2 Chronicles 6 41

2 Chronicles 6:41 kjv

Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.

2 Chronicles 6:41 nkjv

"Now therefore, Arise, O LORD God, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, And let Your saints rejoice in goodness.

2 Chronicles 6:41 niv

"Now arise, LORD God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests, LORD God, be clothed with salvation, may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness.

2 Chronicles 6:41 esv

"And now arise, O LORD God, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. Let your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in your goodness.

2 Chronicles 6:41 nlt

"And now arise, O LORD God, and enter your resting place,
along with the Ark, the symbol of your power.
May your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation;
may your loyal servants rejoice in your goodness.

2 Chronicles 6 verses

2 Chronicles 6 41 Meaning

This verse, a climactic plea in Solomon's prayer of dedication for the First Temple, expresses a profound desire for God's abiding presence, His effective spiritual work through the priesthood, and the resulting joy and well-being of His people. It is a fervent request for Yahweh to take up permanent residence in the newly built sanctuary, represented by the Ark of the Covenant, and for His priests to be clothed with His saving power, enabling the community of His faithful ones to rejoice in His manifest goodness.

2 Chronicles 6 41 Context

This verse forms the conclusion of Solomon's magnificent prayer of dedication for the First Temple in Jerusalem. Chapter 6 chronicles the culmination of years of labor: Solomon's address to the people, his blessing of the congregation, and his extended intercessory prayer before the newly dedicated altar. The prayer emphasizes God's faithfulness to His covenant promises (especially with David), but also foresees the potential failures of the people and seeks God's mercy and forgiveness. It functions as a foundational liturgical piece, appealing for God's enduring presence in the Temple as the locus for prayer and atonement for the nation of Israel. Verse 41 acts as a final, earnest plea for God to fulfill the purpose of the Temple by residing within it, manifesting His power and blessing through its consecrated ministers, and causing His devoted followers to experience true joy. This prayer represents a pivotal moment in Israel's history, transitioning from a nomadic faith centered around the portable Tabernacle to a settled faith with a permanent Temple, signifying stability, royal power, and God's continued immanence.

2 Chronicles 6 41 Word Analysis

• Now therefore arise (קוּמָה - qumah): A dynamic verb, typically an imperative "Rise!" or "Stand up!" Historically, this was spoken by Moses when the Ark of the Covenant was moved during Israel's wilderness wanderings (Num 10:35). Here, Solomon dramatically reverses its common usage, urging God not to depart but to permanently settle into this fixed dwelling. It's a plea for decisive, establishing divine action.
• O LORD God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים - Yahweh Elohim): The double appellation combines God's covenant name, Yahweh (the eternally existent one who keeps His promises), with Elohim (the generic term for God, emphasizing His divine power and sovereignty). This reinforces the solemnity and covenantal weight of Solomon's address.
• into thy resting place (אֶל-מְנוּחָתֶךָ - 'el menūkhāthekhā): "Resting place" (מְנוּחָה - menuchah) signifies more than a temporary stop. It implies a settled abode, a state of tranquil permanence, peace, and security. Unlike the Tabernacle, which was migratory, the Temple is meant to be God's enduring dwelling, a place of stable presence where His glory may reside without movement. This echoes Ps 132:8.
• thou, and the ark of thy strength (אַתָּה וַאֲרוֹן עֻזֶּךָ - 'attāh wa'ăron 'uzzekā): "Thou" directly refers to Yahweh Himself. The phrase "the ark of thy strength" refers to the Ark of the Covenant, the holiest object in Israel, representing God's active, powerful presence, His glory, and the locus of His covenant relationship with Israel. Its very presence signifies God's dwelling and His ability to act powerfully ("strength" - עוּז - 'ūz, meaning might, power, efficacy) on behalf of His people. The phrase underscores that the Ark is not merely a symbol, but intrinsically linked to God's own manifested power and presence.
• let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation (וְכֹהֲנֶיךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים יִלְבְּשׁוּ תְשׁוּעָה - wĕkhōhaneykhā YHWH 'Ĕlōhīm yilbeshū tĕshūʿāh): "Clothed with salvation" is a powerful metaphor. "Salvation" (תְשׁוּעָה - teshu'ah) here extends beyond mere individual deliverance to mean God's active, manifesting vindication, blessing, prosperity, and power acting through His priests. It's a request for God to empower them to perform their duties effectively, leading to God's blessing and deliverance for the people. Their actions (sacrifices, intercession, teaching) would be accepted by God and bring about His intended results, like a priestly garment. Without this divine empowerment, their rituals would be empty.
• and let thy saints rejoice in goodness (וַחֲסִידֶיךָ יְרַנְּנוּ בְטוֹבָה - wachăsīdheykā yĕrannĕnū bĕṭōbhāh): "Saints" (חֲסִידִים - chasidim) refers to God's faithful, pious, or loyal ones—those who exhibit chesed (steadfast love, loyalty, devotion) toward Him. They are the covenant people who genuinely adhere to His ways. "Rejoice" (רָנַן - rānan) means to shout for joy, sing triumphantly, often with praise. "Goodness" (טוֹבָה - tovah) signifies God's benevolence, His blessings, favor, prosperity, and the manifestation of His character that brings well-being. This final phrase connects God's presence and effective priestly ministry directly to the joyous experience of the community, where the people partake in the goodness that flows from God's dwelling among them.

