2 Chronicles 6 19

2 Chronicles 6:19 kjv

Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee:

2 Chronicles 6:19 nkjv

Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You:

2 Chronicles 6:19 niv

Yet, LORD my God, give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence.

2 Chronicles 6:19 esv

Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you,

2 Chronicles 6:19 nlt

Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you.

2 Chronicles 6 verses

2 Chronicles 6 19 Meaning

King Solomon, dedicating the newly built Temple, earnestly entreats God to actively consider and respond to his intercessory prayer and all future prayers offered from this sacred space. He humbly identifies himself as God's servant, acknowledging the LORD as his personal God, and specifically appeals for divine attention and responsive action to the various expressions of human need and worship—whether formal petitions, humble pleas for mercy, or urgent emotional cries. The core request is for God to "hearken," implying not merely hearing but an active, responsive engagement with the prayers of His people.

2 Chronicles 6 19 Context

2 Chronicles 6:19 is part of King Solomon's extensive prayer during the dedication of the First Temple in Jerusalem. This prayer (2 Chr 6:14-42) immediately follows the Ark of the Covenant being placed in the Most Holy Place and the glory of the LORD filling the Temple. Solomon's prayer acknowledges God's faithfulness to His promises (specifically to David) and asks God to manifest His presence and hear the prayers of His people who turn toward or pray within this new house. Historically, this event marks a high point in Israel's history, symbolizing the establishment of a fixed, central place for national worship, though Solomon emphasizes God's transcendence—He is not contained by the Temple but chooses to place His "Name" there for interaction with His people. The prayer's central theme is divine responsiveness to prayer, especially in times of sin, repentance, and national distress, thereby laying out the purpose of the Temple as a point of access for reconciliation and communion with God. This prayer, paralleled in 1 Kings 8, serves as a foundation for Israel's understanding of prayer and repentance for generations to come.

2 Chronicles 6 19 Word analysis

• "Yet have respect unto": The Hebrew phrase "וְהַבֵּט אֶל" (vehabbet el), meaning "to look upon," "to turn attention toward," or "to consider," implies more than just auditory perception. It is a plea for God to give focused, favorable, and active attention, signifying a desire for divine engagement and consideration of the petition. It moves beyond a passive "hearing" to an active and intentional listening that implies a responsive action.
• "the prayer" (תְּפִלָּת, tĕfillāh): This is a comprehensive Hebrew term for prayer, encompassing formal petitions, spontaneous supplications, and any form of direct communication, worship, or intercession directed to God. Its inclusion highlights the general concept of presenting one's heart and needs to the Divine.
• "thy servant" (עַבְדְּךָ, ʿavdekha): Solomon humbles himself by using this self-designation. Despite his royal status, he stands before God not as a king, but as a devoted servant, acknowledging his dependency and appeal to God's covenant relationship with those who serve Him faithfully. This reinforces the necessity of humility in approaching the Holy God.
• "and to his supplication" (וְאֶל-תְּחִנָּתֹו, wĕʾel-tĕḥinnato): The Hebrew "תְּחִנָּה" (tĕḥinnāh) is a specific type of prayer that emphasizes an earnest plea for grace or mercy, often implying a sense of unworthiness on the part of the one praying. It stems from the root ḥānan, meaning "to be gracious," underscoring that the basis of the request is God's undeserved favor, not any inherent merit of the petitioner.
• "O LORD my God" (יְהוָה אֱלֹהַי, Yahweh Elohay): This address is profoundly significant. "Yahweh" (rendered "LORD" in capitals) is God's personal covenant name, revealing His relational and ever-present nature to Israel. "Elohay" ("my God") adds a layer of personal commitment and belonging, signifying Solomon's personal relationship and trust in the one, true, sovereign God. This combination emphasizes both God's majestic authority and His intimate availability to His covenant people.
• "to hearken unto" (לִשְׁמֹעַ אֶל, lišmoʿa ʾel): Derived from "שָׁמַע" (shāmaʿ), a critical verb in biblical Hebrew. It means far more than just to hear auditorily; it carries the sense of "to listen intently, to understand, to obey, and especially, to respond with action." Solomon's plea is for God to act upon the prayers heard, demonstrating His active engagement in the affairs of His people.
• "the cry" (הָרִנָּה, hārinnāh): The Hebrew "רִנָּה" (rinnāh) refers to a loud, intense, or even ringing sound. While it can denote joy, here, in the context of petition, it suggests a fervent, urgent, possibly desperate emotional appeal. It speaks to prayers offered in deep distress or with passionate intensity, reaching God from the depths of human emotion.
• "and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee":
  • "the prayer": The repetition of "prayer" (tĕfillāh) serves to emphasize the earnestness and totality of Solomon's multifaceted appeals. It reiterates the fundamental nature of the request, encompassing all forms of sincere petition.
  • "which thy servant prayeth": Reiteration of Solomon's humble position and his act of praying reinforces the personal nature of his dedication and plea. It anchors the prayer specifically to his direct petition.
  • "before thee" (לְפָנֶיךָ, lĕfānêkā): This phrase indicates a direct standing in God's presence. Although God is transcendent and dwells in heaven, the Temple is consecrated as the specific earthly locus where His Name (representing His presence and authority) would reside, allowing His people to "stand before" Him with their prayers and supplications as if in His direct presence, thereby establishing a consecrated point of access and communion.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Yet have respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication": This pairing illustrates Solomon's deep desire for God's personal and gracious attention to both his general prayer and his specific, mercy-seeking pleas. It sets the tone of profound dependence and humility.
• "O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer": The comprehensive and personal address "O LORD my God" immediately elevates the plea, indicating a request made within a deep covenant relationship. The request to "hearken unto the cry and the prayer" combines different intensities of petition—the urgent "cry" and the general "prayer"—emphasizing that God's attentive response is sought for all forms of human appeal, from intense anguish to solemn worship. This phrase underlines the responsive and interactive nature of the relationship God desires with His people.

