2 Chronicles 5 14

2 Chronicles 5:14 kjv

So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

2 Chronicles 5:14 nkjv

so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

2 Chronicles 5:14 niv

and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God.

2 Chronicles 5:14 esv

so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

2 Chronicles 5:14 nlt

The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple of God.

2 Chronicles 5 verses

2 Chronicles 5 14 Meaning

The verse describes a pivotal moment during the dedication of Solomon's Temple when the physical manifestation of God's majestic presence, referred to as His glory, completely filled the newly constructed sanctuary. This divine fullness was so overwhelming and intense that the priests, who were ministering according to their Levitical duties, were physically unable to continue their service. It signifies God's tangible endorsement and dwelling within the Temple, making it His appointed dwelling place on earth.

2 Chronicles 5 14 Context

Chapter 5 of 2 Chronicles details the culmination of the preparations for and the actual dedication of Solomon's magnificent Temple. The ark of the covenant, representing God's presence, has just been brought from the City of David and placed in the Most Holy Place. A vast assembly of Israel has gathered. Priests and Levites, dressed in white linen, are arranged for the dedication. The music is grand and harmonious, with 120 trumpeters joining singers in praise: "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." Immediately following this united worship and praise, the verse in question describes the sudden and overwhelming descent of the glory of the Lord in the form of a cloud, confirming God's acceptance of the Temple and taking up residence within it, just as He had previously descended upon the Tabernacle in the wilderness.

2 Chronicles 5 14 Word analysis

• so that: This phrase introduces a purpose or result clause, indicating the direct effect of the preceding event (the praise and music) and the immediate consequence of God's glory appearing. It signifies that what happened to the priests was a result of God's glory.
• the priests: Refers to the Levitical priests, the only authorized individuals to perform sacred rites in the Temple. Their inability highlights that even those divinely appointed for service were incapacitated by this level of divine presence.
• could not stand to minister: This indicates a complete cessation of their priestly duties. The verb "stand" (עָמַד, ʿamad) suggests being ready or fit for service. Their inability to stand means they were overwhelmed, possibly prostrate in reverence or simply unable to function. It emphasizes the majesty and awe-inspiring nature of God's presence, rather than a failing on the priests' part.
• because of: States the reason for the priests' inability.
• the cloud: Hebrew: עָנָן ('anan). In biblical tradition, a cloud frequently serves as a visible, tangible manifestation of God's invisible presence and glory (theophany). It veiled God's intensity, making His presence bearable yet profoundly evident. This 'cloud of glory' is a direct link to the pillar of cloud that led Israel in the wilderness and that filled the Tabernacle (Exod 40).
• for: Introduces the explanatory cause or reason for the previous statement.
• the glory: Hebrew: כָּבוֹד (kavod). This word means "weight," "heaviness," "substance," and by extension, "honor," "splendor," "majesty," or "reputation." Here, it signifies the visible, tangible manifestation of God's own radiant holiness, power, and inherent majesty. It is not merely a symbolic representation but a powerful, physical effect of His divine essence filling the space.
• of the Lord: Refers to Yahweh (יְהוָה), the covenant God of Israel, emphasizing that this extraordinary phenomenon originated from God Himself.
• filled: Hebrew: מָלֵא (maleʾ). This verb denotes a complete saturation, to the point of overflowing. It indicates that the divine presence permeated every part of the Temple, leaving no empty space.
• the house of God: Hebrew: בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים (beit ha'Elohim). This is the Temple, now consecrated and established as God's chosen dwelling place on earth among His people.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• so that the priests could not stand to minister: This phrase underscores the human limitations in the face of absolute divine presence. Priestly service, though divinely commanded, is utterly overshadowed and temporarily suspended by God's direct and overwhelming presence. It communicates that God's holiness transcends all human ritual and order.
• because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord: These two explanatory clauses work together. The "cloud" is the medium or visible form, while the "glory of the Lord" is the essence or inner reality that the cloud conveys. The combination highlights both the physical manifestation and its profound theological meaning—it wasn't just a cloud, but the cloud of Yahweh's glory.
• filled the house of God: This is the culmination of the entire Temple building project. The Temple's purpose was to be a dwelling for God, and this verse declares that purpose gloriously fulfilled. The "filling" emphasizes that God's presence was not partial but total, leaving no room for doubt about His habitation within.

2 Chronicles 5 14 Bonus section

• The event in 2 Chronicles 5:14 (and its parallel in 1 Kgs 8:10-11) is one of the clearest biblical depictions of what is often called the "Shekinah glory," a post-biblical term referring to the dwelling or settling of God's divine presence. While Shekinah isn't a biblical word, the concept of God's dwelling glory is profoundly biblical.
• The cloud itself functions as both a veiling and a revealing element. It obscures God's full, raw glory, which no man could behold and live, while simultaneously making His tangible presence manifest and undeniable.
• This glorious filling was a historical precedent. Though God later departed from the Temple due to Israel's sin (Ezekiel 8-11), His initial entry marked the Temple as truly His. In the New Covenant, the presence of God's glory indwells believers individually and the church corporately (1 Cor 3:16, Eph 2:21-22), making them the "house of God," a far greater fulfillment than the physical Temple.

2 Chronicles 5 14 Commentary

2 Chronicles 5:14 serves as the divine validation and high point of Solomon's magnificent Temple dedication. It echoes the tabernacle's dedication in Exodus 40, where the glory of the Lord similarly filled the Tabernacle, preventing Moses from entering. This consistency demonstrates God's consistent way of indicating His presence and acceptance. The temporary cessation of priestly ministry is not a judgment but a profound declaration of God's ultimate sovereignty and the unapproachable holiness of His being. It teaches that while human effort and ritual (the priests' ministry, the Temple's construction) are commanded, they are ultimately rendered insignificant in the immediate, overwhelming reality of God Himself. The purpose of the Temple was not just a building for human activity but a sacred space where the manifest glory of God resided. This filling confirmed God's covenant faithfulness and His willingness to dwell among His people, yet always emphasizing His transcendence and unbridled power.

For practical usage, this verse reminds believers that true worship and ministry ultimately hinge on God's initiative and presence, not merely human effort or architectural splendor. It encourages an attitude of awe and humility, recognizing that even in our best service, we must be yielded to the Holy Spirit and the overarching reality of God's glory.