Major Prophets · Chapter 66 of 66

Isaiah 66

Isaiah closes with God enthroned above heaven and earth, seeking not grand temples but the humble and contrite who tremble at his word. He promises Zion's sudden birth of children, comforts her like a nursing mother, extends peace like a river, and gathers all nations and tongues to see his glory. Judgment and joy stand together, and new heavens and new earth will endure.

What happens in Isaiah 66

The LORD declares that heaven is his throne and earth his footstool, so no house men build can contain him; he looks instead to the poor and contrite who tremble at his word. He rejects hollow sacrifice offered by those who choose their own abominations. He assures the persecuted, cast out by mocking brethren, that he will appear to their joy while their enemies are shamed. A startling image follows: Zion travails and brings forth a nation in a day.

God comforts Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child and promises peace like a river and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then he comes with fire to judge all flesh. He gathers all nations and tongues to see his glory, sends survivors as messengers to distant lands, takes even Gentiles as priests, and establishes new heavens and new earth where all flesh worships him.

Isaiah 66 in context

Isaiah 66 concludes a book spanning eighth-century judgment on Judah and comfort for exiles. These final chapters look beyond Babylon to a restored, worldwide worship. The people had trusted temple ritual while ignoring the heart; Isaiah answers that God dwells with the contrite, not in buildings alone.

Written to a community tempted by empty religion and threatened by hostile neighbors, the chapter binds severe judgment to expansive hope, ending Isaiah's vision where it began, with the holy God and his people.

Main themes of Isaiah 66

Isaiah 66 (KJV)

1Thus 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? 2For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. 3He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. 4I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. 5Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. 6A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies. 7Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. 8Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. 9Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. 10Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: 11That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. 12For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. 13As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 14And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies. 15For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. 17They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. 18For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. 19And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. 20And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. 21And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD. 22For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. 24And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Verses to carry from Isaiah 66

“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?”Isaiah 66:1

“For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”Isaiah 66:2

“And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.”Isaiah 66:24

Reflection

God looks past every impressive thing we build to the state of our heart, welcoming the one who trembles at his word. Ask where you have trusted appearances, religious or otherwise, over honest contrition before him. The same God who judges evil comforts his own like a mother. Come to him lowly, and be gathered into his glory.

A prayer from Isaiah 66