2 Chronicles 6 19 Bonus section

Solomon's prayer here reflects and reaffirms a foundational theological principle evident throughout the Scriptures: God is not a silent or indifferent deity. He is active and responsive to His people's sincere calls, especially when they are offered with humility and a repentant heart. The construction of the Temple, and this prayer, served as a prophetic blueprint for future generations regarding prayer and restoration from exile, as outlined in 2 Chr 7:14. It highlights the divine tension between God's omnipresent nature and His chosen dwelling place among His people through His "Name." The "Name" in biblical theology signifies God's presence, character, and authority, making the Temple the point of sacred contact, not because it could contain God, but because He chose to place His Presence there as a channel for communication. This also contrasts with the silent, unresponding idols of surrounding pagan cultures. Ultimately, while the earthly Temple ceased to exist, the concept of approaching God through a dedicated pathway found its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who declared Himself to be the ultimate Temple (Jn 2:21) and the living Way to the Father (Jn 14:6), ensuring that through Him, every "cry and prayer" offered in faith can always be heard before God's throne of grace (Heb 4:16).

2 Chronicles 6 19 Commentary

2 Chronicles 6:19 is the heart of Solomon's dedicatory prayer, an earnest plea for God to fulfill the very purpose for which the Temple was built: to be a designated place where He would hear and respond to the prayers of His people. Solomon, the earthly king, humbling himself as God's "servant," models how one approaches the Divine. He appeals to God not merely as a distant deity, but as "Yahweh Elohay"—the personal, covenant LORD, his own God. The distinct yet overlapping terms for prayer—"prayer," "supplication," "cry"—underscore the earnestness, diversity, and intensity of human communion with God, encompassing both formal petitions and desperate pleas for mercy. The critical request is for God to "hearken," which biblically signifies an active, attentive hearing that leads to a responsive action. This understanding aligns with God's historical pattern of listening to the groaning and cries of His people (as seen in the Exodus). While recognizing God's transcendence (His dwelling in heaven, v. 18), Solomon's prayer hinges on God's willingness to engage with humanity at this specific earthly point where His "Name" would dwell. This verse foundationalizes the understanding that the Temple was not for God's containment but for human access to His attentive presence, setting the stage for God's dramatic, immediate response and later promises regarding prayer from this site (2 Chr 7:1-3, 7:12-14).