Isaiah 66:1

Isaiah 66:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
• New International Version (NIV)This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Thus says the Lord: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?

Context of Isaiah 66:1

This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Could you build me such a resting place? 2My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken! “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word. 3But those who choose their own ways— delighting in their detestable sins— will not have their offerings accepted. When such people sacrifice a bull, it is no more acceptable than a human sacrifice. When they sacrifice a lamb, it’s as though they had sacrificed a dog! When they bring an offering of grain, they might as well offer the blood of a pig. When they burn frankincense, it’s as if they had blessed an idol.

Isaiah 66:1 word by word

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם כִּסְאִ֔י וְהָאָ֖רֶץ הֲדֹ֣ם רַגְלָ֑י אֵי־זֶ֥ה בַ֙יִת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּבְנוּ־לִ֔י וְאֵי־זֶ֥ה מָק֖וֹם מְנוּחָתִֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thus saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• The heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
• my throneכִּסֵּאkissê' kissêh · throneH3678
• and the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• my footstoolהֲדֹםhădôm · footstoolH1916
• my footstoolרֶ֫גֶלregel · footH7272
• the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: templeH1004
• that ye buildבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• the placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
• of my restמְנוּחָהmenûchâh menûchâh · restingH4496

Cross-references for Isaiah 66:1

• 1 Kings 8:27“But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!
• 1 Chronicles 28:2David rose to his feet and said: “My brothers and my people! It was my desire to build a Temple where the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, God’s footstool, could rest permanently. I made the necessary preparations for building it,
• 2 Chronicles 6:18“But will God really live on earth among people? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!
• Psalms 11:4But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.
• Psalms 99:9Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain in Jerusalem, for the Lord our God is holy!
• Psalms 132:7Let us go to the sanctuary of the Lord; let us worship at the footstool of his throne.
• Matthew 5:34But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne.
• Matthew 23:21And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it.
• Acts 17:24“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples,
• 2 Samuel 7:5“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in?
• Jeremiah 7:4But don’t be fooled by those who promise you safety simply because the Lord’s Temple is here. They chant, “The Lord’s Temple is here! The Lord’s Temple is here!”
• Malachi 1:11But my name is honored by people of other nations from morning till night. All around the world they offer sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name is great among the nations,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
• Matthew 24:2But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
• John 4:20So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”
• Acts 7:48However, the Most High doesn’t live in temples made by human hands. As the prophet says,

Commentaries on Isaiah 66:1

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The heaven is my throne - (See the notes at Isaiah 57:15). Here he is represented as having his seat or throne there. He speaks as a king. heaven is the place where he holds his court; from where he dispenses his commands; and from where he surveys all his works (compare 2 Chronicles 6:18; Matthew 5:34). The idea here is, that as God dwelt in the vast and distant heavens, no house that could be built on earth could be magnificent enough to be his abode…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1God looks at the heart, and vengeance is threatened for guilt. (Is. 66:1-4) The increase of the church, when Jew and Gentile shall be gathered to the Redeemer. (Is. 66:5-14) Every enemy of the church shall be destroyed, and the final ruin of ungodly men shall be seen. (Is. 66:15-24) Verses 1-4 The Jews gloried much in their temple. But what satisfaction can the Eternal Mind take in a house made with men's hands? God has a heaven and an earth of his own…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1My throne … My footstool: God's kingdom extends over all creation (see Isaiah 40:22; Matthew 5:34–035). house … place of repose: The entire universe is God's home, so humans cannot confine him to a building (see 1 Kings 8:27). Stephen quoted Isaiah 66:1–2a in his final sermon (Acts 7:49–50).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-24This closing chapter is the summary of Isaiah's prophecies as to the last days, hence the similarity of its sentiments with what went before. 1. heaven ... throne ... where is ... house ... ye build--The same sentiment is expressed, as a precautionary proviso for the majesty of God in deigning to own any earthly temple as His, as if He could be circumscribed by space (1Ki 8:27) in inaugurating the temple of stone; next, as to the temple of the Holy Ghost…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 66:1

• Earth
• Footstool
• God
• Heaven
• Quotations and Allusions
• Stool
• Throne
• Worship

In the dictionaries

• Draw
• Extend
• Footstool
• Throne
• God
• Heavens
• Isaiah
• Manner; Manners
• Omnipresence

Commentaries on Isaiah 66

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings