God condemns prideful exclusion as an offensive stench in His sight.
Isaiah ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah between approximately 740 BC and 681 BC, warning God’s people against rebellion and spiritual arrogance. In this chapter, the prophet describes individuals who display a pretentious holiness, which is deeply offensive to God. Isaiah quotes them “Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, For I am holier than you!’” and immediately reveals the LORD’s response: “These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day” (v.5). Their presumptive stance—dismissing others as unclean—betrays a heart that is distant from the humility God desires. Instead of a genuine pursuit of righteousness, they indulge in self-exaltation, a mindset that incenses the Lord and only amplifies their guilt.
The imagery of “smoke in My nostrils” provides incisive commentary on how God regards feigned holiness. Like an unpleasant odor that lingers, these attitudes reek of spiritual pride and leave a bitter taste in every interaction with the divine. Isaiah 65 later contrasts such defiance with the wondrous hope of renewal, culminating in the promise of “new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17) where genuine devotion supplants self-righteousness. Jesus likewise denounced similar hypocrisy in the New Testament, rebuking those who trusted in their own external piety but neglected the weightier matters of mercy, justice, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23).
The warning here is solemn: God takes no pleasure in hearts that look down on others under the guise of holiness. When people boast, “I am holier than you!” (v.5), they stand judged by the very standard they pretend to represent. True worshipers approach God in humble recognition of their need, serving Him out of gratitude rather than pomp.
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Isaiah 65:5 meaning
Isaiah ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah between approximately 740 BC and 681 BC, warning God’s people against rebellion and spiritual arrogance. In this chapter, the prophet describes individuals who display a pretentious holiness, which is deeply offensive to God. Isaiah quotes them “Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, For I am holier than you!’” and immediately reveals the LORD’s response: “These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day” (v.5). Their presumptive stance—dismissing others as unclean—betrays a heart that is distant from the humility God desires. Instead of a genuine pursuit of righteousness, they indulge in self-exaltation, a mindset that incenses the Lord and only amplifies their guilt.
The imagery of “smoke in My nostrils” provides incisive commentary on how God regards feigned holiness. Like an unpleasant odor that lingers, these attitudes reek of spiritual pride and leave a bitter taste in every interaction with the divine. Isaiah 65 later contrasts such defiance with the wondrous hope of renewal, culminating in the promise of “new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17) where genuine devotion supplants self-righteousness. Jesus likewise denounced similar hypocrisy in the New Testament, rebuking those who trusted in their own external piety but neglected the weightier matters of mercy, justice, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23).
The warning here is solemn: God takes no pleasure in hearts that look down on others under the guise of holiness. When people boast, “I am holier than you!” (v.5), they stand judged by the very standard they pretend to represent. True worshipers approach God in humble recognition of their need, serving Him out of gratitude rather than pomp.