2 Chronicles 6 29

2 Chronicles 6:29 kjv

Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house:

2 Chronicles 6:29 nkjv

whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows his own burden and his own grief, and spreads out his hands to this temple:

2 Chronicles 6:29 niv

and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel?being aware of their afflictions and pains, and spreading out their hands toward this temple?

2 Chronicles 6:29 esv

whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own sorrow and stretching out his hands toward this house,

2 Chronicles 6:29 nlt

and if your people Israel pray about their troubles or sorrow, raising their hands toward this Temple,

2 Chronicles 6 verses

2 Chronicles 6 29 Meaning

This verse describes various forms of distress—individual affliction and sickness—from which the people of Israel might seek divine intervention. It speaks to any individual or the entire community recognizing their own suffering and turning to God in prayer and supplication, physically expressing their dependence and hope by stretching out their hands towards the newly dedicated Temple. It emphasizes the deeply personal yet unified act of seeking God's mercy and relief from hardships.

2 Chronicles 6 29 Context

This verse is part of King Solomon's great prayer of dedication for the newly completed Temple in Jerusalem (2 Chr 6:12-42). Preceded by Solomon's blessing of the people (vv. 3-11), the prayer proper begins with Solomon kneeling and spreading his hands towards heaven, reaffirming God's covenant faithfulness (vv. 12-17). The subsequent sections (vv. 22-40) lay out various specific scenarios where the people might find themselves in distress—ranging from internal disputes to famine, plague, drought, defeat in battle, and ultimately, exile. In each case, Solomon pleads that when the people pray toward this Temple, confessing their sins and turning to God, Yahweh would hear from heaven, forgive, and act on their behalf. Verse 29 specifically focuses on individual and collective suffering from affliction or sickness, highlighting the personal experience of sorrow and the act of appealing directly to God through the symbolic focal point of the Temple. This entire prayer establishes the Temple not merely as a place of sacrifice, but profoundly as a 'house of prayer' where God's presence makes Him uniquely accessible for the nation's and individuals' appeals for mercy, particularly in times of hardship and repentance.

2 Chronicles 6 29 Word analysis

• whatever affliction (nega’, נֶגַע): Signifies a "stroke," "plague," or "disease." Often associated with divine visitation or punishment. It is a comprehensive term for bodily or societal calamity, implying something inflicted.
• or whatever sickness (machalah, מַחֲלָה): Refers specifically to physical illness or infirmity. This clarifies the broadness of nega’ by focusing on a specific physical manifestation of suffering.
• there is: Connects the suffering as an existing reality or potential event for which prayer is needed.
• whatever prayer (tephillah, תְּפִלָּה): A general term for supplication or entreaty to God. It indicates a verbal address of the soul to God.
• or plea (tekhinnah, תְּחִנָּה): Signifies an earnest entreaty or request for favor, mercy, or grace. It often suggests humility and a deep sense of need, a "crying out" or "begging."
• is made by anyone: Emphasizes individual suffering and the right of any person within the community to approach God. This underscores the personal aspect of faith and prayer.
• or by all your people Israel: Expands the scope to include collective suffering and corporate prayer. God is accessible to the community as a whole.
• each knowing his own affliction: Highlights the personal, deeply felt nature of suffering. "Knowing" implies a recognition, an intimate awareness, and possibly a sense of responsibility or a connection to personal sin. It emphasizes a conscious awareness of one's dire situation.
• and his own sorrow: (makh’ov, מַכְאוֹב): Refers to intense pain, grief, or distress, whether physical or emotional. It describes the inner turmoil and anguish that accompanies the outward "affliction." This demonstrates genuine heartfelt contrition or desperation.
• and spreading out his hands: (uparash kappav, וּפָרַשׂ כַּפָּיו): A common posture of prayer in ancient Israel, symbolizing earnest entreaty, supplication, surrender, and dependence. It is a physical act indicating an outward pouring of one's inner being and reception of divine blessing or mercy.
• toward this house: Refers to the newly consecrated Temple in Jerusalem. This establishes the Temple as the symbolic point of access to God's presence, the locus of divine reception of prayer and where His name dwells. It's not prayer to the house, but through it, acknowledging God's unique presence there.

2 Chronicles 6 29 Bonus section

• Polemics: This focus on a single, dedicated Temple as the exclusive locus for prayer and divine attention, particularly in times of national and individual crisis, implicitly serves as a polemic against polytheistic practices. Neighboring cultures would appeal to numerous deities at various local high places for relief from different calamities. Solomon's prayer reinforces Yahweh's sole sovereignty over all types of suffering and His unique dwelling in Jerusalem's Temple, establishing a centralized, monotheistic worship distinct from pagan practices.
• "Knowing his own affliction": This is not merely an intellectual awareness but a deep, experiential knowledge that leads to brokenness and a contrite spirit. Such self-awareness of one's dire state is a prerequisite for genuine repentance and effective prayer, aligning with passages like Psalm 51:17 about a broken and contrite heart.
• Progressive Revelation: While the Temple served as the focal point for prayer in the Old Testament, the New Testament reveals Jesus Christ as the true "temple" (Jn 2:19-21) and the ultimate Mediator through whom access to God's throne of grace is fully and continually granted (Heb 4:16; 7:25). Believers themselves are now considered "temples of the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor 6:19), implying that God's presence is internalized, making every place a valid one for prayer (1 Tim 2:8).

2 Chronicles 6 29 Commentary

This verse, nested within Solomon's pivotal Temple dedication prayer, portrays a critical aspect of Israel's covenant relationship with God: the pathway to divine intervention in times of distress. It delineates two broad categories of human suffering—"affliction" (general calamity) and "sickness" (physical ailments)—that lead individuals or the entire nation to cry out to God. The phrase "each knowing his own affliction and his own sorrow" is profoundly significant; it underscores the deeply personal and often unique experience of suffering. True prayer in such circumstances is not superficial but flows from an acute awareness of one's distress and inner anguish.

The physical act of "spreading out his hands toward this house" is a symbolic yet powerful gesture. It signifies an appeal for divine mercy, expressing humility, dependence, and open receptivity to God's intervention. The Temple, for Solomon and the people, served as the consecrated point of contact with God's dwelling, a tangible expression of God's promised presence among them. It was the focal point towards which prayers for healing, forgiveness, and deliverance were directed, believing that God would hear "from heaven" as a result. This pattern reveals God's willingness to engage with humanity's suffering when approached with contrite hearts and expectant faith, reaffirming His compassionate nature within the covenant. This act foreshadows the ultimate Temple, Christ, through whom all prayers are now directed to God.