2 Chronicles 6 41 Bonus Section

• The profound liturgical echoes of Ps 132:8-9, 16 in 2 Chron 6:41 highlight that Solomon's prayer was not an ad hoc invention but deeply rooted in established Israelite prayer traditions and hymns. This indicates a deliberate use of sacred poetry to consecrate the Temple.
• The move from a mobile Ark and Tabernacle to a permanent Temple was a massive theological and national shift. It underscored Israel's stability in the promised land and provided a central focus for national worship, symbolizing the reliability and enduring nature of God's covenant promises, contrasting with pagan deities associated with specific localities but often unreliable.
• This prayer underscores the centrality of mediation in Old Testament worship. The Ark symbolized God's presence, the priests facilitated worship and divine favor, and the Temple itself was the locus of reconciliation. This system was designed by God but imperfect due to human limitations, pointing forward to the ultimate, perfect mediator and high priest, Jesus Christ (Hebrews).
• The desired outcome, "rejoice in goodness," speaks to the holistic blessing God intends for His people – spiritual, social, and material well-being flowing from His covenant presence. This anticipates the New Covenant joy in the Holy Spirit and the future consummation of God dwelling fully with His redeemed people (Revelation 21:3-4).

2 Chronicles 6 41 Commentary

This verse encapsulates Solomon's ultimate plea at the Temple's dedication: an earnest prayer for God's permanent, effective dwelling among His people. The "resting place" signifies a shift from the nomadic existence represented by the Tabernacle to a stable covenant relationship centered in Jerusalem. Solomon requests not just a symbolic presence but a dynamic indwelling, manifested by the "Ark of thy strength" which embodies God's power and active participation in Israel's life. This plea immediately segues into two vital outcomes: the efficacy of the priesthood and the joy of the people. When priests are "clothed with salvation," it means their divinely appointed work, mediating between God and man through sacrifices and prayers, is accepted and effectual, leading to tangible blessings. This divine enablement of the priests directly results in God's "saints" (His loyal followers) being able to "rejoice in goodness." This "goodness" is the comprehensive blessing of peace, prosperity, and well-being that flows from a right relationship with God, secured by His dwelling and maintained by faithful, empowered ministry. The verse ultimately portrays a blessed kingdom where God truly resides, ministers are empowered for sacred service, and the people experience overflowing joy from His benevolent presence. This Old Testament desire for divine indwelling foreshadows the ultimate dwelling of God with humanity through Christ and the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant.