The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to skim past the mention of "the place of my feet." This isn't just a poetic way of referring to the Temple; it's a direct allusion to the Ark of the Covenant, considered God's footstool, where His glory visibly rested. The verse promises that not only will precious materials come to beautify His sanctuary, but God Himself will infuse that sacred space with His own radiant presence.
The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage comes as God promises a future restoration and immense glory for His people, envisioning a time when nations and their riches will flow to Jerusalem. Following descriptions of widespread international tribute and recognition, this verse highlights the specific resources that will contribute to the beautification and glorification of God's sanctuary and dwelling place. The promise of divine presence and glory fills the transformed space, emphasizing its sacredness and splendor.
What do magnificent trees from a faraway mountain have to do with God's dwelling place? Isaiah 60:13 paints a picture of incredible abundance and beauty directed towards God's sanctuary.
Bringing the World's Best to God
Isaiah 60:13 speaks of the "glory of Lebanon" coming to beautify God's sanctuary. Lebanon was famous for its majestic cedar trees, symbolizing strength, beauty, and precious resources.
The idea of God's 'feet' and a 'footstool' might seem strange, but in Isaiah 60:13, it's a powerful image of divine presence and intended glory.
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The Sacred Footstool
In the ancient Near East, a king's footstool was part of his throne, symbolizing his supreme authority and presence. In Isaiah 60:13, "the place of my feet" is a direct reference to the most holy place in the Temple in Jerusalem, specifically where the Ark of the Covenant was kept.
Understand the original words
kābôd · Hebrew Noun
The character, radiance, and manifest presence of God. It signifies His weightiness, honor, and the visible display of His holiness among His creation.
miqdāš · Hebrew Noun
A consecrated place where God dwells or meets with His people. It represents the holiness of God and the center of true worship.
This verse paints a picture of future glory for God's sanctuary, alluding to the magnificent materials of Lebanon and the divine presence symbolized by God's 'feet resting' on the Temple (and ark). It speaks not just of rebuilding but of a far greater, spiritual glory that transcends earthly temples, hinting at the ultimate fulfillment in the Messianic era and the Church.
c. 960 BC
Solomon's Temple Completed
King Solomon completes the First Temple in Jerusalem, a magnificent structure adorned with precious materials and dedicated as the dwelling place of God's presence. This event sets a precedent for sacred architecture and national identity.
586 BC
Destruction of the First Temple
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem and destroy Solomon's Temple, marking a devastating loss for the Jewish people and the end of an era of national sovereignty. This event deeply impacts their understanding of God's presence and dwelling place.
c. 520 BC
Second Temple Construction Begins
Following their return from Babylonian exile, the Jewish people begin rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. While significant, this Second Temple does not fully recapture the glory of Solomon's original structure.
c. 500 BC - 450 BC— this verse
Isaiah's Prophecies Written
The prophecies of Isaiah, including the vision in chapter 60, are written down, offering messages of hope, restoration, and future glory to the exiled and post-exilic Jewish community. This verse speaks of a future, even more glorious dwelling place for God.
c. 20 BC - 10 AD
Herod's Temple Expansion
King Herod the Great undertakes a massive renovation and expansion of the Second Temple, making it more magnificent than its predecessor. However, this grand structure will also face destruction.
c. AD 70
Destruction of the Second Temple
The Roman army destroys the Second Temple in Jerusalem, a catastrophic event that profoundly reshaped Jewish life and religious practice, leading to a dispersal of the Jewish people and a re-evaluation of God's dwelling place.
This passage echoes the imagery of God's dwelling place as a 'footstool,' directly relating to the 'place of my feet' mentioned in Isaiah 60:13, emphasizing the sacredness and divine presence associated with it.
Ezekiel 43:7This verse also refers to the 'place of the soles of his feet' in relation to God's dwelling, connecting the idea of God's physical presence and glory in His sanctuary with the imagery used in Isaiah.
1 Chronicles 28:2King David speaks of the Ark of the Covenant as the 'footstool' of God, providing a historical and theological link to the concept of the 'place of my feet' representing the Ark or the Holy of Holies in the temple.
Psalm 132:7This psalm also uses the phrase 'let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool,' further solidifying the connection between the sanctuary and the 'footstool' imagery found in Isaiah 60:13.
Isaiah 56:7This verse speaks of God's house being called a 'house of prayer for all nations,' which complements Isaiah 60:13's vision of foreign trees and peoples contributing to the glory of God's sanctuary, highlighting the inclusive and glorious future of God's dwelling place.
clarkeIsaiah 60:13: "The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious."
And I will make the place of my feet glorious "And that I may glorify the place whereon I rest my feet" - The temple of Jerusalem was called the house of God, and the place of his rest or residence. The visible symbolical appearance of God, called by the Jews the schechinah, was in the most holy place,…
jfbIsaiah 60:13: "The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious."
- glory—that is, the trees which adorned Lebanon; emblem of men eminent in natural gifts, devoting all that is in them to the God of Israel (Ho 14:5, 6).fir … pine … box—rather, "the cypress … ilex … cedar."place of my sanctuary—Jerusalem (Jer 3:17).place of my feet—no longer the ark (Jer 3:16), "the…
It's easy to skim past the mention of "the place of my feet." This isn't just a poetic way of referring to the Temple; it's a direct allusion to the Ark of the Covenant, considered God's footstool, where His glory visibly rested. The verse promises that not only will precious materials come to beautify His sanctuary, but God Himself will infuse that sacred space with His own radiant presence.
This passage comes as God promises a future restoration and immense glory for His people, envisioning a time when nations and their riches will flow to Jerusalem. Following descriptions of widespread international tribute and recognition, this verse highlights the specific resources that will contribute to the beautification and glorification of God's sanctuary and dwelling place. The promise of divine presence and glory fills the transformed space, emphasizing its sacredness and splendor.
This passage comes as God promises a future restoration and immense glory for His people, envisioning a time when nations and their riches will flow to Jerusalem. Following descriptions of widespread international tribute and recognition, this verse highlights the specific resources that will contribute to the beautification and glorification of God's sanctuary and dwelling place. The promise of divine presence and glory fills the transformed space, emphasizing its sacredness and splendor.
"The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious." — It's easy to skim past the mention of "the place of my feet." This isn't just a poetic way of referring to the Temple; it's a direct allusion to the Ark of the Covenant, considered God's footstool, w…
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Last reviewed October 2026