2 Chronicles 2:4 kjv
Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
2 Chronicles 2:4 nkjv
Behold, I am building a temple for the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to Him, to burn before Him sweet incense, for the continual showbread, for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, on the New Moons, and on the set feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance forever to Israel.
2 Chronicles 2:4 niv
Now I am about to build a temple for the Name of the LORD my God and to dedicate it to him for burning fragrant incense before him, for setting out the consecrated bread regularly, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening and on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons and at the appointed festivals of the LORD our God. This is a lasting ordinance for Israel.
2 Chronicles 2:4 esv
Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God and dedicate it to him for the burning of incense of sweet spices before him, and for the regular arrangement of the showbread, and for burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths and the new moons and the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, as ordained forever for Israel.
2 Chronicles 2:4 nlt
I am about to build a Temple to honor the name of the LORD my God. It will be a place set apart to burn fragrant incense before him, to display the special sacrificial bread, and to sacrifice burnt offerings each morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, at new moon celebrations, and at the other appointed festivals of the LORD our God. He has commanded Israel to do these things forever.
2 Chronicles 2 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Chr 2:1 | Solomon decided to build a house for the name of the LORD... | Initial decision to build God's dwelling |
| Ex 25:8 | "Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst." | Divine command for a dwelling place |
| Dt 12:5-7 | "You shall seek the place that the LORD your God will choose...to put his name there." | Centralization of worship |
| 1 Kgs 8:16 | "I chose no city...but I chose David to be over my people Israel." | God's choice of place and ruler |
| Ex 30:7-8 | Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it every morning... | Command for regular incense burning |
| Lev 16:12 | He shall take a censer full of burning coals...and a censer full of sweet incense... | Incense for atonement & worship |
| Ex 25:30 | You shall always set the bread of the Presence on the table before me. | Command for showbread |
| Lev 24:5-9 | You shall take fine flour and bake twelve loaves...And you shall set them...as a tribute for the LORD regularly. | Law of showbread (perpetual covenant) |
| Ex 29:38-42 | "Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs a year old daily... | Command for daily burnt offerings |
| Num 28:3-8 | "You shall say to them, ‘This is the offering by fire...two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day..." | Detailed instruction for daily burnt offerings |
| Num 28:9-10 | "On the Sabbath day, two male lambs a year old... This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath..." | Sabbath burnt offerings |
| Num 28:11-15 | "At the beginnings of your months, you shall offer a burnt offering to the LORD: two bulls... | New Moon burnt offerings |
| Lev 23 | List of the appointed feasts of the LORD, including Passover, Weeks, Tabernacles. | Appointed feasts commanded |
| Num 29 | Further details on offerings for various feasts and appointed times. | Sacrificial details for feasts |
| Dt 12:11 | "Then to the place that the LORD your God will choose...you shall bring all that I command you..." | Centralized worship and commands |
| 2 Kgs 17:37 | "The statutes and the ordinances, the law and the commandment that he wrote for you, you shall always be careful to do." | Adherence to perpetually ordained law |
| Ps 26:8 | O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. | Affection for God's dwelling place |
| Isa 56:7 | "These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer..." | Prophecy of God's universal house of prayer |
| Mal 3:6 | "For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed." | God's unchanging nature underscores law |
| Heb 9:1-14 | Detailed description of the earthly sanctuary's rituals...foreshadowing Christ's ultimate sacrifice. | Old covenant shadows and Christ's fulfillment |
| Jn 4:23-24 | "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth..." | New covenant spiritual worship |
| Acts 7:48-50 | "However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made by human hands...Heaven is my throne..." | God's transcendence beyond earthly structures |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you...?" | Believer's body as the new spiritual temple |
2 Chronicles 2 verses
2 Chronicles 2 4 Meaning
This verse details Solomon's declaration to King Huram regarding the intended purpose of the temple he is about to build for the LORD his God. It meticulously outlines the various specific cultic activities and offerings—incense, showbread, daily burnt offerings, and those for Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts—that are divinely ordained to be perpetually observed within its precincts according to the Law given to Israel. Solomon's aim is to establish a sacred house dedicated to the Name of the LORD, serving as the designated place for the perpetual execution of God's commanded worship.
2 Chronicles 2 4 Context
This verse is part of Solomon's diplomatic letter to Huram, king of Tyre, requesting assistance in building the Temple. Following a declaration of intent to build a house for the LORD (2 Chr 2:1-3), Solomon outlines the grand scale of the project, including a massive workforce and valuable materials. Verse 4 then provides the theological and functional justification for this colossal undertaking. Solomon asserts that the Temple's primary purpose is not merely structural grandeur but the facilitation of specific, divinely commanded rituals and offerings for the worship of YHWH. This highlights Israel's unique covenant relationship with God and distinguishes their worship from the surrounding polytheistic nations. Historically, this period marks the zenith of the united monarchy, reflecting the stability and resources available for such an monumental religious endeavor, solidifying Jerusalem's role as the central worship site.
