Isaiah 66:2 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God looks not to grand buildings but to the humble and repentant in heart.
The Context of Isaiah 66:2
God values broken humility over ceremonial grandeur.
What Does Isaiah 66:2 Mean?
God's hand created all things—the very universe He just described as His throne. Yet what captures His attention is not the magnificence of creation or elaborate temples, but the person whose spirit is broken and poor, whose heart trembles at God's word. This inverts earthly values: the greatest thing in the universe is a humble human heart responsive to God.
Poverty of spirit and contrite spirit are marks of spiritual receptiveness. To tremble at God's word means to take His communication seriously, to be moved and changed by it. This person recognizes their need for God and yields to His truth—a posture God treasures above all outward ceremony or architectural splendor.
Isaiah 66:2 in the Original Language
tremble (חָרַד, charad) — to quiver or shudder, expressing deep reverence and fear before God's word.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 66:2
What does Isaiah 66:2 mean?
God looks not to grand buildings but to the humble and repentant in heart.
What is the context of Isaiah 66:2?
God values broken humility over ceremonial grandeur.