The Meaning of Isaiah 66:1 Explained

Isaiah 66:1

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?

YLT: Thus said Jehovah: The heavens are My throne, And the earth My footstool, Where is this -- the house that ye build for Me? And where is this -- the place -- My rest?

Darby: Thus saith Jehovah: The heavens are my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what is the house that ye will build unto me? and what is the place of my rest?

ASV: 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?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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? 

What does Isaiah 66:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 66:1-14 - God's People Made A Blessing
The prophet forecasts the advent of a new day, when places and rites would be comparatively unimportant compared with the condition of the heart, Isaiah 66:1-4. The opening words were quoted by Stephen, when announcing the substitution of spiritual worship for the effete system which it superseded. See Acts 7:48-49. What is the outward rite to God, when the spirit has fled? It was all one to Him, whether a man killed a lamb in the Temple, or broke a dog's neck on his farm. His chosen home is not in ornate temples but in contrite hearts!
The blessedness of God's people is depicted in glowing words, Isaiah 66:5-14. God will appear, to the joy of His people and the recompense of their foes. Those times will be characterized by great revivals, and souls will be easily born into the heavenly kingdom. The Jew and Gentile will meet like confluent streams in one blessed channel. But, above all, we shall become aware of the mother-side in God's nature. As one whom his mother comforteth, Isaiah 66:13. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 66

1  The glorious God will be served in humble sincerity
5  He comforts the humble by showing the confusion of their enemies
7  With the marvelous growth
10  And the gracious benefits of the church
15  God's severe judgments against the wicked
18  The Gentiles shall have an holy church
24  And see the damnation of the wicked

What do the individual words in Isaiah 66:1 mean?

Thus says Yahweh Heaven [is] My throne and earth [is] my footstool My footstool where [is] the the house that you will build Me and where [is] then the place of My rest
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם כִּסְאִ֔י וְהָאָ֖רֶץ הֲדֹ֣ם רַגְלָ֑י אֵי־ זֶ֥ה בַ֙יִת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּבְנוּ־ לִ֔י וְאֵי־ זֶ֥ה מָק֖וֹם ؟ מְנוּחָתִֽי

כֹּ֚ה  Thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֣ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם  Heaven  [is] 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
כִּסְאִ֔י  My  throne 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: כִּסֵּא 
Sense: seat (of honour), throne, seat, stool.
וְהָאָ֖רֶץ  and  earth  [is] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
הֲדֹ֣ם  my  footstool 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הֲדֹם  
Sense: stool, footstool.
רַגְלָ֑י  My  footstool 
Parse: Noun, fdc, first person common singular
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.
אֵי־  where  [is] 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: אֵי  
Sense: where?, whence?.
בַ֙יִת֙  the  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
תִּבְנוּ־  you  will  build 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
לִ֔י  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
וְאֵי־  and  where  [is] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative
Root: אֵי  
Sense: where?, whence?.
מָק֖וֹם  the  place 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
؟ מְנוּחָתִֽי  of  My  rest 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מְנוּחָה 
Sense: resting place, rest.