Temple symbolism

The world is compared to the human temple (needing the clothing of justice and Revelation (and needing it renewed periodically))

"Know thou that they who are truly wise have likened the world unto the human temple. As the body of man needeth a garment to clothe it, so the body of mankind must needs be adorned with the mantle of justice and wisdom. Its robe is the Revelation vouchsafed unto it by God. Whenever this robe hath fulfilled its purpose, the Almighty will assuredly renew it. For every age requireth a fresh measure of the light of God. Every Divine Revelation hath been sent down in a manner that befitted the circumstances of the age in which it hath appeared."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings, p. 81)

The Word of God appearing in the temple of all regions is as the soul pervading a sound body

"O my friend, verily the Cause is great and great, and the penetration of the Word of God in the temple of all the regions is similar to the pervasion of the soul in a sound body."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í World Faith, p. 393)

See also

• House of Worship symbolism (for the specific meanings of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár)
• Súriy-i-Haykal (on this work of Bahá'u'lláh being the Temple promised in the Old Testament)