't get near me, for I am holier than you!' These people are like smoke in my nostrils, like a fire that keeps burning all day long. <a href="/nheb/isaiah/65.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> who say, 'Keep your distance, do not come near to me, for I am holier than you.' These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all the day. <a href="/wbt/isaiah/65.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. <a href="/web/isaiah/65.htm">World English Bible</a> who say, ‘Stay by yourself, don’t come near to me, for I am holier than you.’ These are smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all day. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/isaiah/65.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> Who are saying, Keep to yourself, do not come near to me, "" For I have declared you unholy. These [are] smoke in My anger, "" A fire burning all the day. <a href="/ylt/isaiah/65.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> Who are saying, 'Keep to thyself, come not nigh to me, For I have declared thee unholy.' These are a smoke in Mine anger, A fire burning all the day. <a href="/slt/isaiah/65.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Saying, Come near to thyself; thou shalt not touch upon me, for I was clean to thee. These a smoke in my wrath, a fire burning all the day.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/isaiah/65.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> That say: Depart from me, come not near me, because thou art unclean: these shall be smoke in my anger, a fire burning all the day. <a href="/cpdv/isaiah/65.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> They say: “Depart from me! Do not approach me, for you are unclean!” Such as these will be the smoke in my fury, a fire burning all day long. <a href="/nabre/isaiah/65.htm">New American Bible</a> Crying out, “Hold back, do not come near me, lest I render you holy!” These things are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all the day. <a href="/nrsvce/isaiah/65.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> who say, “Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.” These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all day long.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/isaiah/65.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Who say, Keep away, do not come near me; for I am sanctified. These men are a smoke in my anger, a fire that burns all the day. <a href="/hpbt/isaiah/65.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And they were saying, “Go far away; do not come near to me, because I am hallowed!” These were smoke in my rage and a fire burning every day<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/isaiah/65.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> That say: 'Stand by thyself, Come not near to me, for I am holier than thou'; These are a smoke in My nose, A fire that burneth all the day. <a href="/sep/isaiah/65.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> who say, Depart from me, draw not nigh to me, for I am pure. This is the smoke of my wrath, a fire burns with it continually. <a href="/parallel/isaiah/65-5.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv9bHT-nr9s?start=14209" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/isaiah/65.htm">Judgments and Promises</a> …4sitting among the graves, spending nights in secret places, eating the meat of pigs and polluted broth from their bowls. 5<a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: hā·’ō·mə·rîm (Art:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">They say,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7126.htm" title="7126: qə·raḇ (V-Qal-Imp-ms) -- To come near, approach. A primitive root; to approach for whatever purpose.">‘Keep</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·le·ḵā (Prep:: 2ms) -- To, into, towards. ">to yourself;</a> <a href="/hebrew/408.htm" title="408: ’al- (Adv) -- Not (a subjective neg.). A negative particle; not; once as a noun, nothing.">do not</a> <a href="/hebrew/5066.htm" title="5066: tig·gaš- (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- To draw near, approach. ">come near</a> <a href="/hebrew/bî (Prep:: 1cs) -- ">me,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">for</a> <a href="/hebrew/6942.htm" title="6942: qə·ḏaš·tî·ḵā (V-Qal-Perf-1cs:: 2ms) -- To be set apart or consecrated. A primitive root; to be clean.">I am holier than you!’</a> <a href="/hebrew/428.htm" title="428: ’êl·leh (Pro-cp) -- These. Prolonged from 'el; these or those.">Such people</a> <a href="/hebrew/6227.htm" title="6227: ‘ā·šān (N-ms) -- Smoke. From ashan; smoke, literally or figuratively.">are smoke</a> <a href="/hebrew/639.htm" title="639: bə·’ap·pî (Prep-b:: N-msc:: 1cs) -- A nostril, nose, face, anger. From 'anaph; properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also ire.">in My nostrils,</a> <a href="/hebrew/784.htm" title="784: ’êš (N-cs) -- A fire. A primitive word; fire.">a fire</a> <a href="/hebrew/3344.htm" title="3344: yō·qe·ḏeṯ (V-Qal-Prtcpl-fs) -- To be kindled, to burn. A primitive root; to burn.">that burns</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">all day long.