2 Chronicles 6 36

2 Chronicles 6:36 kjv

If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;

2 Chronicles 6:36 nkjv

"When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to a land far or near;

2 Chronicles 6:36 niv

"When they sin against you?for there is no one who does not sin?and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near;

2 Chronicles 6:36 esv

"If they sin against you ? for there is no one who does not sin ? and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to a land far or near,

2 Chronicles 6:36 nlt

"If they sin against you ? and who has never sinned? ? you might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to a foreign land far away or near.

2 Chronicles 6 verses

2 Chronicles 6 36 Meaning

This verse, part of King Solomon's dedicatory prayer for the Temple, addresses the inevitable reality of human sinfulness. It outlines a scenario where the people of Israel might transgress against God's commands. Acknowledging that "there is no one who does not sin," it predicts that God's righteous anger would follow such disobedience, leading Him to deliver His people into the hands of an enemy. The consequence described is a devastating one: being carried away captive to a foreign land, regardless of its distance, thereby experiencing divine judgment through exile.

2 Chronicles 6 36 Context

2 Chronicles 6:36 is situated within Solomon's magnificent dedicatory prayer for the newly built Temple (2 Chron 6:12-42). This prayer is a theological cornerstone, linking the presence of God among His people with their obedience and future well-being. Following an appeal for God's presence and adherence to the Davidic covenant, Solomon enumerates various national calamities – famine, pestilence, defeat in battle – that might befall Israel as a consequence of sin (vv. 28-39). Each scenario is paired with a plea for God to hear His people's repentance and prayers directed towards the Temple. Verse 36 specifically addresses the gravest national punishment envisioned: being conquered and taken into exile. This passage not only highlights God's justice in punishing sin but also anticipates the historical reality of the Babylonian Exile, offering a blueprint for repentance and restoration even in dire circumstances. The Chronicler, writing post-exile, uses this prayer to underscore the long-standing covenantal warnings that foreshadowed Judah's eventual downfall and captivity, reinforcing the principle that their fate was tied directly to their faithfulness to God.

2 Chronicles 6 36 Word analysis

• If they sin against you (וכי יחטאו לך - v'khiy yeḥeṭ'ū lāk):
  • Yeḥeṭ'ū (from Hebrew חָטָא, chaṭa): meaning "to miss the mark," "to go astray," "to fail in one's duty," and fundamentally "to sin." It denotes a departure from God's prescribed path, a breach of covenantal obligations. The act is directed against God, signifying a rebellion against His authority and holiness. This phrase sets the premise for divine intervention based on human action.
• for there is no one who does not sin (כי אין אדם אשר לא יחטא - kiy ʾên ʾādām ʾăsher lōʾ yeḥeṭāʾ):
  • This is a profound parenthetical statement expressing a universal theological truth about humanity.
  • ʾĀdām (אדם): refers to "man," "humankind," or "any person." This reinforces that sin is not a specific tribal or national issue but an inherent part of the human condition, post-Fall (Gen 3).
  • This clause is crucial, setting the expectation of human fallibility. Solomon acknowledges that despite their covenant with God, the people will inevitably fall short. It forms the theological basis for the need for divine mercy and the Temple as a place of atonement and reconciliation.
• and you are angry with them (והתאנפת בם - vəhitʾanaptā bām):
  • Hitʾanaptā (from Hebrew אָנַף, ʾānap): meaning "to be incensed," "to breathe hard in displeasure," indicating intense righteous indignation or anger.
  • This anger is not arbitrary but a just, covenantal response to the violation of His holiness and the breaking of His laws. It underscores God's active involvement in judgment and the consequences of sin.
• and give them to an enemy (ונאתתם לפני אויב - ūnatattām lip̄nê ʾôyēv):
  • Natattām (from Hebrew נָתַן, nāthan): "to give," "to deliver," "to hand over." This emphasizes God's sovereign control; He actively delivers His people into the hands of their adversaries. This is not a passive event, but an execution of divine judgment, signifying the complete removal of divine protection.
  • "Enemy" (ʾôyēv): refers to an adversary, especially in warfare. It highlights the vulnerability and defeat that comes from being abandoned by divine favor.
• so that they are carried away captive (ושבו אותם שוביהם - vəshāvū ʾôṯām shôveheyhem):
  • Shâvâh (שָׁבָה): "to take captive," "to lead away as prisoner of war." This term graphically depicts the result of being delivered to an enemy – a forced displacement, loss of freedom, and humiliation. It is a direct fulfillment of Deuteronomic curses (Deut 28).
• to a land, far off or near (אל ארץ רחוקה או קרובה - ʾel ʾereṣ reḥôqāh ʾô qərôvah):
  • Raḥôqāh (רְחֹקָה): "far," "distant." Qərôvah (קְרוֹבָה): "near," "close."
  • This phrase emphasizes the totality and breadth of the dispersion. Whether to Babylon (far) or Egypt (near), the punishment would reach them wherever they were scattered, indicating a complete loss of their promised land and national identity, which were central to their covenant. It suggests no corner of the earth would escape the consequences of their disobedience.

2 Chronicles 6 36 Bonus section

• The Chronicler, writing much later than the events, meticulously includes Solomon's prophetic acknowledgment of exile, demonstrating a divinely orchestrated trajectory for Israel's history that hinges on covenant faithfulness. This hindsight allowed the post-exilic community to understand why their ancestors suffered the captivity, validating the covenant God's justice.
• The parenthetical clause "for there is no one who does not sin" highlights not just human fallenness, but also God's prior knowledge and preparation for a system of repentance and forgiveness. Without this fundamental acknowledgment, the entire concept of the Temple's purpose as a place of atonement would be undermined.
• Solomon's prayer here reflects an acute understanding of the Deuteronomic covenant's blessings and curses (Deut 28-30), particularly concerning the consequences of disobedience, setting a precedent for national prayer and repentance in times of crisis, focusing on the return to God from affliction.
• The phrase "far off or near" emphasizes the complete dispersion and loss of territory that was fundamental to Israel's identity as the covenant people dwelling in the Promised Land. This complete scattering was the ultimate consequence of their sin against God.

2 Chronicles 6 36 Commentary

2 Chronicles 6:36 encapsulates a foundational biblical truth: human sin is universal, and divine justice is inescapable. Solomon's intercession for Israel here is profoundly realistic; he does not assume perfection but acknowledges the inherent flaw in humanity ("for there is no one who does not sin"). This confession recognizes that Israel, despite being God's chosen people, shares the common human propensity to rebel against their Creator. The verse then outlines the grim consequence of this sin: God's righteous anger (not arbitrary rage but holy indignation against unfaithfulness) leading to their "being given to an enemy" and "carried away captive." This powerfully foreshadowed the Babylonian Exile, a catastrophic event precisely fitting this description, demonstrating that God's covenant warnings (Deut 28) were not idle threats. The very inclusion of such a dire possibility within a dedicatory prayer for a new Temple underscores that the Temple's efficacy was tied to Israel's faithfulness. It teaches that proximity to a holy place does not negate accountability for unholy living. Despite the harsh judgment described, the broader prayer (leading into v. 37ff.) subtly hints at the hope of repentance and restoration even from the "land far off or near," pointing to God's ultimate mercy and willingness to restore His people upon genuine contrition. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of sin's bitter fruit and God's unwavering justice, laying the theological groundwork for understanding both divine discipline and future restoration in redemptive history.