2 Chronicles 7 3

2 Chronicles 7:3 kjv

And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Chronicles 7:3 nkjv

When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever."

2 Chronicles 7:3 niv

When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, "He is good; his love endures forever."

2 Chronicles 7:3 esv

When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever."

2 Chronicles 7:3 nlt

When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the LORD filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying, "He is good!
His faithful love endures forever!"

2 Chronicles 7 verses

2 Chronicles 7 3 Meaning

2 Chronicles 7:3 describes the spontaneous and unified reaction of all the children of Israel when they witnessed the tangible manifestation of God's presence and acceptance. The descent of divine fire consuming the sacrifices and the glory of the Lord filling the temple caused the entire congregation to prostrate themselves in profound reverence, acknowledging God's majesty and accepting His covenant faithfulness. Their verbal praise, "For He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever," signifies a deep understanding and appreciation of God's unchanging nature and His benevolent, loyal love toward His people.

2 Chronicles 7 3 Context

2 Chronicles 7:3 occurs immediately after the miraculous demonstration of God's acceptance of Solomon's newly dedicated Temple. In verse 1, "fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices," a clear sign of divine approval, mirroring the initial acceptance of the Tabernacle sacrifices (Lev 9:24). This fire, distinct from the temple altar's constant fire, indicated a supernatural descent directly from God. Simultaneously, "the glory of the Lord filled the temple" (v. 1), so profoundly that "the priests could not enter" (v. 2), signifying God's intense, awe-inspiring presence and endorsement of the sacred space.

Historically, this event marks the climax of a long-cherished dream – the construction and dedication of a permanent dwelling place for God's presence among His people, fulfilling prophecies and patterns seen from the Tabernacle. For the original audience, who understood divine manifestations through fire (like at Sinai, Ex 19) and glory (Ex 40), this was an unmistakable confirmation of Yahweh's unique identity, power, and covenant faithfulness. It directly contrasted with the lifeless idols of surrounding pagan nations whose gods neither appeared, consumed sacrifices, nor filled temples with such tangible glory, serving as an indirect polemic against their false worship. The response of the people in verse 3 is therefore a direct, heartfelt, and communal acknowledgment of Yahweh as the one true God, powerful and loving.

2 Chronicles 7 3 Word analysis

• When all the children of Israel saw: The collective nature of the experience emphasizes unity and a shared recognition of the divine event. "Saw" (רָאוּ - ra'u - to see, perceive, witness) signifies direct visual confirmation, not just hearing a report. This was a profoundly communal and experiential moment.

• the fire come down: (הָאֵשׁ יֹרֶדֶת - ha'esh yoredet - the fire descending). The divine, supernatural origin of the fire, not kindled by human hands, signaling God's direct involvement and acceptance. It connected to previous biblical accounts of divine acceptance of sacrifices (e.g., Lev 9:24; 1 Kgs 18:38). It was both a consuming and confirming fire, demonstrating power and validation.

• and the glory of the Lord: (וּכְבוֹד יְהוָה - u'kevod YHWH - and the glory of Yahweh). The כָּבוֹד (kavod) signifies the tangible, visible manifestation of God's presence, weighty splendor, and majestic effulgence. It represented God Himself being present among His people, confirming His commitment to indwell their sacred space.

• on the temple: The specific location emphasized that God accepted this new dwelling place for His presence among Israel.

• they bowed themselves: (קָדוּ - qadad - to bow down low, bend the body forward in homage). An act of deep humility, reverence, and submission, acknowledging a higher authority.

• with their faces to the ground: This extreme posture, full prostration (עַל־אַפַּיִם אָרְצָה - al-appayim artsah - upon faces to the ground), indicated utter awe, profound worship, and often fear in the presence of overwhelming divine power or majesty. It signified absolute submission and adoration.

• on the pavement: This indicates the multitude of people outside the direct sanctuary, confirming the widespread nature of the event and the universal response.

• and worshiped: (וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ - vayyishtachavu - and they prostrated/bowed down). This is from the root שָׁחָה (shachah), which means to bow down, do obeisance, do reverence. It's a deep act of devotion, embodying internal submission and adoration expressed externally. It signifies an act of profound devotion, humility, and homage given exclusively to God.

• and thanked the Lord: (וַיּוֹדוּ לַיהוָה - vayyodu la'YHWH - and they gave thanks to Yahweh). This moved beyond awe and submission to express gratitude and praise for God's goodness and manifest presence. It denotes confession and thanksgiving.

• saying, 'For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!': (כִּי טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ - ki tov ki le'olam chasdo). This specific doxological phrase (a fixed formula of praise) is deeply significant.

