2 Chronicles 2:5 kjv
And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.
2 Chronicles 2:5 nkjv
And the temple which I build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods.
2 Chronicles 2:5 niv
"The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods.
2 Chronicles 2:5 esv
The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods.
2 Chronicles 2:5 nlt
"This must be a magnificent Temple because our God is greater than all other gods.
2 Chronicles 2 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| God's Greatness & Supremacy | ||
| Dt 10:17 | For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God... | Declares God as ultimate ruler & awesome. |
| Ps 95:3 | For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. | Explicitly states God's supremacy over idols. |
| Ps 96:4 | For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. | God's glory above all other worshipped entities. |
| Ps 97:9 | For You, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods. | God's universal exaltation and unmatched status. |
| 1 Chr 29:11 | Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty... | Acknowledges God's inherent majesty. |
| Jer 32:18 | ...You are the great, the mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts. | Emphasizes God's power and sovereignty. |
| Mal 1:14 | "...For I am a great King," declares the LORD of hosts, "and My name is to be feared among the nations." | God's self-declaration of being a great king over nations. |
| Ex 15:11 | "Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, majestic in holiness...?" | rhetorical question asserting God's uniqueness. |
| Ps 86:8 | Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord, nor are there any works like Yours. | Reiterates God's unparalleled nature. |
| Dt 6:4 | "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!" | The Shema: foundational for monotheism. |
| Temple & God's Presence | ||
| 2 Chr 2:6 | But who is able to build Him a house, since heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain Him? | Solomon's acknowledgment of God's immensity. |
| 1 Kgs 8:27 | "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You..." | Solomon's prayer reinforces God's transcendence. |
| Isa 66:1 | Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what kind of house would you build for me...? | God's statement on His inability to be contained by a temple. |
| Acts 7:48-50 | "However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with human hands, as the prophet says: 'Heaven is my throne...'" | Stephen quotes Isa 66, clarifying God's non-confinement. |
| Ex 25:8 | "And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." | Command for the Tabernacle/Temple. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | ...you are fellow citizens with the saints...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone...a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. | The Church as the spiritual dwelling of God in the New Covenant. |
| Heb 8:1-2 | ...a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. | Jesus is the minister in the true, heavenly temple. |
| Purpose of Grandeur/Worship | ||
| Ps 34:3 | Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together! | Calls for glorifying God collectively. |
| Ps 113:4 | The LORD is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens! | Emphasizes God's transcendance and glory. |
| Rev 15:4 | Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. | Calls for global fear and glorification of God. |
| Contextual Parallels | ||
| 1 Kgs 5:5 | "And behold, I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD said to David my father..." | Parallel account in Kings confirming Solomon's intent. |
2 Chronicles 2 verses
2 Chronicles 2 5 Meaning
This verse states Solomon's justification for the grand scale of the Temple he intended to build for the Lord. He declares that the magnificence of the physical structure is necessary because it is intended for the God of Israel, who is proclaimed as supremely great, holding a position of unrivaled superiority over all other supposed deities known to humanity. It underscores the unique identity and preeminence of the Lord among all nations.
2 Chronicles 2 5 Context
This verse is part of King Solomon's communication with Hiram, King of Tyre, seeking skilled craftsmen and materials for the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem. In 2 Chronicles 2:1, Solomon states his intention to build a house for the Lord and a royal palace for himself. Verse 5 explains the theological motivation behind the decision to make the Temple supremely magnificent. Unlike ordinary buildings or altars for lesser deities, this house was dedicated to the Lord, the singular, most high God. The immediate chapter context involves Solomon initiating the enormous logistical undertaking of constructing the Temple, signaling alliances, and assembling resources. Historically, this occurs during the golden age of the united monarchy in Israel, following King David's reign. The building of the Temple solidified Jerusalem as the religious and political center, providing a physical embodiment of God's dwelling "among" His people, although, as Solomon himself acknowledges (2 Chr 2:6; 1 Kgs 8:27), God cannot be confined by any structure. The declaration of God being "above all gods" serves as a direct polemic against the polytheistic religions of the surrounding nations, like Phoenicia (Hiram's kingdom) where Baal and Asherah were worshipped.
2 Chronicles 2 5 Word analysis
- And the house which I build is great:
- house (בַּיִת - bayit): While "house" can mean a dwelling, palace, or family, here it specifically refers to the Temple (Beit Adonai, the "House of the Lord"). Solomon intends for it to be not just grand, but also fitting for the Divine. The physical magnitude reflects the perceived theological greatness of its intended occupant.
- I build: Solomon acknowledges his active role and responsibility in undertaking this massive project, yet implicitly understood as an undertaking guided by God's earlier command to David.
- is great (גָּדֳל - gadol): Signifies enormous size, importance, and splendor. This 'greatness' of the structure is a direct response to the 'greatness' of God. It's a statement of reverence, attempting to reflect God's majesty in a tangible form.
- for great is our God above all gods:
- for (כִּי - ki): A causal conjunction, indicating the reason or justification for the preceding statement. The temple's greatness is because of God's greatness.
- our God (אֱלֹהֵינוּ - ʼEloheinu): Elohim is a common word for God, but the suffix "our" (נו - nu) indicates a special covenantal relationship and ownership by Israel. This distinguishes the God of Israel from other deities. It’s a confession of allegiance.
- above all gods (מִכָּל-הָאֱלֹהִים - mi-kol-ha-ʼElohim):
- above (מִכָּל - mi-kol): Implies supremacy, superiority, transcendence. Not just better, but utterly supreme.
- all gods (הָאֱלֹהִים - ha-ʼElohim): Refers to the myriad deities worshipped by surrounding nations (e.g., Canaanite, Egyptian, Mesopotamian gods). This is a strong declaration of monotheism in a polytheistic world. It’s a polemic, asserting that Israel's God is not merely one among many gods, nor even the chief god in a pantheon, but absolutely unique and without peer. Other 'gods' are seen as either non-existent, powerless idols, or subservient spiritual entities. The Temple's scale visually declared this theological truth to Israel and the surrounding kingdoms.
2 Chronicles 2 5 Bonus section
This verse reflects a recurring theme in the Old Testament: the exclusive supremacy of Yahweh (the Lord) over all other claimed deities. This polemical aspect was vital for Israel's distinct identity amidst syncretistic pressures. While the physical Temple's grandeur was a powerful symbol, the New Testament shifts the focus from a physical edifice to the spiritual "temple" of believers (e.g., 1 Cor 3:16, 2 Cor 6:16, Eph 2:19-22), where God truly dwells by His Spirit. The principle of giving one's best in service to a great God remains, now expressed through holy living and dedicated service in the Body of Christ.
2 Chronicles 2 5 Commentary
Solomon's declaration in 2 Chronicles 2:5 encapsulates the theological rationale for investing such immense resources and grandeur into the building of the Temple. The "greatness" of the house directly correlates to the "greatness" of Israel's God. This was not a claim that God could be contained by a building, as Solomon himself later articulates (2 Chr 2:6, 1 Kgs 8:27), but rather an act of worship and testimony to His incomparable nature. In a world permeated by polytheism, where each nation had its own pantheon and shrines, Solomon's assertion that "our God" is "above all gods" was a powerful, definitive statement of monotheism and the Lord's absolute sovereignty. The magnificent structure was designed to awe both Israelites and Gentiles, not primarily as a dwelling place for God, but as a symbolic earthly throne and a testimony to His universal glory, demanding recognition and reverence for His unique holiness and supreme power. The scale of devotion reflects the magnitude of the One being worshipped.