Acts 7:49
What does Acts 7:49 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 7:49 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 7:49 means
Heaven is God’s throne and earth His footstool: what house can humans build to be His rest? Stephen uses the prophet’s language to exalt God above creation. The entire cosmos serves as God’s throne room; thus, any building, however grand, cannot contain Him. The rhetorical questions humble human pride in religious structures. A true view of God’s majesty leads to proper use of sacred places—as aids to worship, not replacements for God Himself. Stephen’s citation aligns him with Israel’s prophets, not against them, and calls his listeners to measure their reverence for the Temple by their obedience to the God who transcends it.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet: What manner of house will ye build me? saith the Lord: Or what is the place of my rest?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet: What manner of house will ye build me? saith the Lord: Or what is the place of my rest?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Heaven is the seat of my power, and earth is a resting-place for my feet: what sort of house will you make for me, says the Lord, or what is my place of rest?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862The heaven <FI>is<Fi> My throne, and the earth My footstool; what house will ye build to Me? saith the Lord, or what <FI>is<Fi> the place of My rest?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Heaven is my throne and the earth my footstool. What house will you build me (saith the Lord)? Or what is the place of my resting?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890The heaven [is] my throne and the earth the footstool of my feet: what house will ye build me? saith [the] Lord, or where [is the] place of my rest?
Context
Continuing the prophetic quotation, verse 49 magnifies God’s transcendent greatness. Verse 50 will conclude the citation by reminding that God made all things. This theological summit positions Stephen to pivot in verses 51–53 to a sharp indictment: despite receiving the Law through angels, the council resists the Holy Spirit and rejects the Righteous One. The contrast between God’s greatness and Israel’s stubbornness will sharpen the force of his words.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 7:4
Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, are these.
- Matthew 23:22
And he that sweareth by the heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
- Malachi 1:11
For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the Gentiles, saith Jehovah of hosts.
- John 4:21
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father.
- Isaiah 66:1
Thus saith Jehovah, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will ye build unto me? and what place shall be my rest?
- Jeremiah 23:24
Can any hide himself in secret places so that I shall not see him? saith Jehovah. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith Jehovah.
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