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: hay·yō·wm (Art:: N-ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative."></a> 6Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will pay it back into their laps,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/luke/18-11.htm">Luke 18:11</a> The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. <a href="/matthew/9-11.htm">Matthew 9:11</a> When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” <a href="/matthew/23-25.htm">Matthew 23:25-28</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. / Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. / Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. ... <a href="/romans/10-3.htm">Romans 10:3</a> Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. <a href="/1_corinthians/8-1.htm">1 Corinthians 8:1-2</a> Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. / The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. <a href="/galatians/6-3.htm">Galatians 6:3</a> If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. <a href="/philippians/3-9.htm">Philippians 3:9</a> and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith. <a href="/2_timothy/3-5.htm">2 Timothy 3:5</a> having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these! <a href="/titus/1-15.htm">Titus 1:15-16</a> To the pure, all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Indeed, both their minds and their consciences are defiled. / They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed. <a href="/revelation/3-17.htm">Revelation 3:17</a> You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. <a href="/leviticus/10-10.htm">Leviticus 10:10</a> You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean, <a href="/leviticus/11-44.htm">Leviticus 11:44-45</a> For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves by any creature that crawls along the ground. / For I am the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt so that I would be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy. <a href="/leviticus/20-26.htm">Leviticus 20:26</a> You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own. <a href="/numbers/16-3.htm">Numbers 16:3</a> They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have taken too much upon yourselves! For everyone in the entire congregation is holy, and the LORD is in their midst. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?” <a href="/deuteronomy/7-6.htm">Deuteronomy 7:6</a> For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Which say, Stand by yourself, come not near to me; for I am holier than you. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all the day.stand<a href="/matthew/9-11.htm">Matthew 9:11</a> And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?<a href="/luke/5-30.htm">Luke 5:30</a> But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?<a href="/luke/7-39.htm">Luke 7:39</a> Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.these<a href="/proverbs/6-16.htm">Proverbs 6:16,17</a> These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: … <a href="/proverbs/10-26.htm">Proverbs 10:26</a> As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.<a href="/proverbs/16-5.htm">Proverbs 16:5</a> Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.nose, or anger a fire<a href="/deuteronomy/29-20.htm">Deuteronomy 29:20</a> The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.<a href="/deuteronomy/32-20.htm">Deuteronomy 32:20-22</a> And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/65-3.htm">Anger</a> <a href="/isaiah/45-5.htm">Apart</a> <a href="/isaiah/65-3.htm">Burneth</a> <a href="/isaiah/62-1.htm">Burns</a> <a href="/isaiah/48-14.htm">Declared</a> <a href="/isaiah/63-17.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/isaiah/64-11.htm">Fire</a> <a href="/isaiah/64-11.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/isaiah/56-6.htm">Keeps</a> <a href="/isaiah/63-18.htm">Nigh</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-29.htm">Nose</a> <a href="/isaiah/2-22.htm">Nostrils</a> <a href="/isaiah/64-10.htm">Sacred</a> <a href="/isaiah/51-6.htm">Smoke</a> <a href="/isaiah/61-5.htm">Stand</a> <a href="/isaiah/64-12.htm">Thyself</a> <a href="/numbers/35-33.htm">Unholy</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/66-15.htm">Anger</a> <a href="/jeremiah/1-5.htm">Apart</a> <a href="/isaiah/66-3.htm">Burneth</a> <a href="/isaiah/66-3.htm">Burns</a> <a href="/jeremiah/16-10.htm">Declared</a> <a href="/isaiah/66-5.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/isaiah/66-15.htm">Fire</a> <a href="/isaiah/65-11.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-24.htm">Keeps</a> <a href="/jeremiah/6-3.htm">Nigh</a> <a href="/ezekiel/8-17.htm">Nose</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-20.htm">Nostrils</a> <a href="/jeremiah/43-13.htm">Sacred</a> <a href="/hosea/13-3.htm">Smoke</a> <a href="/jeremiah/1-17.htm">Stand</a> <a href="/jeremiah/2-17.htm">Thyself</a> <a href="/jeremiah/16-18.htm">Unholy</a><div class="vheading2">Isaiah 65</div>1. <a href="/isaiah/65-1.htm">The calling of the Gentiles, </a> 2. <a href="/isaiah/65-2.htm">and the rejection of the Jews, for their incredulity, idolatry, and hypocrisy</a> 8. <a href="/isaiah/65-8.htm">A remnant shall be saved</a> 11. <a href="/isaiah/65-11.htm">Judgments on the wicked, and blessings on the godly</a> 17. <a href="/isaiah/65-17.htm">The blessed state of the new Jerusalem</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/65.