2 Chronicles 7:2 kjv
And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house.
2 Chronicles 7:2 nkjv
And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house.
2 Chronicles 7:2 niv
The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it.
2 Chronicles 7:2 esv
And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house.
2 Chronicles 7:2 nlt
The priests could not enter the Temple of the LORD because the glorious presence of the LORD filled it.
2 Chronicles 7 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 29:43 | "there I will meet with the people of Israel... consecrated by my glory." | God's glory consecrates His dwelling |
| Ex 40:34-35 | "Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting... Moses could not enter..." | Parallel: Tabernacle filled with God's glory |
| Lev 16:2 | "For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat." | God's presence on the ark |
| Num 9:15-16 | "On the day the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered..." | Glory cloud's enduring presence |
| Num 16:19 | "...all the congregation... and the glory of the LORD appeared..." | God's glory appears in judgment/affirmation |
| Num 16:42 | "...the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared." | Glory manifestation at the tabernacle |
| 1 Ki 8:10-11 | "And when the priests came out... the glory of the LORD filled the house." | Parallel account: Priests unable to minister |
| Psa 26:8 | "O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells." | Acknowledging God's dwelling of glory |
| Psa 132:13-14 | "For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place..." | God chooses His dwelling for His rest |
| Isa 6:1 | "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne... the train of his robe filled the temple." | Vision of God's glorious presence |
| Isa 60:1 | "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you." | Future manifestation of God's glory |
| Ezek 10:4 | "Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub..." | God's glory departing the Temple |
| Hag 2:7 | "...I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts." | Promise of greater glory for the second Temple |
| Jn 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory..." | Jesus embodies God's glory as dwelling |
| 2 Cor 3:18 | "...we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed..." | Transformation by beholding God's glory |
| Eph 2:21-22 | "...you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." | Believers as spiritual temple, God's dwelling |
| Heb 1:3 | "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature..." | Christ as the ultimate manifestation of God's glory |
| Heb 9:6-8 | "these arrangements having thus been made... but into the second only the high priest..." | Limited access to God's presence in Old Covenant |
| Heb 10:19-20 | "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood..." | New Covenant: Access through Christ's sacrifice |
| Rev 15:8 | "And the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power..." | Heavenly Temple filled with God's glory |
| Rev 21:22-23 | "And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God Almighty... its lamp is the Lamb." | Future: God's glory replaces need for temple |
2 Chronicles 7 verses
2 Chronicles 7 2 Meaning
This verse describes the overwhelming and unapproachable presence of God's glory so powerfully filling the newly dedicated Temple that even the consecrated priests were unable to remain inside and minister. It signifies God's divine acceptance and tangible habitation of the sacred space, confirming the Temple as His chosen dwelling place.
2 Chronicles 7 2 Context
This verse is part of the dedication ceremony of Solomon's Temple. Immediately preceding it (2 Chr 7:1), fire descends from heaven to consume the burnt offering, and the glory of the LORD simultaneously fills the house, mirroring the tabernacle's dedication in Exodus 40. This event confirms God's acceptance of Solomon's construction as His chosen dwelling place among His people and validates the worship taking place. The profound manifestation of God's presence, so overwhelming that the priests could not stand to minister, underscores the absolute holiness and majesty of the God of Israel.
2 Chronicles 7 2 Word analysis
- And: Links this statement to the preceding event, highlighting a direct consequence of the glory filling the Temple as mentioned in 2 Chronicles 7:1.
- the priests (Hebrew: הַכֹּהֲנִים, ha-kohanim): Refers to the Levitical priests, the only authorized individuals to serve and minister within the Temple precincts. Their inability to enter underscores that this event transcends human ritual or authority.
- could not enter (Hebrew: לֹא־יָכְלוּ לָבוֹא, lo-yakhlu lavo): A strong negative, indicating an absolute impossibility. This was not due to their defilement but the sheer intensity of the divine presence. It highlights the transcendent nature of God's holiness which humans, even consecrated ones, cannot withstand directly without divine intervention or invitation.
- into the house of the LORD (Hebrew: אֶל־בֵּית יְהוָה, el beit Yahweh): Refers to the entire structure of the newly completed Temple in Jerusalem. It was specifically built as a dwelling place for Yahweh.
- because (Hebrew: כִּי, ki): Provides the direct reason for the priests' inability to enter. It points to a divine cause.
- the glory of the LORD (Hebrew: כְּבוֹד יְהוָה, kevod Yahweh): Kavod literally means 'weight' or 'heaviness', denoting substantiality and majesty. In a theological sense, it is the visible manifestation of God's radiant presence, power, and perfection, often described as a cloud, fire, or brilliant light. This "glory" signifies God Himself, actively manifesting His presence.
- had filled (Hebrew: מָלֵא, male): Indicates complete saturation and permeation. The entire structure was enveloped and indwelt by God's manifest presence, leaving no empty space. It suggests an overwhelming, pervasive, and undeniable reality of divine habitation.
- the house of the LORD (Hebrew: בֵּית יְהוָה, beit Yahweh): This repetition emphasizes that the entire sanctuary was utterly consumed by the divine presence, providing the spatial context for the filling.
Words-group analysis
- "And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD": This phrase highlights the profound impact of God's presence on human activity. Even those specially chosen and purified for service were rendered unable to perform their duties, not because of their inadequacy but because of the immense, unapproachable holiness of God Himself. It sets God's divine act apart from any human capacity or effort.
- "because the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD": This second clause directly states the divine reason. It was the overwhelming, pervasive, and self-manifesting presence of God's glory that created the impenetrable barrier. The divine fullness was the cause of the human inability to enter, signaling God's complete and absolute ownership and indwelling of His chosen sanctuary.
2 Chronicles 7 2 Bonus section
- The event in 2 Chronicles 7:2 parallels the dedication of the Tabernacle (Ex 40:35) and is virtually identical to the account in 1 Kings 8:10-11. This consistent divine manifestation during the establishment of Israel's central places of worship underscores a theological continuity in God's demonstration of His indwelling presence among His people from the wilderness to the settled land.
- This immediate, visible response confirms God's active engagement with Solomon's prayer of dedication in chapter 6, affirming that God heard and accepted His people's request for His dwelling.
- The Temple, now filled with divine glory, stood as a tangible symbol of God's covenant faithfulness and His immanence (dwelling among His people), while simultaneously reinforcing His transcendence (His unapproachable holiness).
2 Chronicles 7 2 Commentary
2 Chronicles 7:2 provides a stunning visual of God's immediate and potent response to Solomon's dedication and prayer. The visible "glory of the LORD" entering and filling the Temple demonstrates His acceptance of it as His earthly dwelling, mirroring the Tabernacle's inauguration in Exodus. The fact that the priests, the appointed intermediaries between God and Israel, were rendered unable to function, highlights a profound truth: God's presence is not subject to human ritual or control. His holiness is absolute, transcendent, and demands an appropriate reverence. This was not a punitive act but an awe-inspiring display of divine majesty, validating the Temple not as a mere structure but as the sanctified locus of Yahweh's presence. It served as a powerful testimony to Israel that their God was truly living among them. This moment would have ingrained in the minds of the Israelites the uniqueness and awesome power of their God, affirming His covenant and differentiating Him from the impotent idols of surrounding nations.