2 Chronicles 6 39

2 Chronicles 6:39 kjv

Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.

2 Chronicles 6:39 nkjv

then hear from heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned against You.

2 Chronicles 6:39 niv

then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you.

2 Chronicles 6:39 esv

then hear from heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their pleas, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you.

2 Chronicles 6:39 nlt

then hear their prayers and their petitions from heaven where you live, and uphold their cause. Forgive your people who have sinned against you.

2 Chronicles 6 verses

2 Chronicles 6 39 Meaning

2 Chronicles 6:39 encapsulates a profound petition within Solomon's prayer of temple dedication, seeking divine intervention. It asks God to hear the prayers of His people when they turn towards the Temple, especially in distress, to actively respond, and to justly render judgment to each individual based on their actions, acknowledging God's unique and complete knowledge of their innermost hearts and motivations. This verse emphasizes God's omniscient justice and His transcendence as a dwelling in heaven, yet His immanent attentiveness to humanity.

2 Chronicles 6 39 Context

This verse is part of King Solomon's extensive prayer of dedication for the newly completed Temple in Jerusalem. Occurring within the broader account of the Temple's construction and inauguration, this prayer spans much of 2 Chronicles chapter 6, parallel to 1 Kings chapter 8. Specifically, 2 Chronicles 6:36-39 addresses the hypothetical, yet anticipated, scenario where the Israelites might sin against God, be exiled to foreign lands, and then genuinely repent, turning their hearts towards Him and the Temple in prayer. Solomon, filled with prophetic foresight and deep understanding of the covenant, pleads with God to show mercy in such future circumstances. This particular verse forms the culmination of such a plea, emphasizing the foundational principles of divine justice and omniscience that underpin God's interaction with humanity, even when His people are geographically distanced from the Temple.

2 Chronicles 6 39 Word analysis

• then hear (וְשָׁמַעְתָּ - v’shamata): Derived from the Hebrew shama', meaning to hear, listen, or perceive. In this context, it is not merely to detect sound, but implies attentive listening with an intent to respond and act. It signifies divine attentiveness to human supplication.

• from heaven (הַשָּׁמַיִם - ha'shamayim): Refers to the physical sky, but predominantly used in Scripture to denote the abode of God, His realm of power and transcendence. It highlights God's ultimate authority and majesty, indicating that He acts from His exalted dwelling.

• your dwelling place (מְכוֹן - m'khon): From makon, meaning a fixed or established place, foundation, or residence. This reaffirms heaven as God's secure and established throne, distinct from any earthly structure like the Temple, yet He hears from there.

• and do (וְעָשִׂיתָ - v’asita): From 'asah, meaning to make, do, accomplish, or act. This is a crucial element of the petition, moving beyond mere hearing to active intervention and fulfillment of the plea. It implies divine execution of justice and covenant faithfulness.

• and render (וְנָתַתָּ - v’natata): From natan, meaning to give, place, or set. Here, it denotes dispensing or giving back, signifying retribution or just recompense.

• to each one (לְאִישׁ - l'ish): Ish means man, a person, each individual. This emphasizes that divine judgment and action are precise and individualized, not collective and undifferentiated, though the prior context speaks of the nation.

• according to all his ways (כְּכָל־דְּרָכָיו - k'khol-d'rakhav): Derek means way, path, course of life, conduct, or manner of living. This phrase highlights that God's judgment is based on the full scope of a person's conduct, their actions, decisions, and overall life's trajectory.

• whose heart you know (אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֶת־לְבָבוֹ - asher attah yada'ta et-levavo):

  • you know (יָדַעְתָּ - yada'ta): From yada', to know, perceive, be acquainted with. Here, it signifies complete, intimate, and experiential knowledge.
  • heart (לְבָבוֹ - levavo): Lev or levav signifies the inner being of a person—their will, mind, intellect, emotions, motivations, and moral character. It is the seat of decision and the essence of personality. This indicates God's discernment of internal intent, not just external action.

