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Selected Verse: Isaiah 43:24 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Isa 43:24	Strong Concordance	Thou hast bought [07069] me no sweet cane [07070] with money [03701], neither hast thou filled [07301] me with the fat [02459] of thy sacrifices [02077]: but thou hast made me to serve [05647] with thy sins [02403], thou hast wearied [03021] me with thine iniquities [05771].
	King James	Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
bought--for "sweet cane" (aromatic calamus) was not indigenous to Palestine, but had to be bought from foreign countries (Jer 6:20). It was used among the Hebrews to make the sacred ointment (Exo 30:23). It is often offered as a mark of hospitality. filled--satiated (Jer 31:14). God deigns to use human language to adapt Himself to human modes of thought. made me to serve--though "I have not caused thee to serve" (Isa 43:23). Our sin made the Son of God to become "a servant." He served to save us from servile bondage (Phi 2:7; Heb 2:14-15). wearied me--Though I have "not wearied thee" (Isa 43:23; see Isa 1:14).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

bought--for "sweet cane" (aromatic calamus) was not indigenous to Palestine, but had to be bought from foreign countries (Jer 6:20). It was used among the Hebrews to make the sacred ointment (Exo 30:23). It is often offered as a mark of hospitality.

filled--satiated (Jer 31:14). God deigns to use human language to adapt Himself to human modes of thought.

made me to serve--though "I have not caused thee to serve" (Isa 43:23). Our sin made the Son of God to become "a servant." He served to save us from servile bondage (Phi 2:7; Heb 2:14-15).

wearied me--Though I have "not wearied thee" (Isa 43:23; see Isa 1:14).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Thou hast bought me - You have not purchased this - implying that it was not produced in Palestine, but was an article of commerce. It was to be obtained only from abroad. This is expressly affirmed in Jer 6:20 : 'To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from afar country?' That it was an article of commerce is also apparent from Eze 27:19 : 'Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs (that is, Tyre): bright iron, cassia, and calamus (קנה qâneh), were in thy market.' Sweet cane - The word used here (קנה qâneh), denotes properly "cane, reed, calamus" (Greek κάννα kanna and κάννη kannē, Latin canna, whence the English, cane; French, canne; Italian, canna). It usually refers to a reed growing in wet or marshy ground. It denotes also sweet cane, calamus aromaticus. It is sometimes joined with the word בשׂם bôs'em, aromatic, odor, fragrance, spice, as in Exo 30:23; see also Jer 6:20. According to Pliny (xii. 22) it grew in Arabia, Syria, and India; according to Theophrastus, in the vales of Lebanon (Hist. Plant. ix. 7). It was used among the Hebrews in compounding the sacred perfumes Exo 30:23. It is a knotty root, of a reddish color, and contains a soft white pith - in resemblance probably not unlike the calamus so well known in this country. Strabo and Diodorus Siculus say that it grew in Saba. Hasselquist says that it is common in the deserts of the two Arabias. It is gathered near Jumbo, a port town of Arabia Petrea, from where it is brought into Egypt. The Venetians purchase it, and use it in the composition of their 'theriaca.' It is much esteemed among the Arabs on account of its fragrance. See Calmet (Art. Cane), and Gesenius (Lex. and Commentary in loc). It was not probably used in the worship of God anywhere except among the Hebrews. The pagans made use of incense, but I do not know that they used the calamus. Neither hast thou filled me - Margin, 'Made me drunk,' or 'abundantly moistened.' The word used here (רוה râvâh), means properly "to drink to the full, to be satisfied, sated with drink." See it explained in the notes at Isa 34:6. It is applied to water which is drank, or to fat which is sucked in or drank rather than eaten Psa 36:9; or to a sword as drinking up blood. Here it means to satiate, or to satisfy. They had not offered the fat of sacrifices so as to satiate God. Probably this passage does not mean that the Jews had wholly neglected the public worship of God; they had not worshipped him with a proper spirit, and had thus served him with their sins, and wearied him with their transgressions. It is true, also, that while they were abundant in external rites and ceremonies, they frequently made oblations to idols, rather than to the true God. Perhaps, therefore, an emphasis is to be placed on the word 'me' in this passage, meaning, that however diligent and regular they had been in the performance of the external rites and duties of religion, yet that God had been neglected. Thou hast made me to serve with thy sins - You have made it oppressive, burdensome, wearisome for me, like the hard and onerous service of a slave (see the note at Isa 43:23; compare the note at Isa 1:14).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Thou hast bought me - You have not purchased this - implying that it was not produced in Palestine, but was an article of commerce. It was to be obtained only from abroad. This is expressly affirmed in Jer 6:20 : 'To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from afar country?' That it was an article of commerce is also apparent from Eze 27:19 : 'Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs (that is, Tyre): bright iron, cassia, and calamus (קנה qâneh), were in thy market.'

Sweet cane - The word used here (קנה qâneh), denotes properly "cane, reed, calamus" (Greek κάννα kanna and κάννη kannē, Latin canna, whence the English, cane; French, canne; Italian, canna). It usually refers to a reed growing in wet or marshy ground. It denotes also sweet cane, calamus aromaticus. It is sometimes joined with the word בשׂם bôs'em, aromatic, odor, fragrance, spice, as in Exo 30:23; see also Jer 6:20. According to Pliny (xii. 22) it grew in Arabia, Syria, and India; according to Theophrastus, in the vales of Lebanon (Hist. Plant. ix. 7). It was used among the Hebrews in compounding the sacred perfumes Exo 30:23. It is a knotty root, of a reddish color, and contains a soft white pith - in resemblance probably not unlike the calamus so well known in this country. Strabo and Diodorus Siculus say that it grew in Saba. Hasselquist says that it is common in the deserts of the two Arabias. It is gathered near Jumbo, a port town of Arabia Petrea, from where it is brought into Egypt. The Venetians purchase it, and use it in the composition of their 'theriaca.' It is much esteemed among the Arabs on account of its fragrance. See Calmet (Art. Cane), and Gesenius (Lex. and Commentary in loc). It was not probably used in the worship of God anywhere except among the Hebrews. The pagans made use of incense, but I do not know that they used the calamus.

