7:7a

They: When Isaiah spoke, the word They referred to the Jewish people who did not worship God properly. In this context, the word They refers to the Pharisees and teachers of the law. If you have used a second-person pronoun (“you people”) in 7:6b, it will probably be best to continue using the second person (you) here.

worship: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as worship means to express devotion and reverence for God or for other gods or idols. Some of the ways that people worship God are giving offerings and sacrifices, praying, bowing down or kneeling to show respect and submission, serving him obediently, and speaking or singing about him.

In this context the meaning of worship is similar to the meaning of honor in 7:6c.

Here are some other ways to translate worship in this context:

They serve/worship me
-or-
Their reverence of me (New Jerusalem Bible)

Me: The word Me again refers to God.

in vain: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates in vain means “to no purpose,” “uselessly,” or “without result.” For example:

It is no use for them to worship me (Good News Bible)
-or-
Their worship of me is worthless. (New Century Version)

7:7b

The clause in 7:7b explains the manner in which people were not honoring God and how they were worshiping without purpose. Some translations make this clear by adding a connecting word. For example:

for they teach as doctrines the commandments of men (Revised English Bible)
-or-
because their teachings are rules made by humans (God’s Word)

they teach as doctrine the precepts of men: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as they teach as doctrine the precepts of men indicates that the Pharisees and teachers of the law taught their own man-made rules instead of the laws that came from God. For example:

The things they teach are nothing but human rules. (New Century Version)
-or-
for they replace God’s commands with their own man-made teachings (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)

they teach: The pronoun they refers to the Pharisees and scribes.

General Comment on 7:6b–7b

In some languages, it will be more natural to translate the passage from Isaiah as an indirect quote. This will mean changing the pronoun “me” to “God” or “him.” For example:

6bIt is written that God said that 6cthese people honor God/him with their lips, 6dbut their hearts are far from him. 7aThey worship him in vain; 7btheir teachings are but rules taught by men.

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