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/isaiah/65.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>They say, ‘Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ This phrase reflects the self-righteous attitude of certain individuals who consider themselves spiritually superior. In the context of Isaiah, this attitude is indicative of the religious hypocrisy prevalent among the Israelites. The phrase echoes the Pharisaical mindset criticized by Jesus in the New Testament, particularly in passages like <a href="/luke/18-11.htm">Luke 18:11</a>, where the Pharisee boasts of his righteousness. The cultural context of ancient Israel included a strong emphasis on ritual purity, which some individuals misinterpreted as a means to elevate themselves above others. This attitude is contrary to the humility and repentance that God desires, as seen in <a href="/micah/6-8.htm">Micah 6:8</a>.Such people are smoke in My nostrils, This metaphor illustrates God's irritation and displeasure with the self-righteous. Smoke in the nostrils is an image of something unpleasant and irritating, suggesting that such attitudes are offensive to God. The imagery is consistent with other biblical passages where God expresses His disdain for empty rituals and insincere worship, such as in <a href="/amos/5-21.htm">Amos 5:21-24</a>. The historical context of Isaiah's time involved a society that often engaged in idolatry and superficial religious practices, which God found detestable.a fire that burns all day long. The continuous burning fire symbolizes God's enduring anger and judgment against hypocrisy and pride. Fire is frequently used in the Bible as a symbol of purification and judgment, as seen in passages like <a href="/malachi/3-2.htm">Malachi 3:2-3</a> and <a href="/hebrews/12-29.htm">Hebrews 12:29</a>. This imagery underscores the seriousness of God's response to sin and the need for genuine repentance. The prophetic nature of Isaiah's message points to the ultimate judgment and purification that will come through Jesus Christ, who calls for true worship in spirit and truth (<a href="/john/4-23.htm">John 4:23-24</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/i/isaiah.htm">Isaiah</a> A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is the author of the book bearing his name. He prophesied to the Kingdom of Judah and spoke of both judgment and redemption. 2. <a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a> The speaker in this verse, expressing His displeasure with the self-righteousness of the people. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_people_of_israel.htm">The People of Israel</a> The primary audience of Isaiah's message, often rebuked for their hypocrisy and idolatry. 4. <a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a> The central city of worship for the Israelites, often a focal point in Isaiah's prophecies. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_self-righteous.htm">The Self-Righteous</a> Individuals who consider themselves more holy than others, leading to God's rebuke.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_self-righteousness.htm">The Danger of Self-Righteousness</a> Self-righteousness is offensive to God and likened to smoke in His nostrils. It leads to spiritual pride and alienation from God. <a href="/topical/t/true_holiness_comes_from_god.htm">True Holiness Comes from God</a> Holiness is not self-generated but is a result of God's work in us. We must rely on His grace and not our own perceived righteousness. <a href="/topical/h/humility_in_our_walk_with_god.htm">Humility in Our Walk with God</a> We are called to walk humbly with God, recognizing our own need for His mercy and grace. <a href="/topical/c/community_and_fellowship.htm">Community and Fellowship</a> Self-righteousness isolates us from others. We are called to live in community, encouraging and uplifting one another in faith. <a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a> God desires repentance and offers restoration. We must turn from self-righteousness and seek His forgiveness.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_isaiah_65.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 65</a> <a href="/q/what_does_'holier_than_thou'_mean.htm">What does "holier than thou" mean?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_eternal_damnation_mean.htm">What does eternal damnation mean?</a> <a href="/q/how_does_isaiah_24_6's_'curse'_devour_earth.htm">In Isaiah 24:6, how could the 'curse' devour the earth if other parts of the Bible do not mention such a universal destruction?</a> <a href="/q/can_the_'cloud'_in_2_chronicles_be_natural.htm">2 Chronicles 5:13-14 - How can the 'cloud' filling the House of God be explained naturally or confirmed historically, rather than attributed to a purely supernatural event?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/isaiah/65.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(5) Which say, Stand by thyself . . .