2 Chronicles 7 1

2 Chronicles 7:1 kjv

Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

2 Chronicles 7:1 nkjv

When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

2 Chronicles 7:1 niv

When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

2 Chronicles 7:1 esv

As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

2 Chronicles 7:1 nlt

When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple.

2 Chronicles 7 verses

2 Chronicles 7 1 Meaning

Upon Solomon's completion of his prayer for the newly built Temple, God demonstrated His immediate and powerful acceptance through two distinct manifestations: a visible fire descended from heaven to consume the sacrifices offered on the altar, and the awe-inspiring, weighty presence of the LORD's glory visibly filled the entire sanctuary. This act served as divine ratification of the Temple's consecration, the sacrifices, and God's acceptance of Solomon's earnest petition.

2 Chronicles 7 1 Context

This verse immediately follows Solomon's magnificent dedicatory prayer (2 Chronicles 6) for the newly constructed Temple in Jerusalem. In his prayer, Solomon earnestly petitions God to inhabit this Temple, to hear prayers offered there, and to forgive sins of His people who turn back to Him. Chapter 7:1 is God's direct, unmistakable, and visible answer to that prayer. It marks the climactic moment of the Temple dedication, signaling God's acceptance of the edifice, the worship, and the covenant relationship. This event also sets the stage for God's subsequent covenant renewal with Solomon (2 Chronicles 7:12-22), which includes conditions for blessings and warnings for disobedience. Historically, this event solidified Jerusalem as the central place of worship and the Temple as the symbol of God's dwelling among His people, fulfilling prophecies about God establishing His name there.

2 Chronicles 7 1 Word Analysis

• Now when Solomon had finished praying:

  • This phrase emphasizes the immediacy of God's response to Solomon's complete and fervent prayer. There was no delay, signaling God's attentive listening and readiness to answer. The prayer itself (in chapter 6) was comprehensive, expressing deep spiritual understanding and a heart turned towards God's glory and Israel's well-being.

• fire came down:

  • Hebrew: ʾêš yā·rə·ḏāh (אֵשׁ יָרְדָה). ʾÊš means "fire," and yā·rə·ḏāh means "it descended" or "came down."
  • This is a direct, supernatural act of God. It's not ordinary fire or something initiated by priests.
  • Significance: Divine authentication and acceptance of the sacrifices, demonstrating God's presence, power, and approval. It harks back to previous instances of God's consuming fire, like on Mount Sinai or with Aaron's first offering.

• from heaven:

  • Hebrew: min-haš·šā·ma·yim (מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם). Min means "from," and haš·šā·ma·yim means "the heavens/sky."
  • Clearly indicates the divine origin of the fire, affirming that the manifestation was directly from God's transcendent throne, not a natural phenomenon or a trick.

• and consumed:

  • Hebrew: wat·tōʾ·ḵal (וַתֹּאכַל). This verb means "it ate," "it devoured," or "it consumed."
  • Signifies completeness and thoroughness of the divine acceptance. The offerings were entirely taken by God through the fire.

• the burnt offering:

  • Hebrew: hā·ʿō·w·lāh (הָעוֹלָה). ʿOlah means "that which goes up" or "ascends," referring to a sacrifice entirely burnt on the altar, its smoke ascending to God.
  • It represents complete devotion and atonement, offered wholly to God. Its consumption by divine fire specifically validates it as acceptable.

• and the sacrifices:

  • Hebrew: wə·haz·zə·ḇā·ḥîm (וְהַזְּבָחִים). Wə means "and," and haz·zə·ḇā·ḥîm means "the sacrifices" or "the offerings." These were typically peace offerings (zevakhim shlamim), a portion of which was burned, with the rest eaten by the priests and offerers.
  • Indicates God's acceptance of all forms of consecrated offerings, confirming the entire sacrificial system and covenant worship.

• and the glory of the LORD:

  • Hebrew: u·ḵə·ḇō·wḏ Yah·weh (וּכְבוֹד יְהוָה). Wə means "and," ḵə·ḇō·wḏ means "glory" (related to weight or heaviness, implying significant presence), and Yah·weh is the divine covenant name of God.
  • This is the tangible, visible manifestation of God's majestic presence. It is an awesome, holy, and often blinding display of His transcendent power and holiness.
  • Significance: Confirms God's covenantal presence with His people in a very real way, indicating He has taken up residence in the Temple.

• filled the temple:

  • Hebrew: mā·lāʾ ʾeṯ-hab·ba·yiṯ (מָלָא אֶת־הַבָּיִת). Mā·lāʾ means "it filled," and ʾeṯ-hab·ba·yiṯ means "the house" or "the Temple."
  • This indicates the all-encompassing nature of God's presence within the consecrated space, similar to how His glory filled the Tabernacle. No corner was left untouched by His divine majesty. The parallel in 1 Kings 8:11 suggests the glory was so dense that the priests could not stand to minister, highlighting God's immense holiness and the limited capacity of humans to endure His raw presence.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "fire came down from heaven and consumed...and the glory of the LORD filled": This coupling of two distinct, powerful divine actions—one consuming, one indwelling—highlights the comprehensive nature of God's acceptance and validation. The fire on the altar addresses the sin/offering aspect, while the glory in the sanctuary addresses the dwelling/presence aspect. Both are essential for covenant renewal and true worship. God not only accepted the sacrificial acts but also established His indwelling presence as the foundation of their worship and national identity.

2 Chronicles 7 1 Bonus section

• The dual manifestations of fire and glory, while similar to the Tabernacle dedication (Lev 9:24 for fire, Exod 40:34-35 for glory), underscore a grander scale commensurate with the permanent Temple structure.
• This verse stands as a powerful "Amen" to Solomon's prayer, particularly his plea for God to accept the house and to hear prayers offered there (2 Chron 6:21, 40). God's immediate and dramatic response demonstrates His active involvement in Israel's spiritual life.
• The overwhelming presence of God's glory was so profound that, as the parallel account in 1 Kings 8:11 notes, the priests could not even stand to minister, highlighting God's absolute holiness and transcendence.
• The event served to instruct the people that the true efficacy of the Temple and its rituals lay not in human construction or effort, but in God's divine presence and acceptance.

2 Chronicles 7 1 Commentary

2 Chronicles 7:1 is a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, serving as God's powerful, immediate, and visible endorsement of Solomon's monumental Temple project and dedicatory prayer. The dual manifestation of fire consuming the sacrifices and the glory filling the Temple emphatically affirmed God's acceptance of the worship offered and His readiness to dwell among His people in the physical sanctuary. This event echoes past divine appearances and validations, particularly the descent of fire upon Aaron's first sacrifices and the filling of the Tabernacle with God's glory. It authenticated the priesthood, validated the sacrificial system as God's ordained path for reconciliation and communion, and solidified the Temple's status as the divinely chosen center of worship for Israel. More profoundly, it revealed God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, establishing a physical space where He would meet with His people and hear their prayers, conditional on their obedience. This awe-inspiring demonstration ensured that both the priests and the people knew God had truly taken up residence among them, inspiring worship and fear of the Lord.