• for you alone know (כִּי־אַתָּה לְבַדְּךָ יָדַעְתָּ - ki-attah l'vadekha yada'ta): This is an emphatic statement, reinforcing God's unique attribute.

  • alone (לְבַדְּךָ - l'vadekha): Emphasizes singularity and exclusivity. No one else possesses this level of insight.

• the hearts of the children of men (אֶת־לְבַב בְּנֵי הָאָדָם - et-levav b'ney ha'adam): "Children of men" is a common Hebrew idiom for humanity or mankind. This reasserts the scope of God's knowledge over all individuals, universally, distinguishing Him from finite humans or idols.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "then hear from heaven your dwelling place and do": This phrase beautifully captures the divine process in response to sincere prayer. It signifies that God is not just a passive observer but an active participant who, from His transcendent throne, both listens and acts. His location in "heaven, His dwelling place," underscores His sovereign authority and ability to effectuate change universally.
  • "and render to each one according to all his ways, whose heart you know": This central thought outlines the principle of divine justice. God's judgment is meticulously individualized ("to each one"), based comprehensively on a person's conduct ("according to all his ways"), but crucially, His judgment is fully informed by the innermost thoughts and intentions ("whose heart you know"). This connects outward action to inner motivation as the basis for divine assessment.
  • "for you alone know the hearts of the children of men": This closing statement functions as a theological justification and doxology. It unequivocally declares God's unique and exclusive omniscience regarding human motives and inner spiritual state. It distinguishes the Creator from all creation, affirming that only He has such penetrating insight, contrasting sharply with human inability to truly discern another's heart or even fully comprehend their own. This unique knowledge underscores the absolute trustworthiness and righteousness of His judgment.

2 Chronicles 6 39 Bonus section

• Polemics against contemporary beliefs: Solomon's declaration that "you alone know the hearts of the children of men" serves as a direct, though implicit, polemic against the polytheistic cults and idol worship prevalent in the surrounding nations. Pagan deities were often perceived as localized, limited in power, or accessible only through complex rituals, with no ability to discern the hidden motives of the human heart. The God of Israel is presented as sovereign, universal in His knowledge, and perfectly discerning, distinct from any man-made idol or limited pagan deity.
• Significance of "heart knowledge": The repeated emphasis on God's knowledge of the heart is fundamental to biblical theology. It implies that true relationship with God and genuine repentance are matters of internal transformation, not merely external ritual or compliance. This principle anticipates later prophetic and New Testament emphases on a new heart and spirit (e.g., Ezek 36:26-27; Rom 2:28-29; Heb 8:10).
• The Temple as a point of access: Although God's dwelling place is in heaven, the prayer reinforces the Temple's role as a focal point for the prayers of God's people. This highlights a principle where God designates a specific location (or later, through Christ, a specific person) as a meeting point for access to His presence and a means for intercession.

2 Chronicles 6 39 Commentary

2 Chronicles 6:39 encapsulates core biblical truths regarding God's character and interaction with humanity, forming a central plea in Solomon's prayer. The verse asserts God's transcendent yet responsive nature: He dwells in the heavens, yet attentively "hears" the prayers directed toward His earthly dwelling, the Temple. Beyond hearing, the petition asks God to "do" – to actively intervene and dispense justice. The essence of this divine justice is presented as both fair and comprehensive: God "renders to each one according to all his ways." This refers to accountability based on a person's entire conduct, actions, and decisions. Crucially, this divine judgment is informed by God's perfect knowledge of the "heart"—the wellspring of human thoughts, motives, and character. The powerful concluding declaration, "for you alone know the hearts of the children of men," underlines God's singular and exclusive omniscience. This means that unlike human judges who can only perceive outward appearances and limited information, God sees the hidden intentions and true motivations behind every action. This provides both comfort for the truly repentant and a solemn warning for those with hypocritical motives, ensuring that divine judgment is perfectly righteous. Solomon's foresight in anticipating Israel's future backsliding and exile, along with the provision for repentance, establishes a template for seeking God's mercy based on His character.