2 Chronicles 7 20

2 Chronicles 7:20 kjv

Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

2 Chronicles 7:20 nkjv

then I will uproot them from My land which I have given them; and this house which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.

2 Chronicles 7:20 niv

then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples.

2 Chronicles 7:20 esv

then I will pluck you up from my land that I have given you, and this house that I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.

2 Chronicles 7:20 nlt

then I will uproot the people from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make it an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations.

2 Chronicles 7 verses

2 Chronicles 7 20 Meaning

This verse declares a solemn warning from God to Israel. If they abandon Him and His commandments, even the most sacred gifts—the land He gave them and the Temple hallowed for His Name—would be subject to severe divine judgment. God would violently uproot them from the land and cast out the Temple from His favor, causing both to become an object of scorn and derision among all nations. It underscores the conditional nature of God's covenant blessings upon their faithfulness.

2 Chronicles 7 20 Context

This verse is part of God's direct response to Solomon's dedicatory prayer for the newly built Temple (2 Chr 7:12-22). Immediately preceding this warning, God reassures Solomon of His choice to hear prayers from that place and the conditions for future blessing, specifically in 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Verse 20 provides the grim alternative to this faithfulness. Historically, it was spoken during a period of national prosperity under Solomon, highlighting that God's favor was conditional and not a permanent guarantee tied merely to the physical structure of the Temple or their status as Israel. This prophetic warning foreshadowed the future exile and destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, which occurred centuries later due to Israel's unfaithfulness.

2 Chronicles 7 20 Word analysis

• Then will I pluck them up: This signifies a determined and violent action by God. The Hebrew word for "pluck up" (nātaš, נָתַשׁ) implies removal by force, tearing away, often used in agricultural terms for uprooting a plant, symbolizing the removal of a people or nation. It conveys the totality and decisiveness of the divine judgment.
• by the roots: (Hebrew: šōraš, שֹׁרֶשׁ) Emphasizes the thoroughness of the removal. It means a complete severance, leaving nothing behind, indicating that the nation's presence in the land would be utterly eradicated, not just thinned out. This highlights the severity of the consequence of unfaithfulness.
• out of my land: (Hebrew: ’erets, אֶרֶץ) Refers to the land of Canaan, the promised land that God covenantally granted to Israel. The possessive "my" asserts God's ultimate sovereignty and ownership over the land, reinforcing that their tenure was conditional on obedience, not an inherent right.
• which I have given them: Reaffirms the divine grace involved in the initial granting of the land, making their eventual expulsion an act of righteous judgment against their misuse of a sacred trust. It underscores the severity of breaking such a gracious covenant.
• and this house: Refers specifically to the magnificent Temple Solomon had just dedicated, the focal point of Israelite worship and the symbol of God's dwelling among them.
• which I have hallowed: (Hebrew: qādash, קָדַשׁ) To set apart as holy; consecrated. God Himself, not human hands, made the Temple sacred by choosing to put His Name there. This indicates that its holiness derived from His presence and purpose, and was thus also subject to His judgment if profaned by the people's sin. "Hallowed for My name" signifies that the Temple's purpose was to bear witness to God's character and presence, for His glory.
• will I cast out of my sight: This is an anthropomorphic expression meaning divine abandonment or rejection. It implies God withdrawing His favor, protection, and presence from the Temple, rendering it spiritually desolate despite its physical grandeur. This is not about God literally moving, but about Him removing His blessing and protection.
• and will make it to be a proverb: (Hebrew: māšāl, מָשָׁל) A saying, a parable, an adage. Here, it denotes an object lesson or a common saying that highlights disgrace and ruin. The once glorious Temple would become an example of utter desolation, something spoken of with disdain.
• and a byword: (Hebrew: sh<sup>e</sup>niynah, שְׁנִינָה) A taunt, a scorn, or a sharp, cutting remark. This strengthens the idea of humiliation and derision, indicating that people would use Israel and the Temple's fate as a stinging insult or a sarcastic expression of contempt.
• among all nations: Highlights the universal scope of the shame. Israel's downfall would not be a private matter but a public spectacle, seen and discussed by Gentile nations, serving as a testimony to God's justice.

2 Chronicles 7 20 Bonus section

• The warning in this verse underscores that even divinely initiated institutions, like the Temple, do not possess inherent power or guaranteed perpetuity independent of human covenant faithfulness. Their sacredness and efficacy are contingent upon the people's relationship with God.
• This passage demonstrates God's unchanging nature concerning justice. His hallowing of a place is tied to His righteous character, which means that the same holiness that consecrates can also lead to condemnation when defiled.
• The concept of Israel becoming "a proverb and a byword" for unfaithfulness foreshadows the broader biblical truth that those who bear God's name, yet live in disobedience, risk bringing dishonor upon that very Name before the watching world (e.g., Rom 2:24).
• The historical fulfillment of this prophecy, primarily through the Babylonian exile and the destruction of Solomon's Temple, and later the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans, stands as a testament to God's unwavering resolve to uphold His covenant warnings.

2 Chronicles 7 20 Commentary

2 Chronicles 7:20 encapsulates a fundamental principle of God's covenant relationship with Israel: blessings are conditional upon faithfulness. Despite the grandeur of the newly dedicated Temple and the divine choice of Jerusalem as the place for His name, God unequivocally states that even these consecrated symbols of His presence were not immune to judgment if His people turned away. This verse highlights God's absolute holiness, demonstrating that He would not tolerate spiritual apostasy, even if it meant disgracing His own chosen sanctuary and expelling His chosen people from the land He gave them. The "uprooting" and "casting out of sight" speak to the comprehensive nature of the judgment, aiming at both their dwelling and their worship. The ultimate shame of becoming "a proverb and a byword among all nations" serves as a solemn warning against the spiritual complacency of believing that outward religious practices or a sacred space could substitute for heartfelt obedience and fidelity to God's commands.