2 Chronicles 6:34 kjv
If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;
2 Chronicles 6:34 nkjv
"When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name,
2 Chronicles 6:34 niv
"When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name,
2 Chronicles 6:34 esv
"If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name,
2 Chronicles 6:34 nlt
"If your people go out where you send them to fight their enemies, and if they pray to you by turning toward this city you have chosen and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name,
2 Chronicles 6 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 20:1-4 | When you go out to battle against your enemies… the LORD your God is with you… He goes with you to fight… | God's presence & fight in battle |
| Josh 1:9 | Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage… For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. | Divine commissioning & presence in conflict |
| 1 Sam 7:7-11 | The Philistines… fought against Israel… Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him. | Prayer for national deliverance in battle |
| Ps 20:6-7 | Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him… Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember.. | Trust in God for victory, not human might |
| Ps 3:4-5 | I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill… I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me. | Calling on God from His dwelling (Jerusalem) |
| Dan 6:10 | …he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day and prayed… | Praying towards Jerusalem/Temple focal point |
| 1 Kgs 8:44-45 | If Your people go out to battle… and they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name.. | Parallel passage in Kings |
| 2 Chron 7:14 | If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray… then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin.. | Principle of prayer & national repentance |
| Ps 5:7 | But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. | Orientation of prayer towards the Temple |
| Ps 138:2 | I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name for Your lovingkindness… For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. | Worship directed to God's Temple |
| Jonah 2:4 | Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ | Hope/prayer directed to the Temple even in distress |
| Ex 20:24 | An altar of earth you shall make for Me… In every place where I record My name I will come to you, and I will bless you. | God putting His name in a place for worship |
| Deut 12:11 | …there will be a place which the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide there… | God choosing a place for His Name to dwell |
| Isa 30:15 | For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” | Relying on God, not self-reliance for strength |
| Matt 18:20 | For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” | Presence of God with gathered believers |
| Eph 6:10-18 | Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil… praying always with all prayer and supplication… | Spiritual warfare & the role of prayer |
| 2 Cor 10:3-4 | For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God… | Nature of spiritual battle, divine power |
| Phil 4:6-7 | Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.. | All-encompassing nature of prayer |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. | Believers' access to God through prayer |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | …you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices… | Believers as the New Testament "Temple" |
| Rom 8:26-27 | Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses… the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us… | The Spirit's role in prayer |
| John 4:21-24 | …the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father… true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth… | Shift from physical location to spiritual worship |
2 Chronicles 6 verses
2 Chronicles 6 34 Meaning
2 Chronicles 6:34 outlines a specific plea from Solomon's dedication prayer: should God's people embark on a military campaign against their enemies, divinely commissioned by Him, and subsequently turn in prayer toward Jerusalem and the Temple built for His name, then God should hear and uphold their cause. The verse establishes a critical link between divine mandate, focused prayer, and favorable outcome in warfare. It emphasizes that victory is not achieved through human strength alone but is contingent on alignment with God's will and supplication.
2 Chronicles 6 34 Context
Chapter 6 of 2 Chronicles details King Solomon's great prayer of dedication for the newly completed Temple in Jerusalem. Following his address to the assembly and a review of God's faithfulness, Solomon kneels before the altar and offers an extended, comprehensive intercession. This prayer anticipates various scenarios where Israel might find itself in distress – from drought and famine to plague, defeat in battle, and exile. In each case, Solomon pleads with God that if His people turn towards the Temple in prayer and repentance, God would hear from heaven and act on their behalf. Verse 34 specifically addresses the scenario of military conflict, linking success directly to divine commission and prayer focused on the Temple. Historically and culturally, the Temple was not just a building but the symbolic epicenter of Israel's relationship with Yahweh, representing God's presence among His people and the designated place for national worship, repentance, and intercession. The emphasis on God "sending them" highlights the concept of "holy war" in ancient Israel, where military engagement was ideally initiated and empowered by God.
2 Chronicles 6 34 Word analysis
- If thy people go out to war: Denotes a conditional statement, initiating a specific scenario for God's intervention. "Thy people" (
עמך-ammᵉḵā, your people) emphasizes God's covenant relationship with Israel, highlighting their special status as those whom He had chosen. "Go out to war" signifies a collective national military action. - against their enemies: Refers to external adversaries, those who threaten the nation of Israel. This is a common biblical motif of God's people facing opposition.
- by the way that thou shalt send them: This phrase is profoundly significant. "Send them" (
תשלחם-tišləḥēm), from the rootשלח(shalach), means to dispatch, commission, or send forth. It is not merely a description of where they are going, but fundamentally speaks of divine authorization, initiation, and guidance for the conflict. It implies that this is a war initiated or sanctioned by God, rather than a war undertaken purely by human design or for self-serving motives. This distinguishes divinely sanctioned conflicts from ordinary human conflicts. - and they pray unto thee: Establishes prayer as a prerequisite for divine intervention and victory. This points to dependence on God and acknowledgment of His sovereignty over all outcomes. It signifies seeking God's face and relying on His strength.
- toward this city which I have chosen: "This city" refers to Jerusalem. "Chosen" (
בחר-bachar) signifies God's sovereign selection and divine prerogative in designating Jerusalem as the place where His name would be remembered and His presence symbolized (cf. Deut 12:5). It is not merely a geographical direction, but an orientation towards a divinely consecrated place of divine presence and purpose. - and the house which I have built for thy name: "The house" is the Temple. "For thy name" (
לשמך-ləšiməḵā) does not imply God is confined within the structure, but rather that the Temple is the designated place where God's character, authority, and redemptive purposes are made known and worshipped. It is the center for invoking His reputation and appealing to His nature, a dwelling place for His reputation.
2 Chronicles 6 34 Bonus section
The concept presented in 2 Chronicles 6:34 echoes a broader biblical principle that God's people's success, whether in physical battle or spiritual challenges, depends on aligning with God's will and seeking Him wholeheartedly. This passage stands in stark contrast to the pagan reliance on divination, military might, or idolatry. Instead of merely preparing armies, the king (representing the nation) is called to seek divine authorization and commit to prayer. For the New Testament believer, the principles resonate in spiritual warfare, where "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God" (2 Cor 10:4), and prayer is central (Eph 6:18). Believers, as the spiritual temple, pray directly to God in Christ's name, demonstrating that true spiritual victory is rooted in God's divine will and the believer's dependence on Him through prayer, rather than human strength or wisdom. The specific "place" of prayer shifts from a physical Temple to a spiritual reality in Christ and the community of believers (1 Pet 2:5).
2 Chronicles 6 34 Commentary
2 Chronicles 6:34 is a specific scenario within Solomon's dedicatory prayer for the Temple. It underlines a foundational principle of Israel's relationship with God concerning warfare: success is contingent upon divine initiation and focused prayer. The phrase "by the way that thou shalt send them" is paramount; it means victory is assured not in any war, but specifically in wars commanded or authorized by God. This aligns with the concept of holy war where God Himself fights for His people when they obey His directives. Their prayer, directed towards the chosen city (Jerusalem) and the Temple "for thy name," served as an act of faith, reminding God of His covenant and appealing to His revealed character. It was an outward expression of an inward spiritual posture of humility and reliance on Him, acknowledging that strength and salvation come from the Lord, not military might. This verse provides a powerful theological statement: God’s people should look to Him for both direction in conflict and victory in the conflict, with the Temple serving as a powerful symbolic point of prayerful focus for national intercession and dependence on the Lord.