2 Chronicles 6 24

2 Chronicles 6:24 kjv

And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;

2 Chronicles 6:24 nkjv

"Or if Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and return and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this temple,

2 Chronicles 6:24 niv

"When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you and when they turn back and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication before you in this temple,

2 Chronicles 6:24 esv

"If your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and they turn again and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house,

2 Chronicles 6:24 nlt

"If your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you, and if they turn back and acknowledge your name and pray to you here in this Temple,

2 Chronicles 6 verses

2 Chronicles 6 24 Meaning

2 Chronicles 6:24 describes the first hypothetical scenario in King Solomon's dedicatory prayer for the Temple: when the people of Israel face military defeat at the hand of an enemy. This defeat is attributed directly to their sin against God. The verse then outlines the required conditions for God's intervention and restoration: they must turn back to God, confess His name, and pray earnestly and plead for mercy towards the newly consecrated Temple. It establishes a pathway for divine recovery through repentance and seeking God in His appointed place.

2 Chronicles 6 24 Context

This verse is part of Solomon's comprehensive dedicatory prayer for the newly constructed Temple in Jerusalem, recorded in 2 Chronicles 6. Immediately preceding this section, Solomon has acknowledged God's faithfulness to David and reaffirmed God's omnipresence yet willingness to dwell among His people. Starting from verse 24, Solomon transitions to a series of specific petitions concerning future crises the nation might face. He foresees various calamities—such as military defeat (vv. 24-25), famine and pestilence (vv. 26-27), or other plagues and disasters (vv. 28-30)—that would befall Israel as consequences of their sin, according to the covenant warnings in the Law (e.g., Deut 28, Lev 26). In each scenario, Solomon outlines the specific conditions for God's forgiveness and intervention, always centering on the people's repentance, confession, and prayer directed towards the Temple as a tangible symbol of God's presence and their point of access to Him. This particular verse addresses national military defeat, linking it directly to the nation's spiritual standing.

2 Chronicles 6 24 Word analysis

• "When your people Israel": Refers to the collective body of God's covenant people, chosen by Him, emphasizing a national, rather than merely individual, scope.
• "are defeated": Hebrew: נָגַף ( nagaph). This verb means "to strike," "to smite," or "to plague." In a military context, it signifies being struck down or overcome. Here, it implies not merely military failure but often a defeat divinely allowed or inflicted as discipline.
• "before an enemy": Indicates being put to flight or overwhelmed by opposing forces, highlighting the shame and vulnerability of such a national collapse.
• "because they have sinned against you": Hebrew: חָטָא ( chata). This clearly establishes the direct causal link between the nation's actions—specifically, their transgressions of God's commands—and the calamity they experience. Sin is not just individual transgression but corporate rebellion against God's covenant.
• "and they turn back to you": Hebrew: שׁוּב ( shuv). This word is critical; it signifies a complete reversal or "repentance." It means not just regretting an action but turning away from a path of sin and back towards God. It implies a change of heart and direction.
• "and confess your name": Hebrew: יָדָה ( yadah). Here, it means to acknowledge, give thanks, or confess. "Confessing God's name" means acknowledging His character, sovereignty, righteousness, and ultimately admitting their own guilt in contrast to His holiness. It often carries an element of praising God despite their predicament, because His nature offers hope.
• "and pray and plead with you": The first verb is הִתְפַּלֵּל ( hitpallel), the common verb for prayer, often indicating self-judgment or self-evaluation before God. The second is חָנַן ( chanan), which means "to be gracious," "to show favor," or "to entreat." When in this grammatical form, it denotes an earnest appeal or petition for mercy, implying deep humility and desperation.
• "in this temple": Specifically points to the physical structure Solomon had just dedicated. It serves as the designated place for Israel's supplications, signifying that their prayers are to be directed towards the dwelling place of God's manifested presence among them, appealing to the covenant God whose name rested there.

2 Chronicles 6 24 Bonus section

• Solomon's prayer here anticipates the historical patterns of Israel, particularly the Babylonian exile and eventual return, demonstrating God's foreknowledge and the timeless principles governing His relationship with His people.
• The "confessing God's name" goes beyond mere words; it implies a deep acknowledgement of God's attributes, His power, His holiness, and His faithfulness, even in the midst of national disgrace.
• The Temple served as the central point for Israel's relationship with God, but its significance ultimately pointed towards a spiritual reality. In the New Testament, Jesus declares Himself the true Temple (Jn 2:19-21), and believers are called the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19), indicating that access to God for repentance and prayer is now primarily through Christ and His Spirit, regardless of physical location.

2 Chronicles 6 24 Commentary

2 Chronicles 6:24 provides a powerful covenantal framework for understanding national calamity and divine restoration. Solomon, in his prophetic dedicatory prayer, establishes that Israel's defeats would not be arbitrary misfortunes but rather direct consequences of their corporate sin against God. This theological lens positions God as actively involved in the nation's history, dispensing justice according to their adherence to the covenant.

However, the verse equally emphasizes God's redemptive mercy. It lays out the precise conditions for a return to favor: a genuine "turning back" to God (repentance), an open "confession" of His divine character and their own failings, and fervent "prayer and pleading" for mercy. The direction of this prayer "in this temple" is significant. It underlines the Temple's role not as an idol but as God's designated locus of access, where His presence dwelt and where the people could confidently seek His face and forgiveness, knowing He would hear from heaven. This teaching underscored that true national security lay not in military might, but in their spiritual posture before the Living God. It teaches that God's discipline aims to restore fellowship, offering a way back for those who genuinely humble themselves and seek Him according to His revealed means.

• Example 1: When a community faces a devastating drought, this verse suggests an initial response might be communal self-reflection and confession of any widespread ungodly practices, rather than solely relying on technological solutions or government aid.
• Example 2: If a local church experiences stagnation or internal conflict, applying this principle would lead the members to humble themselves, confess any sins (like unforgiveness, pride, or apathy), and earnestly seek God's healing and direction through unified prayer.