2 Chronicles 2 4 Word analysis
- Behold, I am about to build: Solomon's definitive statement, carrying the weight of royal authority and covenantal obligation. It implies both commitment and imminent action.
- a house: (Hebrew: bayith - בַּיִת) - Not merely a dwelling for a god in a polytheistic sense, but a consecrated space dedicated to God's presence among His people. It refers to the physical Temple structure.
- for the name of the LORD my God: (Hebrew: shem YHWH Elohai - שֵׁם יְהוָה אֱלֹהָי) - The "name" signifies God's presence, character, authority, and essence. Building for God's Name means building a place where His presence is especially manifested and invoked, where His character is glorified through prescribed worship. This counters pagan ideas of containing deities. It asserts YHWH's exclusive claim.
- dedicating it to him: (Hebrew: l'haqdisho lo - לְהַקְדִּישׁוֹ לוֹ) - To make it holy, set apart for sacred use, consecrated exclusively for the worship of God. This term emphasizes the Temple's sacred purpose and separation from common use.
- for the burning of incense of sweet spices: (Hebrew: l'haqṭir qeṭoreth sammim - לְהַקְטִיר קְטֹרֶת סַמִּים) - Refers to the sacred aromatic incense burned daily on the altar of incense (Ex 30:7-8). It was a symbol of prayers ascending to God (Ps 141:2, Rev 8:3-4) and creating a sacred atmosphere.
- and for the regular display of the showbread: (Hebrew: u'l'ma`arekheth lechem panim tamid - וּלְמַעֲרֶכֶת לֶחֶם פָּנִים תָּמִיד) - The "bread of the presence" or "showbread" was twelve loaves placed on a golden table in the Holy Place, replaced weekly (Lev 24:5-9). It symbolized God's perpetual provision and Israel's fellowship with Him, always before His face.
- and for burnt offerings morning and evening: (Hebrew: w'la
olot babboger w'laerev - וְלַעֲלֹת בַּבֹּקֶר וְלָעֶרֶב) - The olah (burnt offering) was a comprehensive dedication, consumed entirely on the altar, symbolizing complete devotion and atonement (Ex 29:38-42). This refers to the continual daily sacrifice. - on the Sabbaths and new moons and at the appointed feasts: (Hebrew: bashabbatot uwbachadashim uwbamo`adei - בַּשַּׁבָּתוֹת וּבַחֳדָשִׁים וּבַמּוֹעֲדֵי) - Specific periods mandated for additional public sacrifices. The Sabbaths were weekly days of rest and worship; New Moons marked the start of each month; "appointed feasts" (mo'adei) were the annual pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Weeks, Tabernacles), each with prescribed offerings, representing key points in Israel's religious calendar and divine intervention.
- of the LORD our God: Reinforces the specific deity being worshipped, emphasizing His covenant relationship with Israel ("our God").
- as it is ordained forever for Israel: (Hebrew: ḥuqqath `olam l'yisra'el - חֻקַּת עוֹלָם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל) - Emphasizes the permanent, unchanging nature of these divine commands. They were not temporary but enduring ordinances for the nation, part of their perpetual covenant identity and practice. This underscores Solomon's commitment to perpetuate established divine law.
2 Chronicles 2 4 Bonus section
The detailed list of offerings in this verse implicitly serves as a theological statement against syncretism, a recurring challenge for Israel. By listing the specific, Divinely instituted practices, Solomon affirms the singularity and uniqueness of YHWH's worship as opposed to adopting or mingling with foreign cultic practices which often involved spontaneous rites or idol worship without specific divine decree. The very nature of "ordained forever" signifies not just permanence but divine authority and the exclusion of human innovations in worship, pointing to a consistent theme throughout the Old Testament emphasizing adherence to God's revealed will in matters of worship.
2 Chronicles 2 4 Commentary
2 Chronicles 2:4 encapsulates Solomon's commitment to upholding the divinely mandated worship practices of the Mosaic covenant within the grand framework of the Temple. It underscores that the Temple was not simply an architectural marvel but a sacred institution central to Israel's identity and its relationship with YHWH. Every ritual—from daily incense to perpetual showbread, regular burnt offerings, and sacrifices tied to sacred times—was explicitly commanded by God and designed to be an enduring expression of Israel's covenant fidelity. This focus on adherence to specific commands distinguishes YHWH's worship from pagan rites and positions the Temple as the singular, sanctified place where Israel could formally draw near to God according to His prescribed ways, emphasizing obedience and regular remembrance of God's provision and presence. This commitment to 'what is ordained forever' underlines a dedication to God's unchanging standards of worship for His people in that era.