15:9a

They: When Isaiah spoke, the word they referred to the Jewish people who did not worship God properly. When Jesus quoted what Isaiah said, he used it to refer to the Pharisees and teachers of the law. If you have used the phrase “you people” in 15:8a, it will probably be best to continue using it here.

worship Me: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as worship means to “show devotion and reverence” to God or a false god. People worship God in many ways. They give offerings and sacrifices, they pray, they bow down or kneel to show respect and submission, they serve him obediently, and they speak or sing about him.

In this context the meaning of worship is similar to the meaning of “honor” in 15:8a.

Here are some other ways to translate worship:

They praise me
-or-
They pray to me

Me: The word Me refers to God.

in vain: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in vain means “to no purpose,” “uselessly,” or “without result.” This word indicates that their worship has no result or no benefit.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Their worship of me is pointless (God’s Word)
-or-
Their worship of me is worthless (New Century Version)
-or-
They praise me, but it has no value
-or-
When they pray to me, I am not touched/pleased.

15:9b

The clause in 15:9b is the basis for the statement in 15:9a that people were worshiping in vain. Some English versions make this clear by adding a connecting word. For example:

because they teach human rules as though they were my laws (Good News Translation)

they teach as doctrine the precepts of men: The word doctrine refers to God’s laws. The phrase precepts of men refers to man-made rules.

This clause means that the Pharisees and scribes taught the rules that they made themselves. Not only that, they taught these rules as if they came from God.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

they teach human rules as though they were my laws! (Good News Translation)
-or-
they teach man-made ideas as commands from God (New Living Translation (2004))

-or-

they teach their own rules and say that they are rules/laws ⌊from God⌋

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