2 Chronicles 7 12

2 Chronicles 7:12 kjv

And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.

2 Chronicles 7:12 nkjv

Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.

2 Chronicles 7:12 niv

the LORD appeared to him at night and said: "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.

2 Chronicles 7:12 esv

Then the LORD appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice.

2 Chronicles 7:12 nlt

Then one night the LORD appeared to Solomon and said, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices.

2 Chronicles 7 verses

2 Chronicles 7 12 Meaning

After the magnificent dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem and Solomon's earnest prayer, the Lord appeared directly to Solomon during the night. In this divine encounter, God explicitly confirmed that He had heard and accepted Solomon's prayer. Furthermore, He declared His sovereign choice of this very location, the newly dedicated Temple, to be exclusively His own holy dwelling, purposed primarily as a center for sacrifices, atonement, and worship. This signifies God's divine validation of the Temple and His ongoing covenant presence among His people.

2 Chronicles 7 12 Context

2 Chronicles 7:12 follows the glorious dedication of the first Temple built by Solomon in Jerusalem, described extensively in Chapters 5 and 6. After the ark of the covenant was brought into the Temple (Ch 5), God's glory filled the sanctuary, forcing the priests to withdraw (Ch 5:11-14). Solomon then offered a lengthy and fervent prayer of dedication (Ch 6), asking God to hear the prayers of His people when they turn towards this Temple in repentance and faith. In immediate response, 2 Chronicles 7:1 records that fire descended from heaven, consuming the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord again filled the Temple. The people responded in awe and worship (Ch 7:3-7), and an extensive festival followed (Ch 7:8-10). It is in the quiet of the night, after these public displays of divine affirmation and human celebration, that the Lord Himself speaks directly to Solomon, confirming His acceptance of the Temple and Solomon's prayer. This appearance establishes a direct covenantal interaction between God and Solomon regarding the Temple and the nation's future.

2 Chronicles 7 12 Word analysis

• And the Lord: Refers to Yahweh (יְהוָה, YHWH), the covenant God of Israel. His direct engagement highlights the deeply personal and authoritative nature of this communication. This is not a human initiative but a divine response.
• appeared: Hebrew נִרְאָה (nir'ah), from the root רָאָה (ra'ah), meaning "to see" or "to appear." This denotes a visual manifestation or a distinct divine revelation, signifying a direct, undeniable encounter. It emphasizes God's active presence and initiative.
• to Solomon: The specific recipient of this divine message, the king responsible for building the Temple. This underscores God's personal relationship with Solomon and through him, with the Davidic line and the nation.
• by night: Hebrew לַיְלָה (laylah). Night often serves as a time for significant divine revelations in the Bible (e.g., Abraham, Jacob, Daniel, Samuel). It implies a period of solitude and deep reflection, allowing for an intimate and direct encounter, distinct from the public events of the day. It highlights the solemnity and privacy of God's communication to the king.
• and said unto him: Hebrew וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ (vayyo'mer lo). A straightforward expression for direct divine speech, reinforcing the clarity and authority of the message conveyed.
• I have heard: Hebrew שָׁמַעְתִּי (shamati), perfect tense, meaning "I have indeed heard." This is a definitive statement of God's attentiveness and reception of Solomon's fervent prayer in 2 Chron 6. It implies divine affirmation and acceptance of the prayer. This demonstrates God's omnipresent ear.
• thy prayer: Hebrew תְּפִלָּתֶךָ (tefillatekha). Specifically refers to Solomon's dedicatory prayer in 2 Chron 6, where he interceded on behalf of the nation, confessing sins and appealing to God's mercy based on the Temple. God's response validates the act of prayer itself.
• and have chosen: Hebrew בָּחַרְתִּי (bacharti), perfect tense, "I have indeed chosen." This emphasizes divine election and sovereignty. It means God has deliberately and specifically selected this site. This choice is unilateral and purposeful, stemming solely from God's will. It counters any notion that the choice was merely human.
• this place: Hebrew הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה (hammaqom hazzeh). Refers directly to the newly consecrated Temple building and its immediate grounds in Jerusalem. This specific designation highlights the importance of Jerusalem (Zion) as the geographical center of Israelite worship, fulfilling earlier divine promises regarding a chosen dwelling.
• to myself: Hebrew לִי (li), meaning "for Me" or "as My own." This stresses the sacred, set-apart, and exclusive ownership of the Temple by God. It is not merely a human construction but a divinely claimed space for His holy presence and purposes.
• for an house of sacrifice: Hebrew לְבֵית זֶבַח (l'veit zevach), literally "for a house of sacrifice." This term defines the primary operational purpose of the Temple. While it was a house of prayer and divine presence, its core function under the Mosaic Covenant was the offering of sacrifices (burnt offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, etc.). This function was central to atonement, worship, and communion between God and His people, highlighting the redemptive pathway established in the Old Covenant. It implicitly sets boundaries for the Temple's use according to divine law.

