2 Chronicles 6:2 kjv
But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever.
2 Chronicles 6:2 nkjv
I have surely built You an exalted house, And a place for You to dwell in forever."
2 Chronicles 6:2 niv
I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever."
2 Chronicles 6:2 esv
But I have built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever."
2 Chronicles 6:2 nlt
Now I have built a glorious Temple for you, a place where you can live forever!"
2 Chronicles 6 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 25:8 | "And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." | God's desire to dwell with His people. |
| Ex 29:45 | "I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God." | Promise of divine dwelling. |
| Deut 12:5 | "...but to the place that the Lord your God will choose...there you shall bring all that I command you..." | Prophetic yearning for a chosen fixed dwelling. |
| 2 Sam 7:13 | "He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." | Davidic Covenant, house for God's name. |
| 1 Kgs 6:13 | "I will dwell among the people of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel." | Conditional promise of God's dwelling in Temple. |
| 1 Kgs 8:13 | "I have surely built thee a house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever." | Parallel passage in 1 Kings. |
| 1 Kgs 8:27 | "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You..." | God's transcendence despite dwelling place. |
| Ps 78:68-69 | "...but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved. He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded forever." | Zion chosen as permanent sanctuary. |
| Ps 132:13-14 | "For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: 'This is my resting place forever...'" | God's specific choice of Zion as His abode. |
| Isa 4:5-6 | "...and the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion...a cloud by day and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night..." | God's manifest presence in Zion. |
| Isa 66:1-2 | "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me...?" | Reiteration God is not limited by a building. |
| Ezek 37:26-28 | "I will make a covenant of peace with them...I will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore." | Prophecy of permanent sanctuary in new covenant. |
| Zech 2:10-11 | "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and will dwell in your midst..." | God's future dwelling in Zion. |
| Matt 1:23 | "...and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us)." | God's ultimate dwelling with humanity in Jesus. |
| John 2:19-21 | "Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' ...He was speaking about the temple of his body." | Jesus as the ultimate Temple of God. |
| Acts 7:48-50 | "Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says: 'Heaven is my throne...'" | Reinforces God's transcendence and Spirit dwelling. |
| Acts 17:24 | "The God who made the world and everything in it...does not dwell in temples made by man..." | God's omnipresence over constructed dwellings. |
| 1 Cor 3:16-17 | "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" | Believers as the spiritual Temple. |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you...?" | Individual believers as the Spirit's temple. |
| Eph 2:21-22 | "in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." | The Church as a corporate dwelling for God. |
| Heb 8:1-2 | "We have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man." | Heavenly tabernacle/Temple. |
| Rev 21:3 | "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people..." | Ultimate fulfillment: God dwelling with man in New Jerusalem. |
2 Chronicles 6 verses
2 Chronicles 6 2 Meaning
2 Chronicles 6:2 expresses King Solomon's affirmation during the Temple's dedication: he has indeed completed the construction of a permanent sanctuary for the Lord, designed to be a fixed and lasting dwelling place for God among His people, signaling His enduring presence.
2 Chronicles 6 2 Context
This verse is part of King Solomon's dedicatory prayer and address at the completion of the First Temple in Jerusalem. Following the glorious cloud filling the Temple, signifying God's presence (2 Chr 5:13-14), Solomon first blesses the assembly of Israel (2 Chr 6:1-3) before commencing his extended prayer. Verse 2 is Solomon's immediate verbal confirmation, addressed to God, that the monumental task of building a permanent dwelling for the Lord has been successfully achieved, fulfilling prophecies and centuries of Israel's nomadic worship. This particular statement underscores the permanence of God's chosen dwelling, a stark contrast to the portable Tabernacle that preceded it, symbolizing Israel's transition to a settled nation under a Davidic king. It serves as an introduction to Solomon's ensuing, much longer, dedicatory prayer (2 Chr 6:12-42), which seeks divine presence and blessing upon the Temple and the nation. The Chronicler emphasizes the Temple's centrality to Israel's life and worship.
2 Chronicles 6 2 Word analysis
- I have surely built: (Hebrew: bānōh bānîtî - בָּנֹ֚ה בָנִ֨יתִי). This construction uses an infinitive absolute (bānōh, 'to build') before a finite verb of the same root (bānîtî, 'I have built'). This is a strong Hebrew idiom expressing emphasis, certainty, or intensity. It conveys "I have indeed built" or "I have truly built." It highlights the deliberate, arduous, and successfully completed act of construction, affirming the realization of a divine command and a national aspiration. It implies that the human effort was completed by divine grace.
