2 Chronicles 6 38

2 Chronicles 6:38 kjv

If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:

2 Chronicles 6:38 nkjv

and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been carried captive, and pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and toward the temple which I have built for Your name:

2 Chronicles 6:38 niv

and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name;

2 Chronicles 6:38 esv

if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity to which they were carried captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name,

2 Chronicles 6:38 nlt

If they turn to you with their whole heart and soul in the land of their captivity and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors ? toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name ?

2 Chronicles 6 verses

2 Chronicles 6 38 Meaning

This verse from Solomon's dedication prayer anticipates a future scenario where the people of Israel might be carried into captivity due to their sins. It outlines the specific conditions for God to hear their prayers and respond: heartfelt and total repentance towards God, even from exile, coupled with prayer directed towards their promised land, the chosen city of Jerusalem, and the Temple built for God's Name. It highlights God's conditional grace and the pathway to restoration through genuine repentance and focused prayer.

2 Chronicles 6 38 Context

This verse is a crucial part of Solomon's magnificent prayer offered during the dedication of the First Temple in Jerusalem. Chapter 6 records Solomon's address to the people and his extended prayer of dedication, immediately following the completion of the Temple. The prayer itself is remarkably forward-looking and prophetic, anticipating not only the future challenges and sins of the Israelite nation but also God's covenantal response to their repentance. Solomon petitions God for various scenarios where the people might err, suffer consequences (like defeat in battle, drought, famine, or pestilence), and then turn to God in prayer from that distress. Verse 38 specifically addresses the ultimate catastrophe of national exile and captivity, a profound violation of their covenant with God which would indeed come to pass centuries later with the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles. Within this historical context, Solomon's prayer reflects a deep understanding of God's character as both righteous judge and merciful redeemer, who desires repentance and restoration.

2 Chronicles 6 38 Word analysis

• If they return (וְשָׁבוּ - veshavu):
  • Word: שוב (shuv), the Hebrew root, means to turn, to return, to repent. It's a foundational concept in Old Testament theology for turning back to God after going astray.
  • Significance: This is not merely a physical return to the land but primarily a spiritual turning away from sin and back towards YHWH. It implies a change of heart, a redirection of life, and renewed commitment to the covenant. This is a divine call that echoes throughout the Prophets.
• to You (אֵלֶיךָ - eleikha):
  • Word: A prepositions indicating direction "towards, to".
  • Significance: Emphasizes that the return is to God Himself, not just to a set of laws or rituals. The personal relationship is paramount.
• with all their heart (בְּכָל־לְבָבָם - bekol-levavam):
  • Word: לֵב (lev/levav) refers to the innermost being, intellect, will, emotions.
  • Significance: This signifies total devotion and sincerity. It means not merely outward performance or superficial regret, but genuine, deep-seated contrition and a true reorientation of one's entire inner being towards God. It aligns with the Shema (Deut 6:5).
• and with all their soul (וּבְכָל־נַפְשָׁם - uvenkol-nafsham):
  • Word: נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh) often translated as soul, life, being, self.
  • Significance: Complements "heart" to underscore completeness and totality. "Heart and soul" collectively represents the entire person—their thoughts, intentions, emotions, will, and very life force. Repentance must involve every facet of their being.
• in the land of their captivity (בְּאֶרֶץ שִׁבְיָם - be'eretz shivyam):
  • Word: שִׁבְיָה (shivyah) means captivity, exile.
  • Significance: Even in a foreign, oppressive land, God is accessible. This prayer acknowledges the dire consequences of disobedience but holds out hope for a future pathway to restoration from any location, emphasizing God's universal sovereignty and mercy.
• where they have carried them captive (אֲשֶׁר שְׁבוּ אֹתָם - asher shevu otam):
  • Significance: Acknowledges the reality of their dispersion and subjugation by an enemy, a fulfillment of covenant curses (e.g., Deut 28).
• and pray (וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ - vehitpalelu):
  • Word: תְּפִלָּה (tefillah) meaning prayer, to intercede.
  • Significance: Prayer is the specific vehicle through which this turning (repentance) finds expression and seeks divine favor. It's the essential act of seeking God.
• toward their land which You gave to their fathers (אֶל־אַרְצָם אֲשֶׁר־נָתַתָּה לַאֲבוֹתֵיהֶם - el-artam asher-natata la'avotehem):
  • Word: אֶרֶץ (eretz) meaning land; אֲבָא (av) meaning father.
  • Significance: The land of Israel was a cornerstone of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Directing prayer towards it evokes the ancient promises and God's faithfulness, reminding God of His enduring commitment to their patriarchal covenant. It also signifies a longing for physical restoration.
• and toward the city which You have chosen (וְהָעִיר אֲשֶׁר בָּחַרְתָּ - veha'ir asher bacharta):
  • Word: בָּחַר (bachar) meaning to choose, select.
  • Significance: This refers to Jerusalem, uniquely chosen by God (Psa 78:68, 132:13) as the place for His Name to dwell. This focus affirms Jerusalem's unique spiritual significance as God's earthly dwelling place and central point of worship.
• and toward the house which I have built for Your name (וְהַבַּיִת אֲשֶׁר בָּנִיתִי לְשִׁמְךָ - vehabyit asher baniti leshimkha):
  • Word: בַּיִת (bayit) meaning house, often Temple here; שֵׁם (shem) meaning name.
  • Significance: The Temple is where God's Name resides (Deut 12:11), symbolizing His presence and identity. Praying towards it is an act of acknowledging God's unique presence among His people and appealing to His covenant loyalty and gracious character that is associated with His "Name." Even in captivity, the Temple (and the presence it symbolized) remained the focal point of their worship and hope.

