2 Chronicles 6 17

2 Chronicles 6:17 kjv

Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.

2 Chronicles 6:17 nkjv

And now, O LORD God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David.

2 Chronicles 6:17 niv

And now, LORD, the God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.

2 Chronicles 6:17 esv

Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David.

2 Chronicles 6:17 nlt

Now, O LORD, God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David.

2 Chronicles 6 verses

2 Chronicles 6 17 Meaning

Solomon, in his prayer at the dedication of the Temple, asks the Lord, the God of Israel, to fulfill the covenant promise made to his father David. This promise states that David would always have a male descendant to rule on the throne of Israel, contingent upon David's descendants walking diligently in God's law, just as David himself had walked before the Lord. It signifies a plea for divine faithfulness tethered to a recognition of human obedience.

2 Chronicles 6 17 Context

This verse is part of Solomon's lengthy prayer during the dedication of the newly completed Temple in Jerusalem. Having just affirmed that God has fulfilled His promise to David regarding the building of the Temple (2 Chr 6:4-11), Solomon now turns to petition God regarding another vital aspect of the Davidic covenant: the continuity of the royal line on the throne of Israel. This moment marks a high point of Israel's national and spiritual life under Solomon's reign, with the central sanctuary established. The prayer underscores the Chronicler's consistent theme: God's covenant promises are eternal, yet the immediate enjoyment of covenant blessings by individuals and dynasties is contingent on obedience. This serves as a vital historical lesson for the post-exilic audience, explaining the fall of the monarchy and the exile through the lens of conditional covenant adherence.

2 Chronicles 6 17 Word Analysis

• Now therefore: (attah ve’attah) - This transitional phrase marks a solemn and direct petition following preceding affirmations. It connects Solomon's present plea with the covenant promises already declared and partially fulfilled.
• O Lord, God of Israel: (YHWH Elohei Yisrael) - "Lord" (YHWH) refers to God's covenant name, signifying His unchanging, faithful, and personal nature. "God of Israel" identifies Him as the sovereign and particular deity of the nation chosen by covenant. This invocation emphasizes God's specific relationship with His people and the dynasty of David.
• keep: (שָׁמַר, shamar) - The Hebrew verb means to guard, observe, preserve, or fulfill. Here, it is a prayer for God to remain true to His word and actively bring His promises to fruition.
• with your servant David my father: "Servant David" highlights David's unique and humble relationship with God, even after becoming king, and serves as an appeal based on God's past dealings. Solomon humbly identifies himself within David's legacy.
• what you have promised him, saying: Refers specifically to the divine oracle delivered through the prophet Nathan, as recorded in 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17. It points to a definitive, God-initiated word, not a human invention.
• 'You shall not lack a man: (לֹא יִכָּרֶת לְךָ אִישׁ, lo yikkarêt lekha ish) - Literally, "there shall not be cut off to you a man." This phrase signifies an uninterrupted, unbroken lineage of male descendants. It assures dynastic continuity and prevention of extinction, reflecting a vital concern for ancient monarchies.
• to sit before me: Indicates divine appointment and recognition of the kingship. The king rules "before" God, meaning in His presence, under His authority, and with His divine oversight.
• on the throne of Israel: Refers to the physical, earthly kingship and the temporal rule over the nation of Israel, differentiating it from an abstract or spiritual dominion.
• provided your sons: (raq im – "if only" or "provided that") - This crucial conditional particle introduces the human responsibility element. The promise of perpetual succession on the throne of Israel (the prosperous earthly kingdom) is directly tied to the obedience of David's descendants. This contrasts with the eternal, unconditional nature of the Davidic covenant as it pertains to the Messianic line itself.
• take heed to their way: (לִשְׁמֹר אֶת-דַּרְכָם, lishmor et-darkam) - "To guard their path/conduct." It means to be careful and intentional about their manner of life, ensuring it aligns with God's will. "Way" (derek) often metaphorically represents one's conduct, lifestyle, or moral direction.
• to walk in my law: (לָלֶכֶת בְּתוֹרָתִי, lalekhet b'Torati) - "To walk" (lalekhet) implies a consistent and habitual adherence. "My law" (Torah) encompasses all of God's instructions, commands, and teachings revealed for righteous living. It means active, daily obedience to the divine will.
• as you have walked before me: This establishes David as the example. While David was not without sin, his heart was committed to the Lord (1 Kgs 11:4). He consistently sought God's will and responded to correction. His life served as the standard against which future kings would be measured, demonstrating devotion to God.

2 Chronicles 6 17 Bonus Section

• The Chronicler's specific inclusion and emphasis on the conditional clause ("provided your sons...") contrasts slightly with the parallel account in 1 Kings, reflecting a theological aim for his post-exilic audience. He consistently highlights that the blessings of the Davidic covenant and the prosperity of the kingdom were directly tied to the kings' and the people's fidelity to God's law. This was a didactic reminder that their future restoration and well-being would similarly depend on obedience.
• While the physical Davidic dynasty ultimately ceased ruling from an earthly throne with the Babylonian exile, the unconditional aspect of God's promise regarding an everlasting kingdom finds its ultimate, eternal fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the true and perfect Davidic heir who now sits on a heavenly throne, ruling an everlasting spiritual kingdom, thereby fulfilling God's ancient word (Lk 1:32-33).
• Solomon’s prayer implies that maintaining righteous character and living according to God’s commands are not optional additions to leadership, but fundamental requirements for sustained blessing and authority. This principle applies universally, extending beyond ancient kings to all who seek to walk in God's favor.

2 Chronicles 6 17 Commentary

Solomon's prayer in 2 Chronicles 6:17 encapsulates a foundational tension within God's covenant with David: the intersection of divine promise and human responsibility. While God unequivocally promised David an enduring house and kingdom (2 Sam 7), Solomon articulates that the continued presence of a descendant on the throne of Israel – specifically the prospering, ruling earthly monarchy – is contingent upon the obedience of those descendants. This is not an annulment of God's unconditional covenant, which secures the Davidic lineage culminating in the Messiah, but rather a clarification of the conditions for the enjoyment of its temporal blessings and national continuity. The verse stresses the perpetual relevance of living according to God's Torah for all who claim covenant identity. David's life, despite its blemishes, is upheld as a standard of devoted walk before God, serving as a template for his sons. This passage ultimately serves as a theological lens through which the Chronicler explains Israel's history, especially the decline and eventual exile of the Southern Kingdom: a lack of heeding to God's law resulted in the conditional promises being withheld.