Note: Words are shown in their original Hebrew order, which differs from English translations. This reflects the emphasis and structure of Scripture as originally written. Click any word to see its full lexicon entry.
1This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?
2Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.
3Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations.
4So I will choose their punishment and I will bring terror upon them, because I called and no one answered, I spoke and no one listened. But they did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”
5You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD: “Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of My name have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified that we may see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.”
8Who has heard of such as this? Who has seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be delivered in an instant? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children.
12For this is what the LORD says: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flowing stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm, and bounced upon her knees.
14When you see, you will rejoice, and you will flourish like grass; then the hand of the LORD will be revealed to His servants, but His wrath will be shown to His enemies.
17“Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves—to follow one in the center of those who eat the flesh of swine and vermin and rats—will perish together,” declares the LORD.
19I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. So they will proclaim My glory among the nations.
20And they will bring all your brothers from all the nations as a gift to the LORD on horses and chariots and wagons, on mules and camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “just as the Israelites bring an offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD.”
22“For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me,” declares the LORD, “so your descendants and your name will endure.
24“As they go forth, they will see the corpses of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never be quenched, and they will be a horror to all mankind.”
Isaiah 66 is the triumphant conclusion to Isaiah's prophecy, presenting a stark contrast between two kinds of worship and two kinds of people. The Lord begins by rejecting the pride of those who offer outward religious performance without genuine heart devotion, then pivots to proclaim glorious restoration and future glory for His faithful remnant. The chapter culminates in magnificent promises of a renewed creation, the ingathering of all nations, and the eternal worship of God—while also warning of final judgment upon the rebellious.
The chapter opens with a profound declaration of God's transcendence. The Lord sits upon heaven as His throne and the earth as His footstool (verse 1). This image—drawn from ancient Near Eastern royal imagery—emphasizes that no building, however magnificent, can contain the infinite God. The implied question "where is the house that ye build unto me?" challenges Israel's confidence in their temple and their religious infrastructure.
Verse 2 pivots to reveal what truly moves the heart of God. He does not gaze upon grand temples or elaborate ceremonies, but rather upon the person who is poor, contrite in spirit, and trembles at His word. This is the consistent biblical theme: God values humility, repentance, and reverence above ritualism.
Verses 3–4 deliver a stunning rebuke. The Lord compares acceptable sacrifices offered without genuine devotion to abominations: killing an ox becomes like murdering a man, sacrificing a lamb like executing a dog. These verses do not condemn the sacrificial system itself (which God ordained) but rather the hollow performance of ritual by those whose hearts are elsewhere. Verse 4 announces divine judgment: the Lord will choose their delusions and bring their fears upon them—a warning that those who reject God's voice will experience the consequences of their own choices.
Verse 5 offers comfort to the faithful remnant who are persecuted: those who tremble at God's word are assured that their persecutors will be shamed when the Lord appears for their joy. This is an encouragement to the suffering saint.
Verses 6–8 announce judgment upon Jerusalem's enemies, using the striking metaphor of a woman giving birth. Before labor, Zion brings forth her children (verse 7)—a miraculous reversal of nature that speaks to the unprecedented restoration God will accomplish. Verse 9 reinforces this promise: the God who brings to birth will not leave the work incomplete.
Verses 10–14 shift into unrestrained celebration. The faithful are called to rejoice with Jerusalem and to drink deeply of her consolations (verses 10–11). The imagery of nursing, abundance, and comfort portrays a people satisfied and restored. God promises to extend peace like a river and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream (verse 12)—indicating that nations will bring their wealth and honor to Zion. Verse 13 captures the tenderness of God's care: as a mother comforts her child, so the Lord comforts His people.
The tone shifts dramatically in verse 15. The Lord comes with fire and fury to render judgment upon His enemies. Verses 16–17 describe God pleading (or contending) with all flesh through fire and sword, consuming those who pursue idolatrous and defiled practices. This is not God's delight but His necessary response to persistent rebellion.
Verses 18–21 return to glory: the Lord will gather all nations to witness His glory, and those who escape judgment will carry the gospel to distant lands and bring converted nations back to Jerusalem as an offering. The Lord will even make some of these former outsiders into priests and Levites—a stunning inclusion.
