2 Chronicles 4 9

2 Chronicles 4:9 kjv

Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.

2 Chronicles 4:9 nkjv

Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court and doors for the court; and he overlaid these doors with bronze.

2 Chronicles 4:9 niv

He made the courtyard of the priests, and the large court and the doors for the court, and overlaid the doors with bronze.

2 Chronicles 4:9 esv

He made the court of the priests and the great court and doors for the court and overlaid their doors with bronze.

2 Chronicles 4:9 nlt

He then built a courtyard for the priests, and also the large outer courtyard. He made doors for the courtyard entrances and overlaid them with bronze.

2 Chronicles 4 verses

2 Chronicles 4 9 Meaning

2 Chronicles 4:9 describes the construction of specific parts of the Temple complex: the court designated for the priests, a larger general court known as "the great court," and the bronze-overlaid doors leading into these areas. This verse details the final elements of the Temple's exterior architecture, completing the description of the building project by Solomon. These courts were essential for the congregational worship and priestly duties within the sacred space.

2 Chronicles 4 9 Context

2 Chronicles Chapter 4 is entirely devoted to the detailed description of the various furnishings, vessels, and structures made of bronze and gold for King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. Following the dimensions and internal features of the Temple in Chapter 3, Chapter 4 elaborates on the altar, the bronze Sea, the lavers, the lampstands, and the tables. Verse 9, specifically, rounds out this description by detailing the exterior courts—the court for the priests and the larger court for the general congregation. Historically, this building project marked a pinnacle of Israelite wealth, wisdom, and devotion under Solomon, fulfilling David's desire for a permanent dwelling place for God's presence. These courts served as critical functional areas for the extensive sacrificial system and communal worship.

2 Chronicles 4 9 Word analysis

• He also made: This phrase ties directly back to Solomon's actions throughout 2 Chronicles Chapters 2-5, highlighting his instrumental role as the divinely appointed builder of the Temple. It signifies continuity in the grand construction project.
• the court of the priests:
  • Original Hebrew: חֲצַר הַכֹּהֲנִים (ḥaṭzar hakkohenim)
  • Ḥaṭzar (חָצֵר): Refers to an open enclosure, a courtyard, or an unfortified settlement. In this context, it specifically means a designated open area within the Temple complex.
  • hakkohenim (הַכֹּהֲנִים): "of the priests." This specifies the primary function and access rights to this court. This area was reserved for the Levitical priests to perform their sacrificial and liturgical duties. It signifies separation and distinction based on ritual purity and consecrated service, setting it apart from the lay worshipper's areas. This concept of restricted access polemicized against ancient Near Eastern cults where a clear distinction between the clergy and general populace was not always as stringent or defined in terms of holiness and specific service roles.
• and the great court:
  • Original Hebrew: הָעֲזָרָה הַגְּדוֹלָה (ha'ăzārāh haggᵉdōlāh)
  • Ha'ăzārāh (הָעֲזָרָה): Specifically denotes a "court" or "enclosure" connected with the Temple, often implying a wider area for congregational assembly.
  • Haggᵉdōlāh (הַגְּדוֹלָה): "the great," indicating its considerable size and capacity. This was the outer court, accessible to all Israelite worshippers, allowing the general populace to gather, pray, and bring their offerings. Its designation as "great" underscores the Temple's role as a national center for worship, capable of accommodating large crowds.
• and doors for the court:
  • This indicates entry points, providing regulated access to the sacred spaces. Doors served as both practical entryways and symbolic boundaries, controlling who could enter and ensuring security. They demarcated areas of varying sanctity.
• and overlaid their doors with bronze:
  • Original Hebrew: נְחֹשֶׁת (nechoshet)
  • Nechoshet: Bronze (or copper). Bronze was a prominent material in both the Tabernacle and the Temple construction, especially for altars, lavers, and doors (e.g., the bronze pillars, Jachin and Boaz).
  • Significance:
    • Durability and Strength: Bronze is a sturdy and lasting material, symbolizing the enduring nature and strength of God's dwelling place.
    • Symbolic Association: Bronze was consistently associated with judgment, atonement, and sacrifice. The altar of burnt offering, where sacrifices were made for sin, was overlaid with bronze (Exod 27:2). The brazen serpent for healing (Num 21:9) also linked bronze to divine action in response to sin. Overlying the doors with bronze might thus signify the threshold of judgment and the way to atonement one entered when approaching God's presence.
    • Visual Grandeur: The gleam of polished bronze would have contributed significantly to the visual splendor and majesty of the Temple complex.
• words-group analysis: "the court of the priests and the great court": This phrase distinctly outlines the two primary outdoor areas of the Temple, reflecting a clear theological and functional distinction. The "court of the priests" emphasized restricted, specialized access for those consecrated to minister directly to God on behalf of the people. In contrast, "the great court" underscored the communal and inclusive aspect, providing space for all of Israel to participate in national worship. This architectural design was a physical manifestation of the Mosaic covenant's principles of a chosen people with a consecrated priesthood. It also implicitly differentiated between Israelite worship and pagan cults that might lack such internal structural divisions for their worshipers.

2 Chronicles 4 9 Bonus section

The concept of progressively more sacred space, evident in the outer courts leading to the inner sanctuary, mirrored the Tabernacle's design and later Temple iterations. This progression underscored the Israelites' understanding of God's transcendence and holiness, where direct access required specific purification and consecration. The presence of courts, particularly a "great court" for the people, differentiated the Jerusalem Temple from smaller, private shrines. It served as a powerful reminder of a centralized worship commanded by God. In later periods, the Temple courts became dynamic centers for teaching, legal arbitration, and social life beyond mere ritual, as seen during Jesus' ministry where he taught and performed miracles within these public spaces, occasionally cleansing them to restore their sacred purpose as "a house of prayer." The New Testament draws parallels from these physical structures to the spiritual temple—the body of believers—where individual access to God is granted through Christ, transcending the need for physical courts and earthly priests, yet maintaining the essence of sacred space and worship (Heb 10:19-22).

2 Chronicles 4 9 Commentary

2 Chronicles 4:9 concisely describes the completion of the Temple's primary outdoor enclosures: the inner "Court of the Priests" for their consecrated duties, and the sprawling "Great Court" accessible to all Israelites for general worship and assembly. These courts were not mere accessory spaces but were integral to the Temple's functionality and symbolic representation of access to God. The distinction between the two courts underscored the principle of progressive holiness – closer proximity to the holy of holies correlated with higher degrees of ritual purity and priestly privilege. The bronze overlay on the doors emphasized both the Temple's magnificent scale and the thematic association of bronze with sacrifice and divine judgment, creating a grand yet somber entrance to the sacred precincts. The courts facilitated a vibrant liturgical life, accommodating diverse aspects of Israel's national and individual communion with God, ensuring order and appropriate reverence in collective worship.