--The picture, in its main outlines, reminds us of the proud exclusiveness of the later Pharisees, and the root-evil is, of course, identical. Here, however, the ground of the exclusiveness is not the consciousness of the peculiar privileges of Israel, but rests on what was an actual apostasy. Those of whom Isaiah speaks boasted of their initiation into heathen mysteries (Baal, Thammuz, or the like) as giving them a kind of consecrated character, and separating them from the profanum vulgus of the Israelites, who were faithful to the God of their fathers.I am holier than thou.--Literally, I am holy to thee: i.e., one whom thou mayest not approach. (Comp. <a href="/leviticus/21-8.htm" title="You shall sanctify him therefore; for he offers the bread of your God: he shall be holy to you: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy.">Leviticus 21:8</a>.) By some commentators the verb is taken as transitive, I make thee holy: i.e., have power to impart holiness; but this is less satisfactory, both grammatically and as to meaning.These are a smoke in my nose . . .--The point of the clause is that the punishment is represented as not future. The self-exalting idolaters are already as those who are being consumed in the fire of the Divine wrath, and their smoke is "a savour of death" in the nostrils of Jehovah.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/isaiah/65.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 5. - Stand by thyself; i.e. "keep aloof - come not into contact with me; for mine is a higher holiness than thine, and I should be polluted by thy near approach." Initiation into heathen mysteries was thought to confer on the initiated a holiness unattainable otherwise. Thus the heathenized Jew claimed to be holier than the true servants of Jehovah. These are a smoke... a fire (comp. <a href="/psalms/18-8.htm">Psalm 18:8</a>, "There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured; coals were kindled by it"). The heathenized Jews are fuel for the wrath of God, which kindles a fire wherein they burn continually (comp. <a href="/isaiah/66-24.htm">Isaiah 66:24</a>). <a href="/commentaries/isaiah/65-5.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>They say, הָאֹֽמְרִים֙ (hā·’ō·mə·rîm) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say ‘Keep קְרַ֣ב (qə·raḇ) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7126.htm">Strong's 7126: </a> To come near, approach to yourself, אֵלֶ֔יךָ (’ê·le·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to do not אַל־ (’al-) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_408.htm">Strong's 408: </a> Not come near me, תִּגַּשׁ־ (tig·gaš-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5066.htm">Strong's 5066: </a> To draw near, approach for כִּ֣י (kî) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction I am holier than you!’ קְדַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ (qə·ḏaš·tî·ḵā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6942.htm">Strong's 6942: </a> To be set apart or consecrated Such people אֵ֚לֶּה (’êl·leh) Pronoun - common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_428.htm">Strong's 428: </a> These, those are smoke עָשָׁ֣ן (‘ā·šān) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6227.htm">Strong's 6227: </a> Smoke in My nostrils, בְּאַפִּ֔י (bə·’ap·pî) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_639.htm">Strong's 639: </a> The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire a fire אֵ֥שׁ (’êš) Noun - common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_784.htm">Strong's 784: </a> A fire that burns יֹקֶ֖דֶת (yō·qe·ḏeṯ) Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3344.htm">Strong's 3344: </a> To be kindled, to burn all day long. כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> The whole, all, any, every <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/isaiah/65-5.htm">Isaiah 65:5 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/isaiah/65-5.htm">Isaiah 65:5 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/isaiah/65-5.htm">Isaiah 65:5 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/isaiah/65-5.htm">Isaiah 65:5 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/isaiah/65-5.htm">Isaiah 65:5 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/isaiah/65-5.htm">Isaiah 65:5 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/isaiah/65-5.htm">Isaiah 65:5 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/isaiah/65-5.htm">Isaiah 65:5 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/isaiah/65-5.htm">Isaiah 65:5 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/isaiah/65-5.htm">Isaiah 65:5 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/isaiah/65-5.htm">OT Prophets: Isaiah 65:5 Who say Stand by yourself don't come (Isa Isi Is)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/isaiah/65-4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Isaiah 65:4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Isaiah 65:4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/isaiah/65-6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Isaiah 65:6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Isaiah 65:6" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>