Jeremiah 6:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Why do you present me with a censer from Sava and cinnamon from a distant land? This implies that I require neither offerings nor labor, but rather a willingness to engage in good deeds. Saba is an Indian region. If it were claimed that My law has been disregarded, one might argue, 'How do we disregard the law while we are making daily sacrifices and burning incense?' The response is that while you may insist on offering incense, God does not appreciatively regard the physical substance or pleasing aroma; rather, He values the intention behind the offering. The most delightful incense is the soul of the one who brings it.

Your offerings do not satisfy Me. Merely performing external acts is insufficient, and unless these outward actions are accompanied by a genuine internal commitment, you gain nothing; your hopes for your sacrifices are in vain. Jeremiah reiterates this idea, declaring, When they fast, I will not hear their cries; and if they present burnt offerings and sacrifices, I will not look upon them with favor (Jeremiah 14:12).

Why do you offer me frankincense from Sheba and aromatic reeds from a distant land? Your burnt offerings do not appeal to me, and your sacrifices are unwelcome. It is well-known that frankincense originates from Sheba, as illustrated in the famous line from Virgil: "and a hundred altars are smoked with incense from Sheba." Regarding the reed, which in Hebrew is termed sape, the LXX and Theodotion have translated it as cinnamon, and the prophet's words indicate that it is sourced from a far-off place, referring to India, known for its fragrant products by the Red Sea. This type of ointment is termed xασίαν ονριγγος by physicians. The implication is clear: it is futile to offer me the spices mandated by the law for the sake of establishing peace while neglecting my will given in the law.

Why do you present to Me the incense from Sava and the cinnamon from distant lands? Your offerings are unacceptable, and your sacrifices do not bring Me joy. Even at a time when the law was still valid, these rituals were considered unnecessary; therefore, it was futile for the Jews to become agitated upon the law's abolition by clinging to its excesses as vital. The prophet also warns (Jeremiah 6:21) about "the sickness by which they were bound," highlighting not just their enslavement but also their growing detest among the nations. Following this, he begins to foretell about the king of Babylon and those who would challenge him, outlining their might, their weapons, their cruelty, and their brutish nature.