2 Chronicles 6:8 kjv
But the LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:
2 Chronicles 6:8 nkjv
But the LORD said to my father David, 'Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well in that it was in your heart.
2 Chronicles 6:8 niv
But the LORD said to my father David, 'You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name.
2 Chronicles 6:8 esv
But the LORD said to David my father, 'Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart.
2 Chronicles 6:8 nlt
But the LORD told him, 'You wanted to build the Temple to honor my name. Your intention is good,
2 Chronicles 6 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 7:2-3 | David said... "I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains." Nathan said... "Go, do all that is in your heart..." | David's desire to build a house for God. |
| 1 Chr 17:1 | David was dwelling in his house... and said to Nathan the prophet, "Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under curtains." | David's sincere desire reiterated. |
| 1 Chr 22:7 | David said to Solomon, "My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the name of the LORD my God." | David passing on the desire and explanation. |
| 1 Kgs 5:3 | "You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the warfare... until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet." | Reason David couldn't build: warfare. |
| 1 Chr 28:3 | "But God said to me, ‘You may not build a house for My name, because you are a man of war and have shed much blood.’" | Direct divine prohibition and its reason. |
| 1 Kgs 8:18 | "And the LORD said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart." | Parallel account of God's affirmation in Kgs. |
| Ps 37:4 | "Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart." | God fulfilling heart's desires when aligned with Him. |
| Prov 16:3 | "Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established." | God establishing intentions dedicated to Him. |
| Matt 5:8 | "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." | God valuing purity of intention and heart. |
| Rom 7:18 | "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for willing is present with me, but doing the good is not." | The gap between intention and ability, yet God's view. |
| 2 Cor 8:12 | "For if the eagerness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have." | God accepts according to readiness and intent. |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | "But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’" | God's primary focus on the heart/intentions. |
| Ps 51:17 | "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." | God's valuing of internal humility over external rite. |
| Phil 2:13 | "For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." | God's work includes inspiring desire and ability. |
| Eph 2:10 | "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." | God's preparation of both works and willing agents. |
| Heb 10:5-7 | Christ comes to do God's will... "Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of Me) to do Your will, O God." | Christ fulfilling God's will, embodiment of good intent. |
| Col 3:23 | "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men," | Principle of doing all with a good heart for God. |
| John 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us..." | God dwelling among men, superseding physical temple. |
| Acts 7:48-49 | "However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands; as the prophet says: ‘Heaven is My throne and earth is My footstool; what kind of house will you build for Me?’" | Divine transcendence, no physical building can contain God. |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | "Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" | New Testament concept of God's dwelling place. |
| Eph 2:20-22 | "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord." | The spiritual temple of believers, replacing the physical. |
2 Chronicles 6 verses
2 Chronicles 6 8 Meaning
Second Chronicles 6:8 conveys God's profound affirmation of King David's intention to build a house for His name, even though God did not permit David himself to undertake the construction. This verse, spoken by Solomon during the Temple dedication, highlights that the Almighty places significant value on a sincere desire and good intent, acknowledging the righteous motive of His servant David, regardless of the ultimate outcome or the one who completed the task. It demonstrates God's heart-focused evaluation, validating David's deep devotion.
2 Chronicles 6 8 Context
This verse is part of Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the newly completed Temple in Jerusalem. In 2 Chronicles chapter 6, Solomon stands before the altar of the LORD, facing the congregation, and blesses them before delivering an extensive prayer. The prayer recounts God's faithfulness to David and His covenant promises. Solomon references the divine revelation to David that his son, not he, would build the house for God’s name. Verse 8 specifically refers to God’s positive assessment of David’s intent. This scene, marking the climax of Israel's unified monarchy and worship, establishes the Temple as the designated place for God’s name, echoing the prophecies and promises given generations before. Historically, this dedication was a monumental event in ancient Israel, solidifying Jerusalem as the religious and political center and providing a tangible symbol of God’s dwelling among His people, though no building could contain Him.
Word Analysis
- But: Connects to the previous verses, providing a contrast. David intended to build, but God had a different plan, yet one that affirmed David's intent.
- the LORD: Hebrew
Yahweh(יהוה), the covenant-keeping God, personal and relational name of God, emphasizing His consistent character in fulfilling His promises and observing hearts. - said: Hebrew
dābar(דָבַר), meaning "to speak, declare, command." Implies a direct and authoritative communication from God to David. - to David my father: Emphasizes the personal relationship between God and David, and establishes Solomon's lineage and authority as David’s successor who fulfilled this divine plan. "Father" signifies reverence and respect for David's divinely appointed role and status.
- 'Whereas it was in your heart: Hebrew
lib'levaleka(לִבְלְבָבְךָ), referring tolevav(לֵבָב) – "heart," the deepest core of a person’s being, encompassing thought, emotion, will, intention, and moral resolve. It signifies a profound, inner desire, not just a fleeting idea. This is crucial as it reveals God's focus on inward disposition. - to build a house: Specifically refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, a permanent structure distinct from the Tabernacle, meant to symbolize God's settled presence among His people.
- for My name: Implies that the house was not for God's dwelling in a human sense, as He is omnipresent and uncontainable, but as a place designated for the invocation of His character, honor, reputation, worship, and where His presence would uniquely manifest (e.g., through sacrifice, prayer, His glory). It signifies ownership and dedication to Him.
- you did well: Hebrew
ṭōḇ(ט֥וֹב), meaning "good, right, pleasing, beautiful." This is a divine commendation. God's affirmation acknowledges the sincerity and purity of David's motivation. It highlights that intention, when pure and aimed at God's glory, is intrinsically good in His eyes, irrespective of whether the plan is executed exactly as conceived by man. - that it was in your heart': Repetition emphasizes and underscores the singular point of commendation – David's pure inner desire. This repetition creates a powerful literary emphasis, showing the central theme of God's value for the heart over the external action.
2 Chronicles 6 8 Commentary
This verse is a profound theological statement wrapped within a historical narrative. It reveals a fundamental aspect of God’s character: He regards the internal posture of the heart as highly as, if not more than, the external accomplishment. David, driven by deep devotion, desired to build a magnificent dwelling for God's ark, sensing the impropriety of himself living in a palace while God's symbol resided in a tent. While God, in His sovereign plan, assigned the actual construction to Solomon because David was a man of war, He did not rebuke David’s aspiration. Instead, He affirmed it with the words, "you did well that it was in your heart." This teaches us that genuine desires to honor and serve God, springing from a pure heart, are precious to Him. It encourages believers not to become discouraged if their plans to serve God do not unfold precisely as envisioned, for God cherishes the willing heart and finds good in righteous intentions. For instance, a believer desiring to undertake mission work but facing insurmountable obstacles may find solace here; their sincere desire is well-pleasing to God. Or, a person desiring to give sacrificially but only having little to offer, can take comfort that God esteems the spirit of their giving, not just the quantity.
Bonus Section
The affirmation in this verse showcases God's remarkable grace and condescension. David was passionate, yet his life was full of warfare, making him unsuitable to build the Temple, a structure intended for peace and worship. God, in His wisdom, redirected the act to Solomon, whose name (Shlomo) is linked to "shalom" (peace). Yet, He explicitly endorsed David's intent, ensuring David's heart for Him was never questioned. This separation of desire from action, yet praising the former, underlines the concept of God's sovereignty working through human will while maintaining His distinct purposes. It implies a deeper theological truth: while outward actions matter, the inward disposition defines their ultimate value before God.