2 Chronicles 6:3 kjv
And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood.
2 Chronicles 6:3 nkjv
Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing.
2 Chronicles 6:3 niv
While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them.
2 Chronicles 6:3 esv
Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood.
2 Chronicles 6:3 nlt
Then the king turned around to the entire community of Israel standing before him and gave this blessing:
2 Chronicles 6 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 8:14 | Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel... | Parallel account in Kings |
| Num 6:23-27 | "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying... The Lord bless you and keep you..." | Priestly blessing pattern |
| Gen 12:2-3 | "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great... " | Abrahamic covenant blessing foundation |
| Deut 28:3-6 | "Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country." | Covenant blessings from obedience |
| 2 Sam 6:18 | And when David had finished sacrificing... he blessed the people... | David also blessed his people |
| 1 Chr 16:2 | When David had finished presenting the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people... | David blessing, parallel to Chronicles |
| Lev 9:22 | Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them... | Priestly blessing context |
| Lk 24:50 | Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. | Jesus blessing disciples |
| Acts 3:26 | "God, having raised up his Servant, sent him to bless you in turning..." | Christ's blessing for salvation |
| Psa 28:9 | Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever. | Prayer for God to bless His people |
| Isa 44:3 | For I will pour water on the thirsty land... I will pour my Spirit on your offspring... | Spiritual blessings for descendants |
| Jer 31:3 | ...I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. | Everlasting love as source of blessing |
| Eph 1:3 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ... | All spiritual blessings in Christ |
| Heb 7:1, 6-7 | ...Melchizedek... Priest of God Most High, who met Abraham... and blessed him. | Greater one blesses the lesser |
| Exo 34:8 | Moses bowed his head toward the ground and worshiped. | Posture of reverence/worship |
| Neh 8:7-8 | The Levites... helped the people to understand the law... so the people remained in their places. | People standing to receive instruction |
| Acts 7:48-50 | "The Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands..." | Temple as temporary, God not confined |
| Jn 2:19-21 | Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." But he was speaking about the temple of his body. | Christ as the ultimate Temple |
| 1 Pet 2:5, 9 | you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house... | Believers as God's spiritual temple |
| Heb 12:23 | to the assembly [ekklesia] of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven... | The heavenly assembly/church |
| 1 Chr 29:20 | And David said to all the assembly, "Now bless the Lord your God." And all the assembly blessed the Lord... | Assembly's role in blessing God |
2 Chronicles 6 verses
2 Chronicles 6 3 Meaning
At the pinnacle of the Temple dedication, King Solomon deliberately turned to face the entire gathered congregation of Israel and pronounced a blessing upon them. This action, performed while the entire assembly stood reverently, signified a profound moment of divine affirmation and covenant renewal, with Solomon acting as God's appointed representative to convey divine favor to His people.
2 Chronicles 6 3 Context
Chapter 6 of 2 Chronicles narrates King Solomon's extensive prayer and dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. This verse immediately follows Solomon's kneeling posture and previous prayer (verse 2), initiating a direct address to the gathered people. The larger context is the fulfillment of God's promise to David concerning a perpetual dynasty and a chosen place for His name to dwell, manifested in the completion and dedication of the Temple. The event marked a foundational moment for Israel's religious and national identity, emphasizing the centralized worship of Yahweh and the pivotal role of the Davidic king as mediator and representative of God among His people. Historically, this Temple became the focal point for Israelite worship for centuries, reinforcing the covenant between God and His people.
2 Chronicles 6 3 Word analysis
Then the king turned his face about:
Then: Indicates a direct consequence or sequential action following the immediate context of Solomon kneeling or offering praise.the king: Specifically refers to Solomon, emphasizing his supreme earthly authority and his unique role in mediating this blessing at the Temple's dedication.turned his face about: Hebrew way·yas·sêḇ pānāw (וַיַּסֵּב פָּנָיו). The verb savav (סבב) in the Hiphil stem means "to cause to turn around." This signifies a deliberate physical reorientation by Solomon, from possibly facing the altar or the Ark of the Covenant, to directly addressing the gathered people. It highlights his direct engagement and the solemnity of conveying a divine message or blessing.
and blessed:
blessed: Hebrew way·ḇā·reḵ (וַיְבָרֶךְ), the Piel imperfect of barak (בָּרַךְ). This is an active, verbal act of pronouncing a blessing. When a superior (like a king or a priest) blesses a lesser party, it is understood as conferring divine favor, well-being, or prosperity upon them. Here, Solomon acts in a unique, quasi-priestly capacity as God's anointed king, declaring God's favor over the assembled nation, thereby underscoring God as the ultimate source of all blessings.
all the assembly of Israel:
all the assembly of Israel: Hebrew kol-qə·hal yiś·rā·’êl (כָּל־קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל). Qehal (קהל) denotes a formally summoned and unified congregation, representing the entirety of the nation of Israel. This phrase emphasizes the collective nature of the covenant and that the divine blessing was bestowed upon the people as a corporate entity, symbolizing their unity under God. It implies the universal application of the blessing to all members of the covenant community.
while all the assembly stood:
while all the assembly stood: Hebrew wə·ḵol-haq·qā·hāl ‘ō·mêḏ (וְכָל־הַקָּהָל עֹמֵד). The participle ‘ōmêḏ (עֹמֵד) from amad (עָמַד), "to stand," indicates a sustained posture. The act of standing in ancient Near Eastern and biblical contexts often signifies reverence, respect, readiness to listen, or a posture of participation in a solemn, sacred event. Their collective standing highlights their attentiveness, their acknowledgement of the king's sacred authority, and their humble submission to the divine pronouncements being made on this momentous occasion.
2 Chronicles 6 3 Bonus section
The act of the king blessing the people connects deeply with the theological concept of the Davidic covenant, where the king is God's anointed instrument for establishing and maintaining His kingdom on earth. This scene anticipates the ultimate King, Jesus Christ, who uniquely possesses the authority to bless and mediate the ultimate covenant (the New Covenant) with His people, bringing eternal spiritual blessings. The repetition of "all the assembly" emphasizes the corporate unity and inclusivity of the blessing for the entire nation, foreshadowing the church (the spiritual assembly) where all believers, irrespective of their background, are united and blessed in Christ through their submission and reverence to Him. This Temple dedication also sets the stage for God's explicit covenant promises of hearing and forgiveness if His people humble themselves and seek His face, showing the reciprocal nature of divine-human interaction within the covenant.
2 Chronicles 6 3 Commentary
This concise verse captures a powerful moment in Israelite history, acting as a crucial interlude between Solomon's initial acts of dedication and his profound dedicatory prayer. Solomon's deliberate act of turning and blessing the entire congregation highlights his dual role as both king and a figure divinely appointed to mediate God's favor. The use of "blessed" here is active, implying a declaration of God's benevolence and affirmation of the covenant relationship. The collective standing of "all the assembly of Israel" underscores the corporate nature of their covenant with God and their humble yet reverent posture in receiving divine favor through their leader. This act solidified the people's direct connection to the new Temple and the presence of God it represented, fostering unity and national devotion under divine blessing.