Words-group analysis:

• "And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him": This phrase emphasizes the direct, personal, and solemn nature of God's communication to King Solomon. It underscores the divine initiative and the weight of the message that follows, establishing God's authoritative voice. The timing ("by night") often signifies a profound or intimate revelation, away from the clamor of public life, reinforcing the sacredness of the moment.
• "I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place": This pairing directly connects God's attentiveness to Solomon's specific dedicatory prayer with His sovereign action of choosing the Temple site. It's not just a hearing, but a confirmation of divine approval and a reiteration of His eternal plan to have a dwelling place among His people. The "choice" emphasizes divine prerogative, not human merit alone.
• "this place to myself for an house of sacrifice": This phrase clarifies the exclusive purpose and ownership of the Temple. God claims the Temple ("to Myself"), making it uniquely His sacred dwelling. Furthermore, its essential function is defined as "a house of sacrifice," emphasizing that atonement, communion, and worship through the prescribed sacrificial system are its core roles. This foundational role underscores the centrality of blood atonement within the Old Covenant framework.

2 Chronicles 7 12 Bonus section

The mention of "house of sacrifice" is significant, as it underlines that the Temple's primary role was centered on the sacrificial system, which typologically pointed forward to the ultimate and perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Heb 9:11-14; 10:1-10). The efficacy of all Old Covenant sacrifices, even within this divinely chosen location, derived its true meaning and power from Christ's future work on the cross. While the Temple was a place of prayer and teaching, its distinct function, as named by God, was for atonement through blood offerings. This passage indirectly polemicizes against any understanding of the Temple as a mere edifice or a monument to human achievement; instead, it underscores its divine purpose as a place where God's righteous requirements and provision for sin were met through established rituals. It foreshadows that, in the New Covenant, the emphasis shifts from a physical location to Christ Himself and, subsequently, to believers collectively as the "spiritual house" (1 Pet 2:5) where spiritual sacrifices are offered.

2 Chronicles 7 12 Commentary

2 Chronicles 7:12 marks a pivotal moment of divine validation following the culmination of Solomon's great project: the building of the First Temple. God's personal appearance "by night" signifies an intimate and direct communion, confirming that the elaborate ceremonies, costly offerings, and heartfelt prayer of Solomon (detailed in 2 Chron 6) had indeed been accepted. The core message is twofold: divine responsiveness ("I have heard thy prayer") and divine election ("I have chosen this place to myself"). This is God affirming His covenant faithfulness, just as He promised David He would dwell among His people. By designating the Temple as "an house of sacrifice," God reinforces its fundamental role within the Mosaic covenant as the focal point for atonement, communion, and regulated worship through offerings, emphasizing His presence to receive penitent and obedient Israel. This declaration not only confirms the Temple's divine authority but also sets the stage for God's subsequent covenantal stipulations and warnings concerning Israel's faithfulness (2 Chron 7:13-22), emphasizing that His presence is conditional upon obedience.