2 Chronicles 6:18 kjv
But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!
2 Chronicles 6:18 nkjv
"But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!
2 Chronicles 6:18 niv
"But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!
2 Chronicles 6:18 esv
"But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!
2 Chronicles 6:18 nlt
"But will God really live on earth among people? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!
2 Chronicles 6 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 8:27 | "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven...contain you" | Parallel passage, reiterating Solomon's insight |
| Isa 66:1 | "Thus says the LORD: 'Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house...'" | God's transcendence; no temple can contain Him |
| Ac 7:48-49 | "However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands...as the prophet says:" | Stephen's sermon confirming God's omnipresence |
| Ac 17:24-25 | "God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth..." | Paul's address, Creator transcends physical structures |
| Ps 139:7-10 | "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?" | God's omnipresence; cannot be escaped or limited |
| Jer 23:23-24 | "'Am I a God near at hand,' says the LORD, 'And not a God afar off? Can anyone hide...do I not fill heaven and earth?'" | God fills all space, transcendent yet immanent |
| Job 22:12 | "Is not God in the height of heaven? And see the highest stars, how lofty they are!" | Emphasizes God's elevated and transcendent dwelling |
| 2 Sa 7:5 | "Go and tell My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: "Would you build a house for Me...?"'" | God rejects idea of being housed, desires dwelling with His people |
| Exo 25:8 | "And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." | God chooses to be present among His people (immanence) |
| Lev 26:11-12 | "I will set My tabernacle among you...I will walk among you and be your God..." | God's desire for fellowship and immanent presence |
| Dt 12:5 | "But you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling..." | Temple as where God "puts His name" not His being |
| 1 Co 3:16 | "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" | New Covenant: God dwells in believers through His Spirit |
| 1 Co 6:19 | "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you...?" | Personal body as the temple of the Spirit |
| 2 Co 6:16 | "For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will dwell in them and walk among them...'" | Believers collectively as God's temple |
| Jn 14:23 | "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." | God (Father and Son) dwelling with believers personally |
| Eph 2:20-22 | "...built on the foundation...in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." | Believers forming a spiritual dwelling place for God |
| Heb 9:11-12 | "But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle..." | Christ as the ultimate, non-material sanctuary |
| Rev 21:3 | "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people..." | Eschatological fulfillment: God's full presence with humanity |
| Neh 9:6 | "You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host..." | Confirms God as Creator of heavens, underscoring His sovereignty |
| Isa 57:15 | "For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place...also with him who has a contrite and humble spirit...'" | God's transcendence and His immanence with the humble |
2 Chronicles 6 verses
2 Chronicles 6 18 Meaning
2 Chronicles 6:18 expresses King Solomon's profound understanding of God's transcendent nature at the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. He poses a rhetorical question, acknowledging the inherent paradox and humility in building a physical dwelling place for the infinite, omnipresent God. The verse highlights that no physical structure, not even the vast heavens, can truly contain God, emphasizing His boundless nature and sovereignty, far beyond human comprehension and limitation. It simultaneously acknowledges God's condescension to "dwell" or be present among His people in a special covenantal way, though not in the sense of being spatially confined.
2 Chronicles 6 18 Context
This verse is part of Solomon's dedication prayer for the First Temple, delivered after the Ark of the Covenant had been brought into the Holy of Holies. The surrounding chapters (2 Ch 5-7) detail the completion and consecration of the Temple, including the visible manifestation of God's glory (the Shekinah cloud) filling the structure. Solomon's prayer is a lengthy and profound theological statement, seeking God's blessing and continued presence for Israel in the new sanctuary. Verse 18 marks a pivotal theological point within this prayer, transitioning from a celebratory moment to a reflective acknowledgement of God's nature. It contrasts the physical Temple, a monumental human achievement, with the boundless and incomprehensible reality of the God it is dedicated to, thus setting appropriate boundaries on human understanding of the divine presence.
2 Chronicles 6 18 Word analysis
- But: Marks a strong rhetorical shift, introducing a profound theological reflection. It immediately suggests a contrast to the prevailing belief or human perspective.
