God declares this place will be His eternal dwelling, emphasizing His personal presence with His people. However, this sacred dwelling is presented not just as a promise, but as a new beginning, where Israel will no longer defile God's name, as they had so grievously done through idolatry and the literal or symbolic "carcasses of their kings" in forbidden places.
and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoring and by the dead bodies of their kings at their high places,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel is shown a vision of a new temple and the returning glory of God to it, signifying His permanent presence among His people. This vision serves as a covenant renewal, promising that unlike past failures, Israel will no longer defile God's holy name through idolatry or corrupt worship, especially in the context of their kings and their illicit practices. The prophet is being given a blueprint for a purified future dwelling place for God, emphasizing His perpetual habitation and the cessation of Israel's historical faithlessness.
Ezekiel sees a vision of God's presence returning to a new temple. But how does God describe this sacred space? It's more than just a building.
In Ezekiel 43:7, God uses vivid imagery to describe the temple: 'the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet.'
Majesty and Condescension
Together, these phrases paint a picture of a holy place where divine glory meets human accessibility. This isn't just a building; it's where the King of the universe chooses to be present, intimately involved with His people.
God promises to dwell with His people forever in this new temple. What does this 'forever' mean, especially in light of past failures?
The promise in Ezekiel 43:7 is revolutionary: 'where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever.'
A New Era of Presence
Ask a follow-up
The vision isn't just about God's glorious presence; it's also about the end of impurity. What specific sins are being rejected here?
Ezekiel 43:7 declares that the house of Israel 'shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoring and by the dead bodies of their kings at their high places.'
The End of Idolatry
This section emphasizes a future cleansed from the sins that led to exile. It points to a restored people who will honor God's name by living in holiness, free from the idolatry and false worship that had so deeply corrupted them.
Understand the original words
kisse' · Hebrew Noun
The seat of God's sovereign rule and authority over the cosmos and His people. It represents His kingship, majesty, and the central focus of divine government.
qodesh · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
The state of being set apart for God's exclusive use; possessing absolute purity and moral perfection. It is the defining attribute of God that demands reverent separation from anything profane or impure.
zenuth · Hebrew Noun
Metaphorically used in Scripture to describe spiritual unfaithfulness, apostasy, or the abandonment of the covenant relationship with the one true God in favor of idols.
bamah · Hebrew Noun
Refers to unauthorized, idolatrous worship centers built outside the central sanctuary appointed by God. These sites became hubs for apostasy and religious corruption in Israel.
Ezekiel's vision of God's renewed dwelling signifies a future where His people, transformed by exile and return, will no longer defile His name through the idolatry and corruption that led to their destruction.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, conquering many cities and besieging Jerusalem. This event highlighted the vulnerability of the Davidic kingdom and led to religious reforms under King Hezekiah, including the centralization of worship.
622 BC
Josiah's Reforms
The Book of the Law is discovered in the Temple, leading King Josiah to initiate sweeping religious reforms. He destroyed idolatrous altars and high places throughout the land, attempting to purify worship and centralize it in Jerusalem.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and deports a group of Judean nobles and skilled workers, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This marked the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar again deports Judeans to Babylon, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel. This exile deeply impacted the religious and national identity of the people.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and scattering the remaining Judeans. This catastrophic event raised profound questions about God's presence and covenant faithfulness.
c. 570 BC
Ezekiel's Vision of the New Temple
While in exile, Ezekiel receives a series of visions detailing a restored Jerusalem and a new, glorious Temple. This vision, including the words in Ezekiel 43:7, offered hope for future restoration and reaffirmed God's holy presence.
This passage describes God's throne dwelling between the cherubim over the Ark of the Covenant, setting the precedent for God's presence being associated with a specific, sacred 'place'.
John 2:19-21Jesus' declaration about destroying and rebuilding 'this temple' in three days points to His own body as the true dwelling place of God, fulfilling Ezekiel's vision in a deeply personal way.
2 Corinthians 6:16This New Testament passage echoes Ezekiel's promise by stating that believers, as the temple of the living God, become God's dwelling place, marking a spiritual fulfillment of God's presence among His people.
Isaiah 66:1This verse highlights God's transcendence, stating that heaven is His throne and the earth His footstool, which provides a powerful contrast to His condescension in dwelling physically among His people as described in Ezekiel.
1 Chronicles 28:2David's lament that he, a mortal man, dwells in a palace while the Ark of God is in a tent emphasizes the sacredness of God's dwelling place, a theme central to Ezekiel's vision of God's renewed presence.
clarkeEzekiel 43:7: "And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places."
Son of man, the place of my throne - The throne refers to his majesty; the soles of his feet, to his condescension in dwelling among men. Where I will d…
pulpitEzekiel 43:7: "And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places."
Verses 7-12. - Debate exists as to who the speaker in the seventh verse was, whether Jehovah or the man - some holding with Kliefoth, Ewald, Smend, and…
God declares this place will be His eternal dwelling, emphasizing His personal presence with His people. However, this sacred dwelling is presented not just as a promise, but as a new beginning, where Israel will no longer defile God's name, as they had so grievously done through idolatry and the literal or symbolic "carcasses of their kings" in forbidden places.
Ezekiel is shown a vision of a new temple and the returning glory of God to it, signifying His permanent presence among His people. This vision serves as a covenant renewal, promising that unlike past failures, Israel will no longer defile God's holy name through idolatry or corrupt worship, especially in the context of their kings and their illicit practices. The prophet is being given a blueprint for a purified future dwelling place for God, emphasizing His perpetual habitation and the cessation of Israel's historical faithlessness.
Ezekiel is shown a vision of a new temple and the returning glory of God to it, signifying His permanent presence among His people. This vision serves as a covenant renewal, promising that unlike past failures, Israel will no longer defile God's holy name through idolatry or corrupt worship, especially in the context of their kings and their illicit practices. The prophet is being given a blueprint for a purified future dwelling place for God, emphasizing His perpetual habitation and the cessation of Israel's historical faithlessness.
"and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they,…" — God declares this place will be His eternal dwelling, emphasizing His personal presence with His people. However, this sacred dwelling is presented not just as a promise, but as a new beginning, wher…
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Last reviewed October 2026