Neither hast thou filled me - Margin, 'Made me drunk,' or 'abundantly moistened.' The word used here (רוה râvâh), means properly "to drink to the full, to be satisfied, sated with drink." See it explained in the notes at Isa 34:6. It is applied to water which is drank, or to fat which is sucked in or drank rather than eaten Psa 36:9; or to a sword as drinking up blood. Here it means to satiate, or to satisfy. They had not offered the fat of sacrifices so as to satiate God. Probably this passage does not mean that the Jews had wholly neglected the public worship of God; they had not worshipped him with a proper spirit, and had thus served him with their sins, and wearied him with their transgressions. It is true, also, that while they were abundant in external rites and ceremonies, they frequently made oblations to idols, rather than to the true God. Perhaps, therefore, an emphasis is to be placed on the word 'me' in this passage, meaning, that however diligent and regular they had been in the performance of the external rites and duties of religion, yet that God had been neglected.

Thou hast made me to serve with thy sins - You have made it oppressive, burdensome, wearisome for me, like the hard and onerous service of a slave (see the note at Isa 43:23; compare the note at Isa 1:14).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Sweet cane - This was used in the making of that precious ointment, Exo 30:34, and for the incense, Exo 30:7. Thou hast been niggardly in my service, when thou hast, spared for no cost in the service of thine idols. Nor filled me - Thou hast not multiplied thy thank - offerings and free - will offerings, tho' I have given thee sufficient occasion to do so. But - Thou hast made me to bear the load and burden of thy sins.

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¹⁴ Your new moons [02320] and your appointed feasts [04150] my soul [05315] hateth [08130]: they are a trouble [02960] unto me; I am weary [03811] to bear [05375] them.

²³ Thou hast not brought [0935] me the small cattle [07716] of thy burnt offerings [05930]; neither hast thou honoured [03513] me with thy sacrifices [02077]. I have not caused thee to serve [05647] with an offering [04503], nor wearied [03021] thee with incense [03828].

¹⁴ Forasmuch [1893] then [3767] as the children [3813] are partakers [2841] of flesh [4561] and [2532] blood [129], he [3348] also [2532] himself [846] likewise [3898] took part [3348] of the same [846]; that [2443] through [1223] death [2288] he might destroy [2673] him that had [2192] the power [2904] of death [2288], that is [5123], the devil [1228];
¹⁵ And [2532] deliver [525] them [5128] who [3745] through [1223] fear [5401] of death [2288] were [2258] all [3956] their lifetime [2198] subject [1777] to bondage [1397].

⁷ But [235] made [2758] himself [1438] of no reputation [2758], and took upon him [2983] the form [3444] of a servant [1401], and was made [1096] in [1722] the likeness [3667] of men [444]:

¹⁴ And I will satiate [07301] the soul [05315] of the priests [03548] with fatness [01880], and my people [05971] shall be satisfied [07646] with my goodness [02898], saith [05002] the LORD [03068].

²³ Take [03947] thou also unto thee principal [07218] spices [01314], of pure [01865] myrrh [04753] five [02568] hundred [03967] shekels, and of sweet [01314] cinnamon [07076] half [04276] so much [04276], even two hundred [03967] and fifty [02572] shekels, and of sweet [01314] calamus [07070] two hundred [03967] and fifty [02572] shekels,

²⁰ To what purpose cometh [0935] there to me incense [03828] from Sheba [07614], and the sweet [02896] cane [07070] from a far [04801] country [0776]? your burnt offerings [05930] are not acceptable [07522], nor your sacrifices [02077] sweet [06149] unto me.

¹⁴ Your new moons [02320] and your appointed feasts [04150] my soul [05315] hateth [08130]: they are a trouble [02960] unto me; I am weary [03811] to bear [05375] them.

⁹ For with thee is the fountain [04726] of life [02416]: in thy light [0216] shall we see [07200] light [0216].

⁶ The sword [02719] of the LORD [03068] is filled [04390] with blood [01818], it is made fat [01878] with fatness [02459], and with the blood [01818] of lambs [03733] and goats [06260], with the fat [02459] of the kidneys [03629] of rams [0352]: for the LORD [03068] hath a sacrifice [02077] in Bozrah [01224], and a great [01419] slaughter [02874] in the land [0776] of Idumea [0123].

¹⁹ Dan [02051] [01835] also and Javan [03120] going to and fro [0235] occupied [05414] in thy fairs [05801]: bright [06219] iron [01270], cassia [06916], and calamus [07070], were in thy market [04627].

⁷ And Aaron [0175] shall burn [06999] thereon sweet [05561] incense [07004] every morning [01242]: when he dresseth [03190] the lamps [05216], he shall burn incense [06999] upon it.

³⁴ And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto Moses [04872], Take [03947] unto thee sweet spices [05561], stacte [05198], and onycha [07827], and galbanum [02464]; these sweet [05561] spices [05561] with pure [02134] frankincense [03828]: of each [0905] shall there be a like [0905] weight: