2 Chronicles 1:1 kjv
And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.
2 Chronicles 1:1 nkjv
Now Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and exalted him exceedingly.
2 Chronicles 1:1 niv
Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.
2 Chronicles 1:1 esv
Solomon the son of David established himself in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.
2 Chronicles 1:1 nlt
Solomon son of David took firm control of his kingdom, for the LORD his God was with him and made him very powerful.
2 Chronicles 1 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 16:13 | "and the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day forward." | God's anointing and power on chosen leaders. |
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | "I will raise up your offspring after you...I will establish his kingdom." | Foundation of the Davidic covenant and its promise to Solomon. |
| 1 Kgs 2:12 | "Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established." | Parallels this verse, highlighting stability. |
| 1 Kgs 2:46b | "...and the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon." | Reiteration of kingdom's establishment. |
| 1 Chr 29:23 | "Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king in place of David his father." | Solomon's rule is seen as divinely appointed and authorized. |
| Gen 26:3 | "...I will be with you and will bless you..." | God's promise to be with His chosen, ensuring blessing. |
| Gen 39:2 | "The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man..." | God's presence brings success and prosperity. |
| Exod 3:12 | "I will be with you. And this will be the sign..." | God's promise of presence with Moses during his mission. |
| Deut 31:6 | "Be strong and courageous...for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you." | Encouragement based on God's unwavering presence. |
| Josh 1:5 | "No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you..." | God's assurance of presence and victory for Joshua. |
| Psa 75:6-7 | "For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one and exalts another." | Divine sovereignty over exaltation and authority. |
| Prov 3:9-10 | "Honor the Lord with your wealth...then your barns will be filled with abundance..." | Connection between honoring God and material blessing. |
| Isa 41:10 | "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God." | God's comforting presence dispels fear. |
| Jer 1:8 | "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to rescue you," declares the Lord." | God's promise of presence and protection for Jeremiah. |
| Hag 2:4 | "...and work, for I am with you," declares the Lord Almighty. | God's presence empowers for work and mission. |
| Zech 8:23 | "...we will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." | Acknowledgment that God's presence distinguishes His people. |
| Dan 2:21 | "He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings." | God's ultimate control over all earthly rulers. |
| Matt 28:20 | "...and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." | Christ's promise of abiding presence with believers. |
| Acts 10:38 | "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him." | God's presence empowering Jesus' ministry. |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established." | All authority, including kingship, ultimately comes from God. |
| Php 4:13 | "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." | Strength and enablement come from divine source. |
2 Chronicles 1 verses
2 Chronicles 1 1 Meaning
This verse encapsulates the pivotal establishment of Solomon's reign as divinely orchestrated and supported. It signifies that Solomon, as the son of David and inheritor of the Davidic covenant, did not merely ascend to the throne through human political maneuvering, but was powerfully and securely affirmed by the Lord his God. The verse attributes his initial consolidation of power and subsequent extraordinary flourishing, encompassing wisdom, wealth, and widespread influence, directly to the active presence and benevolent intervention of God.
2 Chronicles 1 1 Context
This verse serves as a crucial transition and programmatic statement for Solomon's reign within the Chronicler's narrative. Following the extensive details of David's preparations for the Temple and his commissioning of Solomon in the final chapters of 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles 1:1 immediately establishes Solomon's firm authority and prosperity as directly attributed to God. This opening frames Solomon's kingship not primarily as a political achievement but as a divinely sanctioned continuation of God's covenant with David. Historically, Solomon's ascension faced challenges from his half-brother Adonijah (1 Kgs 1-2), making the statement "established himself firmly" a strong affirmation of divine override. The verse sets the stage for the account of Solomon seeking wisdom at Gibeon, where God's active involvement in his greatness becomes even more apparent, ensuring that the grand project of the Temple's construction proceeds under divine favor. The Chronicler emphasizes God's faithfulness to the Davidic line and the central importance of the Temple for Judah's spiritual life.
2 Chronicles 1 1 Word analysis
- Solomon (שְׁלֹמֹה - Shelomoh): Derived from shalom (peace, completeness). His name foreshadows a reign characterized by peace, following David's reign of wars. He is explicitly identified as the direct successor, emphasizing the continuity of the Davidic line.
- son of David (בֶּן־דָּוִיד - ben-Daviyda): Highlights his legitimacy and connects him directly to the covenant God made with David (2 Sam 7), ensuring an everlasting kingdom through David's lineage. This establishes Solomon as the chosen vessel for fulfilling parts of that covenant.
- established himself firmly (וַיִּתְחַזֵּק - vayyitḥazzaq): From the root ḥāzaq (חָזַק), meaning to be strong, courageous, firm, or to take hold of. This Hithpael verb form implies an active strengthening of oneself or a being made strong. It suggests Solomon’s intentional efforts in consolidating power, but implicitly, as the rest of the verse clarifies, this strength is supernaturally empowered. It signifies overcoming potential instability or opposition to achieve a secure position.
- over his kingdom (עַל־מַלְכוּתֹו - ʿal-malkûtô): Defines the sphere of his authority. This refers to the entirety of Israel, inheriting the unified kingdom established by David, including all territories and peoples under its dominion.
- for (כִּי - kî): This conjunction introduces the divine reason or cause for Solomon's firmness and subsequent greatness. It directly attributes his success to God, negating any perception of purely human achievement.
- the Lord his God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהָיו - YHWH ʾĕlōhāyw):
- Lord (YHWH - יהוה): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, covenantal relationship with Israel and its kings. It highlights His faithfulness to His promises.
- his God (אֱלֹהָיו - ʾĕlōhāyw): Specifies a unique, personal relationship between God and Solomon, chosen to fulfill a divine purpose.
- was with him (עִמֹּו - ʿimmô): A fundamental theological concept in the Bible, signifying God's active presence, favor, guidance, and protective power. This presence is the ultimate source of strength and success for any leader or individual (e.g., God with Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David).
- and made him exceedingly great (וַיְגַדְּלֵהוּ לְמַעְלָה מְאֹד - vayəgaddəlehu ləmaʿlāh məʾod):
- made him great (וַיְגַדְּלֵהוּ - vayəgaddəlehu): From the root gādal (גָּדַל), meaning to make great, enlarge, promote. The Piel (intensive) stem highlights God's active, direct role in causing Solomon's greatness, rather than Solomon achieving it on his own.
- exceedingly (לְמַעְלָה מְאֹד - ləmaʿlāh məʾod): Literally "upward very much" or "to the highest degree." This adverbial phrase intensifies the greatness, indicating an unparalleled level of prosperity, wisdom, power, and fame beyond ordinary measure.
2 Chronicles 1 1 Bonus section
- The Chronicler's emphasis on "the Lord his God was with him" reflects a consistent biblical theme: God's presence (Immanuel) is the true source of blessing, success, and authority for His people and their leaders.
- This verse stands in contrast to secular notions of kingship based on raw power or inheritance alone. It unequivocally declares the divine sanction and enablement behind Solomon's rule, framing it within God's sovereign plan for Israel.
- While 1 Kings 2:12 and 1 Kgs 2:46b mention the establishment of Solomon's kingdom, 2 Chronicles 1:1 uniquely foregrounds the reason: "for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great," underscoring the theological causation rather than just the factual outcome.
- Solomon's "greatness" as depicted later in Scripture includes his unparalleled wisdom (1 Kgs 4:29-34), immense wealth, vast dominion, international renown, and, critically, his leadership in constructing the magnificent Temple, all presented as direct results of God's blessing.
2 Chronicles 1 1 Commentary
2 Chronicles 1:1 functions as the theological lens through which the Chronicler presents Solomon’s reign. It is not merely a historical note but a declaration of divine intent and enablement. The firm establishment of Solomon's kingdom is unequivocally ascribed to the Lord’s direct involvement, emphasizing God’s faithfulness to the Davidic covenant rather than solely Solomon's political skill or military might. God’s presence, signified by "the Lord his God was with him," is portrayed as the sole catalyst for Solomon's secure reign and unparalleled greatness. This sets a significant theological tone: true, lasting strength and remarkable success for God's chosen instruments emanate from His active presence and empowering hand, not human effort alone. The verse therefore establishes Solomon's rule as divinely legitimate, supernaturally sustained, and extraordinarily blessed, setting the stage for his subsequent actions, especially the building of the Temple. This opening frames the Chronicler's primary interest in God's continuing covenant fidelity through the Davidic line and the central importance of true worship centered on the Temple.