Isaiah 66:1–2
God, whose throne is heaven, looks to the afflicted and downcast who tremble at his word
Study it word by word1Thus says YHWH: “The heavens are my throne, and the earth the footstool of my feet. Where is this house that you would build for me, and where is this place of my rest?
2And all these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares YHWH. But to this one I will look: to the afflicted and the stricken in spirit, and the one who trembles at my word.
In its context
…
3One who slaughters the ox, one who strikes a man; one who sacrifices the lamb, one who breaks the neck of a dog; one who presents an offering, the blood of a pig; one who makes a memorial of frankincense, one who blesses wickedness. They too have chosen their ways, and in their detestable things their soul delights.
4I too will choose their cruel dealings, and what they dread I will bring on them; because I called, and no one answered; I spoke, and they did not listen; and they did what was evil in my eyes, and they chose what I did not delight in.”
Its words in the original
- אָמַרamar· say
Say, speak. The most common verb for bringing in what someone says; sometimes "think" (say to oneself) or "command".
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- שָּׁמַיִםshamayim· heavens, sky
The heavens: what is above, where the clouds, the sun and the stars are seen; also the dwelling of God. In Hebrew it is always plural. With birds, "the sky".
- כִּסְאִkisi· throne
Throne: the king's seat, sign of his authority.
- אָרֶץarets· earth, land
The earth, in two senses: the whole world in contrast with the heavens, or a particular country or region ("the land of Egypt").
- הֲדֹםhadom· footstool
Footstool: a low stool on which the feet of someone seated rest. The Bible uses it as an image: the ark, the temple, or the earth is God's "footstool," that is, the place where his throne touches the earth.
- רַגְלָragla· foot
Foot; the foot of an animal; also a step.
- בַיִתvayit· house, household
House. Also the family that lives in it ("the house of Noah") and someone's descendants ("the house of David"); also a temple, "the house of God".
- תִּבְנוּtivnu· build
Build, construct; also rebuild. Figuratively, build up a family (give it children).
- מָקוֹםmakom· place
Place, spot; the space someone or something occupies; also a home or a holy place.
- מְנוּחָתִmenuchati· rest, resting place
Rest, a place of rest.
- יָדִyadi· hand, power
Hand. Figuratively, power or control ("into the hand of" = into the power of); also side, part, or share. Also a projecting piece, such as a tenon.
- עָשָׂתָהasata· do, make
Do, make, in the widest sense: build, produce, carry out, keep (a command), prepare.
- יִּהְיוּyihyu· be, become, happen
Be, exist; also "become" or "happen". It is the verb of "there was", "it was" and "it came to pass".
- נְאֻםneum· declaration
Solemn declaration. "Declares YHWH" is the formula that marks words as spoken by God himself.
- אַבִּיטabit· look
Look intently, gaze; regard, pay attention to.
- עָנִיani· poor, afflicted
Poor, afflicted: one who suffers need and has no one to defend him; also humble.
- נְכֵהneche· stricken, crippled
Struck, stricken; of the feet, crippled; of the spirit, crushed.
- רוּחַruach· spirit, wind, breath
The basic idea is "air in motion". The same word can be "wind"; "breath", the air that is breathed and keeps life; or "spirit": the mood or inner strength of a person, or the Spirit of God, his presence and power at work.
- חָרֵדchared· trembling, afraid
Trembling with fear, afraid. Elsewhere, one who trembles with reverence at the word of God (Isaiah 66:2).
- דְּבָרִdevari· word, matter, thing
Word; what is said. Also "matter" or "thing": what is spoken about, an affair, an event.