2 Chronicles 6 38 Bonus section

• Polemics against Polytheism: This prayer implicitly serves as a polemic against the polytheistic practices prevalent among surrounding nations. While pagan deities were often localized and could only be invoked in specific shrines or geographical areas, Solomon's prayer emphasizes that YHWH, the God of Israel, is sovereign everywhere. Even in distant lands of captivity, sincere prayer directed toward His single, chosen dwelling place (the Temple) will be heard. This asserts YHWH's uniqueness and His transcendency over geographical boundaries, yet still emphasizing a spiritual focal point for His people.
• The Power of Memory in Prayer: Solomon’s prayer repeatedly appeals to God's memory of His covenant with the patriarchs ("land which You gave to their fathers") and His own choices ("city which You have chosen"). This teaches us the importance of reminding God (not because He forgets, but because it frames our prayer in accordance with His promises) of His past faithfulness and sworn word, appealing to His character as revealed in His deeds and covenants.
• A Precursor to Individual Prayer and Worship: While speaking on a national scale, this verse sets a principle for individual repentance and worship. Daniel’s practice (Dan 6:10) is a direct application of this part of Solomon’s prayer, illustrating how individual believers can turn to God even when geographically separated from the Temple, maintaining faith and focus. The essence carries into the New Testament with emphasis on worshipping God in spirit and truth (Jn 4:23-24), recognizing that God's presence is not confined to physical structures, but the heart's posture and alignment with His will remain paramount.

2 Chronicles 6 38 Commentary

2 Chronicles 6:38 reveals a profound aspect of God's covenant faithfulness and a divinely prescribed pathway for restoration even after severe national transgression. Solomon, in his prophetic dedication prayer, foresaw the exile—a consequence of disobedience outlined in the Mosaic Law. The verse outlines a multi-faceted requirement for divine intervention: a total and sincere return (repentance) to God from the deepest parts of their being ("heart and soul"), even while living under duress in a foreign land. This return is not merely physical longing for homeland, but an internal spiritual transformation, signifying a break from the idols and practices that led to their captivity.

Furthermore, the prayer specifies a directional focus: towards the land of promise, the chosen city of Jerusalem, and crucially, towards the Temple itself. This physical orientation in prayer symbolized their continued reliance on God's covenant, their recognition of Jerusalem as the center of His earthly dwelling, and the Temple as the designated place where He would meet with His people and hear their petitions. It underscores the unique nature of Israel's relationship with YHWH, where a turning of the heart combined with a directed act of worship could invoke God's remembrance of His promises and provoke His merciful response to bring them back from spiritual and physical captivity. This verse, therefore, acts as a blueprint for spiritual restoration—a testament to God's enduring grace that always offers a path back, even from the greatest depths of despair and disobedience, provided there is genuine and comprehensive repentance.