Isaiah 66:1
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?
Study Note
Study Note
The divine declaration — '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?' — is the opening challenge of the book's final chapter, qualifying temple theology with prophetic transcendence. The image does not deny the temple's legitimacy but relativizes it: a God who fills heaven and earth cannot be contained in a human structure, making the attitude of worshipers more determinative than the building itself (verse 2). Stephen applies this text in his defense speech (Acts 7:49-50) as evidence that the temple always exceeded Jewish boundaries, anticipating the gospel's universalization of worship. The verse stands in the prophetic tradition's persistent qualification of institutional religion — not abolishing the temple but subordinating it to the God whose presence no structure can limit.
Other Translations
Thus saith Jehovah, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will ye build unto me? and what place shall be my rest?
Thus said Jehovah: The heavens <FI>are<Fi> My throne, And the earth My footstool, Where <FI>is<Fi> this--the house that ye build for Me? And where <FI>is<Fi> this--the place--My rest?
The Lord says, Heaven is the seat of my power, and earth is the resting-place for my feet: what sort of house will you make for me, and what place will be my resting-place?
Cross References
Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the Lord, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell …
In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any …
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much …
Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for …
But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot …
The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the …
Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy.
We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.
Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of …
Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I …