- will God:
Elohim(אֱלֹהִים), the generic term for God, but clearly referring to Yahweh. The question about His intention highlights the marvel of divine condescension. - in very deed:
Ha'Amnam(הַאֻמְנָם), an adverbial phrase meaning "indeed," "truly," or "verily." It conveys deep surprise and emphasizes the astounding nature of the possibility that the infinite God would truly confine Himself to a specific earthly structure. It is a rhetorical question implying an emphatic negative. - dwell:
Yashab(יָשַׁב), literally "to sit," "to settle," "to remain," or "to inhabit." While God explicitly commands the building of a sanctuary for Him to "dwell" (Exo 25:8), Solomon's profound question distinguishes God's immanent covenantal presence (His "name" dwelling) from a spatial, limited confinement of His very essence. God is not "contained" but "present" by His own will and decree. - with men:
Im ha'Adam(עִם הָאָדָם), signifying a direct relationship with humanity. This highlights the radical grace of the Creator choosing to relate to His finite, fallen creation. - on the earth:
Al ha'Aretz(עַל הָאָרֶץ), refers to the physical, limited created realm, emphasizing the vast disparity between God's transcendence and His decision to manifest His presence within human existence. - behold:
Hinei(הִנֵּה), an exclamation drawing immediate attention to the following profound statement. - heaven and the heaven of heavens:
HaShamayim uShmei haShamayim(הַשָּׁמַיִם וּשְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם). This superlative expression denotes the entire vastness of creation, the boundless celestial realms, encompassing all space and dimensions known or unknown. It is the highest possible designation for creation, indicating its immensity. The repetition emphasizes ultimate expanse and magnitude. - cannot contain thee:
Lo Yechalkelukha(לֹא יְכַלְכְּלוּךָ).Kul(כּוּל) means "to hold," "to contain," "to sustain," or "to bear." The heavens themselves are insufficient to hold God, underscoring His infinite nature which transcends all creation, having existed before it and being the sustainer of it. God is outside the bounds of even the most expansive aspects of His creation. - how much less this house: A powerful rhetorical a fortiori argument. If the boundless universe cannot contain God, then certainly a mere man-made structure, however magnificent, is utterly incapable of doing so. This reveals Solomon's profound theological insight and humility.
- which I have built!: A personal acknowledgement of human effort contrasted with divine boundlessness. It underlines that even monumental human endeavors cannot confine or define the Almighty.
2 Chronicles 6 18 Bonus section
This verse not only establishes God's transcendence but also subtly defines the purpose and limitation of the Temple. It clarifies that the Temple's function is not to contain God but to serve as a divinely appointed meeting place for worship, sacrifice, and prayer where God would make His presence uniquely known. It represents a focal point for the covenant, allowing Israel to approach God according to His prescribed way. Solomon's prayer models deep reverence, recognizing God's vastness even while celebrating His willingness to establish a special presence among His people. The Temple's significance lies not in confining God but in sanctifying a space for His interaction with humanity, acting as a gateway rather than a cage for the divine.
2 Chronicles 6 18 Commentary
Solomon's rhetorical question in 2 Chronicles 6:18 reveals a sophisticated theological understanding that transcends common ancient Near Eastern pagan conceptions of deities who were bound to their temples. Unlike pagan gods believed to reside physically within cultic statues or specific shrines, Yahweh, the God of Israel, is acknowledged as utterly transcendent, infinite, and omnipresent, beyond the ability of any created space—even the "heaven of heavens"—to contain Him. The Temple, therefore, was not built to house God's literal essence, but rather to be the dedicated place where His "Name" would dwell (2 Ch 6:20), where He would choose to meet with His people, hear their prayers, and establish His covenant presence. This subtle yet critical distinction served as a direct polemic against the localized, contained deities of surrounding cultures. It teaches that while God condescends to reveal Himself and draw near to humanity, His nature remains boundless, mysterious, and ultimately uncontainable by anything finite. This foundational truth about God's transcendence finds its ultimate expression in the New Testament with Christ, where God's true "dwelling" shifts from a physical structure to His Son and, by the Holy Spirit, to His redeemed people (Jn 14:23, 1 Co 3:16). The verse urges humility and awe, reminding us that no human effort or creation, however grand, can circumscribe the Creator.