The big picture
Isaiah 66 opens in verse 1 with “Thus saith the LORD , The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 12 with “For thus saith the LORD , Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory…”, and closes in verse 24 with “And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, glory, fire, flesh, earth. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Isaiah · King James Version · 24Isaiah 66:1-8
1–8: Thus saith the LORD , The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my…
Isaiah 66:1–8 opens with “Thus saith the LORD , The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house…” and reaches “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 66 develops its own movement around LORD, glory, fire, flesh, earth, with particular weight carried by LORD, voice, word.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Thus saith the LORD , The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“He 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…” Naming Yea keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Hear the word of the LORD , ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.” The line’s distinctive content terms include child, delivered, pain. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.
Isaiah 66:1-8
King James Version1Thus 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.
Isaiah 66:9-16
9–16: Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD…
Isaiah 66:9–16 opens with “Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD : shall I cause to…” and reaches “For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 66 develops its own movement around LORD, glory, fire, flesh, earth, with particular weight carried by LORD, fire, rejoice.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD : shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with…” The line’s distinctive content terms include abundance, breasts, consolations. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.
Isaiah 66:9-16
King James Version9Shall 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.
Isaiah 66:17-24
17–24: They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens…
Isaiah 66:17–24 opens with “They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the…” and reaches “And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 66 develops its own movement around LORD, glory, fire, flesh, earth, with particular weight carried by LORD, flesh, glory.
Context that brings the passage to life
“They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD .” Naming Levites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Isaiah 66:17-24
King James Version17They 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Isaiah 66:1 begins with “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?”
Where the chapter turns
Isaiah 66:9 forms a natural hinge: “Shall 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.”
The final note
Isaiah 66:24 leaves the reader with “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…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, glory, fire, flesh, earth, Jerusalem help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
- spake
- spoke
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.