  • 'For He is good': (כִּי טוֹב - ki tov - for He is good/goodness is He). טוֹב (tov) denotes inherent moral goodness, benevolence, and perfection in God's nature.
  • 'for His steadfast love endures forever!': (כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ - ki le'olam chasdo - for forever is His loyal love/mercy). חֶסֶד (chesed) is a pivotal covenant term, encompassing loyal love, unfailing mercy, faithfulness, kindness, and covenantal devotion. It speaks of God's character and actions toward His people that are rooted in His unchanging promises and commitment. "Endures forever" (לְעוֹלָם - le'olam) emphasizes its eternal, immutable nature. This doxology underscored God's trustworthiness and unfailing covenant loyalty despite human failing.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "When all the children of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple...": This highlights the sensory, immediate, and communal nature of the divine revelation. The fire and glory are presented as the catalyst for the people's response. Their vision was not just a natural phenomenon but a profound encounter with the supernatural presence of God, undeniable in its power and reality.
  • "...they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and thanked the Lord...": This sequence of actions portrays a progression of response: initial awe leading to humble prostration, then profound worship (an act of adoration), culminating in heartfelt gratitude and verbal praise. The specific posture (faces to the ground) indicates the deepest possible reverence and surrender. Their worship was both internal and externally demonstrated, a testament to genuine spiritual encounter.
  • "...saying, 'For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!'": This collective utterance forms the core of their theological understanding and worship. It's not just a general thank you, but a confession of God's character (goodness) and His covenant relationship with Israel (hesed). The repetition of ki (for, because) emphasizes the foundational reasons for their praise – God's inherent nature and His eternal faithfulness. This was a liturgical cry that affirmed their covenant identity and Yahweh's unique nature among all gods.

2 Chronicles 7 3 Bonus section

• The parallel accounts in 1 Kings 8 mention the glory filling the temple, but 2 Chronicles uniquely emphasizes the fire descending from heaven and the detailed, immediate reaction of all the people with their specific form of prostration and verbal doxology. This underscores the Chronicler's theological emphasis on direct divine intervention, unified worship, and the enduring covenant faithfulness of God as the core identity of Israel.
• The phrase "For He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever" (Ps 136 is an entire psalm based on this phrase) served as a common liturgical call and response in Israelite worship, especially during times of divine revelation or great blessing, fostering corporate solidarity and deepening theological understanding of God's character.
• The overwhelming physical presence of God (fire and glory) causing the people to fall is a recurring biblical pattern, emphasizing humanity's appropriate response to divine holiness: fear, humility, and worship (e.g., Isa 6; Ezek 1; Rev 1). It stands as a profound reminder that true worship begins with recognizing God's incomprehensible greatness and His personal revelation.
• While God dwelled symbolically in the Temple, Acts 7:48 reminds us that the "Most High does not dwell in temples made by human hands." The glory shown here was a demonstration of His presence among His people, not an imprisonment within a structure, foreshadowing the ultimate indwelling of God in Christ and the believer as God's spiritual temple (1 Cor 3:16).

2 Chronicles 7 3 Commentary

2 Chronicles 7:3 depicts a climactic moment of divine acceptance and human response at the Temple's dedication. Following Solomon's intercessory prayer (Ch. 6) and the visible manifestations of fire and glory (Ch. 7:1-2), the people's reaction is spontaneous, universal, and deeply spiritual. The descending fire symbolizes God's acceptance of the offerings and the Temple, echoing previous covenant confirmations like Sinai and the Tabernacle. The overwhelming "glory of the Lord" signified God's physical presence and majesty filling the sacred space, making it palpably divine.

The response of the Israelites is not one of mere curiosity but of profound reverence and adoration. Their act of falling "with their faces to the ground" is the ultimate posture of humility, submission, and worship, demonstrating overwhelming awe in God's manifest presence. This deep prostration gives way to worship, expressing inward devotion through outward actions, and culminates in a doxology that summarizes their theological conviction.

The ancient refrain, "For He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever," encapsulates Israel's understanding of God. "Good" (tov) speaks to God's perfect moral character and benevolence, while "steadfast love" (hesed) highlights His loyal, covenant-keeping faithfulness that extends throughout generations and is foundational to His relationship with Israel. This communal praise acknowledged that God's powerful manifestation was not merely for awe, but originated from His inherent goodness and unfailing love, demonstrating His commitment to His covenant with them. The event solidified the Temple's status as a divinely approved meeting place and confirmed God's unique identity as distinct from all other deities. It called the people to worship Him exclusively in truth and reverence, grounding their praise in His unchanging attributes.