Verses 22–24 conclude with the permanence of the redeemed and the finality of judgment: as the new heavens and earth endure, so shall God's people endure. The chapter ends soberly with the fate of transgressors—eternal separation and shame (verse 24)—emphasizing that the gospel, though full of mercy, involves real and ultimate consequences for rejection.
Application for Today
Isaiah 66 calls us to examine our own worship. Do we approach God with trembling reverence and genuine repentance, or merely with habit and external performance? The chapter assures believers that faithful devotion, however small and hidden, is precious to the Lord. It also fixes our eyes on the future—a day when all nations will worship the true God and His kingdom will be established forever. Let us serve with sincere hearts and anticipate with joy the return of our King.
Study Notes — Isaiah 66
4 sectionsIsaiah 66 is the triumphant conclusion to Isaiah's prophecy, presenting a stark contrast between two kinds of worship and two kinds of people. The Lord begins by rejecting the pride of those who offer outward religious performance without genuine heart devotion, then pivots to proclaim glorious restoration and future glory for His faithful remnant. The chapter culminates in magnificent promises of a renewed creation, the ingathering of all nations, and the eternal worship of God—while also warning of final judgment upon the rebellious.
The chapter opens with a profound declaration of God's transcendence. The Lord sits upon heaven as His throne and the earth as His footstool (verse 1). This image—drawn from ancient Near Eastern royal imagery—emphasizes that no building, however magnificent, can contain the infinite God. The implied question "where is the house that ye build unto me?" challenges Israel's confidence in their temple and their religious infrastructure.
Verse 2 pivots to reveal what truly moves the heart of God. He does not gaze upon grand temples or elaborate ceremonies, but rather upon the person who is poor, contrite in spirit, and trembles at His word. This is the consistent biblical theme: God values humility, repentance, and reverence above ritualism.
Verses 3–4 deliver a stunning rebuke. The Lord compares acceptable sacrifices offered without genuine devotion to abominations: killing an ox becomes like murdering a man, sacrificing a lamb like executing a dog. These verses do not condemn the sacrificial system itself (which God ordained) but rather the hollow performance of ritual by those whose hearts are elsewhere. Verse 4 announces divine judgment: the Lord will choose their delusions and bring their fears upon them—a warning that those who reject God's voice will experience the consequences of their own choices.
Verse 5 offers comfort to the faithful remnant who are persecuted: those who tremble at God's word are assured that their persecutors will be shamed when the Lord appears for their joy. This is an encouragement to the suffering saint.
Verses 6–8 announce judgment upon Jerusalem's enemies, using the striking metaphor of a woman giving birth. Before labor, Zion brings forth her children (verse 7)—a miraculous reversal of nature that speaks to the unprecedented restoration God will accomplish. Verse 9 reinforces this promise: the God who brings to birth will not leave the work incomplete.
Verses 10–14 shift into unrestrained celebration. The faithful are called to rejoice with Jerusalem and to drink deeply of her consolations (verses 10–11). The imagery of nursing, abundance, and comfort portrays a people satisfied and restored. God promises to extend peace like a river and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream (verse 12)—indicating that nations will bring their wealth and honor to Zion. Verse 13 captures the tenderness of God's care: as a mother comforts her child, so the Lord comforts His people.
The tone shifts dramatically in verse 15. The Lord comes with fire and fury to render judgment upon His enemies. Verses 16–17 describe God pleading (or contending) with all flesh through fire and sword, consuming those who pursue idolatrous and defiled practices. This is not God's delight but His necessary response to persistent rebellion.
Verses 18–21 return to glory: the Lord will gather all nations to witness His glory, and those who escape judgment will carry the gospel to distant lands and bring converted nations back to Jerusalem as an offering. The Lord will even make some of these former outsiders into priests and Levites—a stunning inclusion.
Verses 22–24 conclude with the permanence of the redeemed and the finality of judgment: as the new heavens and earth endure, so shall God's people endure. The chapter ends soberly with the fate of transgressors—eternal separation and shame (verse 24)—emphasizing that the gospel, though full of mercy, involves real and ultimate consequences for rejection.
Isaiah 66 calls us to examine our own worship. Do we approach God with trembling reverence and genuine repentance, or merely with habit and external performance? The chapter assures believers that faithful devotion, however small and hidden, is precious to the Lord. It also fixes our eyes on the future—a day when all nations will worship the true God and His kingdom will be established forever. Let us serve with sincere hearts and anticipate with joy the return of our King.