- thee: Refers directly to Yahweh, the Lord God of Israel. It emphasizes that the entire structure, its purpose, and its consecration are wholly for His glory and presence.
- a house: (Hebrew: bayit - בַּיִת). Specifically, the Temple (Solomon's Temple), the first permanent structure designated for the worship of the God of Israel. In the ancient Near East, a "house" for a deity was common, but for Yahweh, it signified a place where His Name would dwell and His presence would be accessible, not that He was confined within its walls (as 1 Kgs 8:27 and 2 Chr 6:18 clarify).
- to dwell in: (Hebrew: lĕšāḇeṯ - לְשָֽׁבֶת). "For dwelling," or "to inhabit." This describes the primary function of the Temple as conceived by Solomon and Israel – a place where God's presence (His Shekinah or glory) could abide. It suggests a personal, tangible presence among His people, offering a locus for communion, prayer, and atonement.
- a settled place: (Hebrew: māḵôn - מָכוֹן). This word signifies a "fixed place," "a firm establishment," or "a permanent dwelling." It strongly contrasts with the transient nature of the Tabernacle, which was designed to be moved. The use of māḵôn highlights the stability and permanence of God's intended presence at this specific location, fulfilling the promises of God for a fixed sanctuary.
- for thee to abide in: (Hebrew: lĕšiḇtəkā - לְשִׁבְתְּךָ֖). Another direct reference to God's act of remaining. It reinforces the purpose of the Temple as a constant and reliable presence of the divine within the nation, available for all generations.
- for ever: (Hebrew: ‘ôlāmîm - עֹולָֽמִים). This word is the plural of ‘ôlām, often translated as "eternity," "perpetuity," or "a very long time/ages." In this context, it denotes a continuous and enduring presence of God for the duration of the covenantal arrangement established at the Temple's dedication. It signifies the desired permanence of God's dwelling within the life of Israel, though historical events would later demonstrate this "forever" to be conditioned on Israel's faithfulness.
Words-group analysis:
- "I have surely built thee a house to dwell in": This phrase directly states the accomplishment. It combines human effort with divine purpose. The emphasis ('surely built') underscores the magnitude of the task and its successful completion according to God's will. It serves as a declarative statement affirming the fulfillment of the longing for a stable divine dwelling after centuries of nomadic existence.
- "a settled place for thee to abide in for ever": This is a parallel and reinforcing phrase that elaborates on the nature and permanence of the "house." The use of "settled place" (māḵôn) strongly conveys stability, foundation, and immobility, distinguishing it from the movable Tabernacle. "Forever" (‘ôlāmîm) articulates the aspiration for an eternal, unwavering divine presence among God's people within the framework of the Davidic Covenant and the Mosaic Law. Together, these phrases depict a tangible, permanent manifestation of God's covenantal faithfulness.
2 Chronicles 6 2 Bonus section
The concept of "God dwelling among His people" is central throughout the Bible, beginning with the Tabernacle in the wilderness (Ex 25:8), culminating in the New Creation (Rev 21:3) where God will fully and permanently dwell with redeemed humanity without need for a temple building. Solomon's statement here represents a crucial intermediate step, affirming the establishment of a physical space that foreshadows God's ultimate desire to be intimately present with His people forever. This verse, with its emphasis on "forever," not only speaks to the Temple's expected longevity but also to God's unchanging nature and His eternal intention to tabernacle with humanity. It's a key fulfillment of promises given to David, highlighting the Chronicler's theme of the centrality of worship and the enduring nature of God's covenant.
2 Chronicles 6 2 Commentary
2 Chronicles 6:2 stands as a monumental declaration in the history of Israel, marking the transition from a portable tabernacle to a permanent, grand Temple. Solomon, acknowledging the successful completion of this vast project, directly addresses the Lord, proclaiming the Temple's purpose: a stable, abiding dwelling place for God's presence among His chosen people. This verse captures both the culmination of David's vision and God's desire for an established connection with humanity. While God's omnipotence means He is not contained by any structure, this Temple served as the unique earthly nexus where His Name and manifested glory would reside, symbolizing His covenantal commitment to Israel. It highlights God's condescension in choosing to manifest His presence in a fixed sanctuary, providing a central point for worship, prayer, and a visible sign of His unfailing covenant love, a truth ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ and His Body, the Church.