2 Chronicles 7 15

2 Chronicles 7:15 kjv

Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

2 Chronicles 7:15 nkjv

Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.

2 Chronicles 7:15 niv

Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

2 Chronicles 7:15 esv

Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.

2 Chronicles 7:15 nlt

My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.

2 Chronicles 7 verses

2 Chronicles 7 15 Meaning

This verse declares God's steadfast and active attentiveness to the prayers offered in the Temple, which He had just chosen as the place for His Name and His eyes to dwell. It signifies God's promised vigilance and receptiveness to the petitions of His people, particularly as part of His covenantal response to Solomon's dedicatory prayer, guaranteeing that their cries for help and repentance would not go unheard when directed towards His designated dwelling.

2 Chronicles 7 15 Context

This verse is God's direct response to King Solomon following the dedication of the First Temple in Jerusalem. In 2 Chronicles chapter 6, Solomon offers a lengthy prayer of dedication, particularly pleading that God would hear prayers offered "toward this place" whenever His people faced various distresses—from war to famine to pestilence—and when they repented and turned to Him. Following Solomon's prayer and a display of divine glory (2 Chr 7:1-3), God appears to Solomon by night (2 Chr 7:12). Verse 15 immediately follows God's affirmation in verse 12 that He has heard Solomon's prayer and chosen "this place" for a house of sacrifice. The subsequent verse (2 Chr 7:16) solidifies the eternal nature of this divine choice. Crucially, 2 Chronicles 7:14, the well-known promise of healing for the land contingent on humility, prayer, seeking God's face, and turning from wicked ways, sets the immediate ethical and spiritual framework within which God's attentiveness in verse 15 operates. It's a conditional promise of God's continued engagement and intervention for a repentant people through the conduit of prayer offered at the central place of worship.

2 Chronicles 7 15 Word analysis

• Now: Introduces God's direct declaration and response to Solomon's prayer, marking a significant transition from the temple dedication to the divine covenantal promise.
• My eyes: (Hebrew: עֵינַי, 'eynai) Refers to God's all-seeing presence and active oversight. This is anthropomorphic language describing God's full awareness. It emphasizes active, focused observation rather than passive knowing.
• will be open: (Hebrew: יִהְיוּ פְתוּחוֹת, yihyu p'tuchot) Signifies a state of constant vigilance and active receptiveness. It implies unrestricted perception, ready to perceive needs and cries. This stands in contrast to idols which have eyes but do not see (Ps 115:5).
• and My ears: (Hebrew: וְאָזְנַי, ve'oznay) Points to God's auditory faculty, capable of hearing all. Like "eyes," it's anthropomorphic to convey God's personal, attentive hearing.
• attentive: (Hebrew: קַשּׁוּבוֹת, qashuvot) More than just "hearing," it means listening carefully, intently, and responsively. It implies a readiness to act upon what is heard. This speaks to God's engagement and care, not just passive reception of sound.
• to the prayer: (Hebrew: לַתְּפִלָּה, lattefillah) Refers to supplication, intercession, and sincere communication with God. The definite article "the" may point back to Solomon's prayer and generally to all true prayers offered there.
• offered: (Hebrew: הַנִּתְפַּלֶּלֶת, hannitpallel) The passive form suggests prayer "being prayed" or "being made." It encompasses any act of petition directed toward God.
• in this place: (Hebrew: בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה, bammaqom hazzeh) Explicitly designates the Temple in Jerusalem. While physically pointing to the Temple, it also implies the principle of God's special presence and accessibility in places dedicated to His worship and where His people turn to Him.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive": This powerful pairing of sensory organs underscores the totality and intention of God's perception. It's not a mere theoretical omnipresence, but a declared, active, and personal divine attentiveness directed toward specific actions. It assures the people that their devotion and needs will meet with direct divine engagement. This echoes divine vigilance seen in texts like Ps 34:15.
• "to the prayer offered in this place": This phrase clearly defines the object of God's focused attention ("prayer") and its specified locale ("this place" – the Temple). It highlights the Temple's designated role as a center for divine-human communion, particularly through prayer. The "prayer offered" implies sincerity and intentionality from the petitioners. While specifying the physical Temple, the spiritual principle transcends this, pointing to God's attention to humble, contrite, and fervent prayer wherever it is offered in spirit and truth (Jn 4:24), a concept fulfilled in Christ and the believer as the new 'temple.'

2 Chronicles 7 15 Bonus section

• Theophany and Promise: This verse is part of God's direct revelation (theophany) to Solomon, emphasizing the reality and personal nature of God's engagement with His covenant people. It is not merely a priestly pronouncement but a divine one.
• Covenantal Basis: God's promise is rooted in His covenant with Israel. His attentiveness is part of His fidelity to His promises, particularly in His gracious condescension to dwell among His people.
• From Physical to Spiritual Temple: In the New Covenant, the emphasis shifts from a physical structure to the body of Christ (Jn 2:21) and the corporate body of believers (1 Cor 3:16, 6:19-20; Eph 2:19-22). The principle of God's active attention remains, now focused on prayers offered by His people (who are His Temple) through Christ.
• Holiness of Prayer: The connection to "this place" (the holy Temple) emphasizes the reverence and seriousness with which prayer should be approached, aligning with the holiness of God Himself. Prayer is not a casual utterance but a sacred dialogue.
• Purpose of Prayer: The verse undergirds the efficacy of prayer. God hears and responds, motivating believers to call upon Him consistently and with faith, knowing their voices are indeed reaching His ears.

2 Chronicles 7 15 Commentary

God's declaration in 2 Chronicles 7:15 serves as a foundational promise, guaranteeing His direct and focused attention to the prayers of His people. It follows Solomon's comprehensive dedicatory prayer (Ch 6), demonstrating God's immediate and gracious response. The phrase "My eyes will be open and My ears attentive" conveys more than mere omnipresence; it signifies an active, purposeful engagement and responsiveness. God is not distant or indifferent; He keenly perceives and hears the cries of those who approach Him, particularly in the sacred context He Himself established. While originally tethered to the physical Temple, this promise's underlying principle speaks to God's inherent nature as the "Hearer of Prayer" (Ps 65:2) and His faithfulness to His covenant people. This divine attentiveness is especially crucial when considering 2 Chronicles 7:14, where repentance and seeking God's face are conditions for national healing. Verse 15 assures them that if they meet these conditions, their prayers will indeed be heard, providing profound assurance of divine accessibility and readiness to intervene. It sets the precedent for all generations: sincere, humble prayer receives God's focused attention and hearing.