2 Chronicles 6 15

2 Chronicles 6:15 kjv

Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.

2 Chronicles 6:15 nkjv

You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.

2 Chronicles 6:15 niv

You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it?as it is today.

2 Chronicles 6:15 esv

who have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day.

2 Chronicles 6:15 nlt

You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today.

2 Chronicles 6 verses

2 Chronicles 6 15 Meaning

2 Chronicles 6:15 records Solomon's declaration during the Temple dedication, affirming God's unfailing faithfulness. It states that God meticulously guarded and maintained the covenant promise made to His servant David, Solomon's father. This promise, which God spoke directly with His own mouth, He has now definitively fulfilled through His mighty hand, as evidenced by the completed Temple standing on that very day. The verse highlights God's absolute reliability and power in bringing His word to pass.

2 Chronicles 6 15 Context

This verse is part of Solomon's grand prayer of dedication for the newly completed Temple in Jerusalem. Located in 2 Chronicles chapter 6, it immediately follows Solomon's blessing of the assembly and his prostration before the altar of the Lord. The entire chapter focuses on Solomon's profound worship and intercession as the Temple is consecrated. Specifically, verse 15 serves as a retrospective thanksgiving, acknowledging God's prior faithfulness in fulfilling His promise to David about a son building the house of the Lord. The historical context is the zenith of the united Israelite monarchy under Solomon, marking a period of peace, prosperity, and the establishment of a permanent central place of worship, replacing the tabernacle. The chronicler emphasizes the Davidic covenant and the Temple's centrality, underscoring the continuity of God's plan and His unwavering commitment to His chosen king and His people.

2 Chronicles 6 15 Word analysis

• Thou which hast kept (אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁמַ֩רְתָּ֨, asher shamarta): The Hebrew root shamar (שָׁמַר) means to watch, guard, keep, or preserve. This implies not just a passive retention, but an active, diligent safeguarding of the promise by God Himself. It conveys God's unwavering intention and meticulous oversight over His declared word until its completion.
• with thy servant David my father: Highlights David's privileged status as God's chosen servant, underscoring the direct and personal nature of the covenant made with him. Solomon refers to David as "my father," acknowledging his rightful succession and his connection to the covenant promise that was also for David's "house."
• that which thou didst promise him (אֵ֠ת אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֨רְתָּ֙ לֹ֔ו, ’eṯ ’asher-dibbarta lōw): The word "promise" stems from the Hebrew root dabar (דָּבַר), meaning "to speak" or "declare." This refers specifically to the covenant found in 2 Sam 7 and 1 Chron 17, where God declared through Nathan that David's "seed" would build a house for His name. It signifies a verbally articulated divine commitment.
• and spakest with thy mouth (וַתְּדַבֵּ֥ר בְּפִ֖יךָ, wattəḏabbēr bəp̄îḵā): Emphasizes the directness and intentionality of God's communication. It clarifies that this was not a vague intuition or a prophetic vision alone, but a concrete declaration uttered by God Himself. It confirms the authenticity and divine origin of the promise, highlighting God's direct personal involvement.
• and hast fulfilled it with thine hand (וּבְיָדְךָ֥ כִּלֵּֽיתָה, ûḇeyāḏəḵā killêtāh): "Fulfilled" comes from the root kalah (כָּלָה), meaning "to complete," "finish," or "bring to an end." "Thine hand" (yad, יָד) metaphorically represents God's active power, agency, and direct execution. This contrasts God's power and ability to execute His word with human weakness. It moves from divine utterance to divine action.
• as it is this day (כַּיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙, kayyôm hazzeh): A critical temporal phrase grounding the abstract concept of divine promise-keeping in the present, tangible reality. It points to the completed Temple as undeniable, empirical proof of God's faithfulness, confirming that what God speaks, He truly performs in history.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Thou which hast kept... and spakest... and hast fulfilled it": This sequence illustrates the completeness of God's faithfulness: from vigilant safeguarding (kept), to clear verbal declaration (spakest), and finally to powerful execution and accomplishment (fulfilled). It's a progression from intention, to word, to deed.
• "with thy mouth, and with thine hand": This parallel emphasizes the perfect integrity and coherence between God's word and His work. Unlike humans whose words and deeds often diverge, God's vocal promise is perfectly matched and consummated by His active power. This serves as a polemic against the impotence of pagan deities who have mouths but cannot speak effectively, and hands but cannot act to fulfill (Psa 115:5-7). God both speaks powerfully and acts powerfully to achieve His spoken word.
• "that which thou didst promise him; and spakest... and hast fulfilled it... as it is this day": This whole phrase stresses the historicity and tangibility of God's faithfulness. The promise was specific ("him," David), clearly spoken, decisively acted upon by God Himself, and resulted in a concrete reality "this day" – the completed Temple. It underscores that God's covenant is not theoretical but demonstrably real in human history.

2 Chronicles 6 15 Bonus section

• Theological Significance of "Hand of God": Beyond simply completing, the "hand of God" often denotes divine omnipotence, sovereign control, and direct intervention in human affairs throughout Scripture. Its use here reinforces the idea that the Temple's completion was not merely a human achievement but divinely ordained and empowered.
• Emphasis on the Davidic Line: The phrase "with thy servant David my father" reinforces the ongoing significance of the Davidic covenant and the divinely chosen lineage through which God's promises flow, setting the stage for future fulfillments concerning the Messiah.
• Historical Validation of Divine Truth: "As it is this day" functions as a rhetorical flourish and a powerful statement of historical proof. It challenged any doubt about God's reliability by pointing to a monumental, undeniable reality standing before their very eyes. This also provides reassurance for future generations, validating God's faithfulness throughout history.
• Implication for Believers: This verse provides immense comfort and a foundation for trust for believers across generations. If God kept His detailed and difficult promises from centuries past concerning a physical Temple, how much more can we trust Him to fulfill His New Covenant promises, which are spiritual and eternal, in Christ Jesus?
• Polemic against Idols: The vivid description of God's active speech and execution ("mouth" and "hand") implicitly contrasts with the false gods of the surrounding nations, who were perceived as having mouths but unable to speak effectively or hands but unable to act. God's efficacy is unparalleled.

2 Chronicles 6 15 Commentary

2 Chronicles 6:15 stands as a profound declaration of God's steadfast character, a central theme running throughout the Scriptures. In Solomon's prayer, this verse encapsulates an essential truth: God is immutably faithful to His covenant promises. The completion of the Temple, an architectural marvel built for God's presence, served as irrefutable physical proof that God, unlike any human, invariably brings to fruition what He has spoken. It was not just a general assurance; God specifically "kept" His word, "spoke" it directly to David, and then "fulfilled it with His hand," meaning His omnipotent power actively ensured its accomplishment.

This fulfillment related to the part of the Davidic covenant where David's son (Solomon) would build a house for God's Name. The chronicler emphasizes this faithfulness to encourage the exiled or post-exilic audience, reminding them that just as God was faithful in the past to David and Solomon, He remains faithful to His people and His word for the future. This act of building the Temple becomes a powerful illustration of divine integrity, ensuring hope that all other divine promises—particularly the eternal aspects of the Davidic covenant concerning an everlasting throne and kingdom—would similarly be fulfilled in the appointed time, ultimately finding their "Yes" in Christ.