2 Chronicles 7:4 kjv
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
2 Chronicles 7:4 nkjv
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
2 Chronicles 7:4 niv
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
2 Chronicles 7:4 esv
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the LORD.
2 Chronicles 7:4 nlt
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices to the LORD.
2 Chronicles 7 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Chr 7:5 | King Solomon offered as a sacrifice… | Continues the immediate narrative. |
| 1 Kgs 8:62 | King and all Israel with him offered sacrifice… | Parallel account in Kings. |
| Lev 1:1-3 | When any man of you brings an offering... burnt offering | General principle of offerings. |
| Lev 3:1 | If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering... | Principles of peace offerings (implied). |
| Num 7:1-88 | Dedication of the tabernacle… leaders' offerings. | Earlier tabernacle dedication offerings. |
| Ezra 6:17 | Offered at the dedication of this house of God… | Dedication sacrifices for the rebuilt temple. |
| Neh 12:43 | And they offered great sacrifices that day... | Dedication sacrifices during Nehemiah's time. |
| Ps 116:17 | I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving... | Expressing praise through sacrifice. |
| Rom 12:1 | Present your bodies as a living sacrifice... | New Testament call to spiritual sacrifice. |
| Heb 13:15 | Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise... | New Testament sacrifice of praise. |
| Phil 4:18 | A fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable... | Believers' offerings pleasing to God. |
| 1 Kgs 8:55-61 | Solomon stood and blessed all the assembly... | Solomon's role in leadership and worship. |
| 1 Chr 29:21-22 | They offered sacrifices to the Lord… | David's temple preparations involved sacrifice. |
| 2 Chr 1:6 | Solomon went up to the bronze altar… and offered… | Solomon's prior offering before temple building. |
| 2 Chr 6:12-42 | Solomon stood before the altar… spread out his hands… | Solomon's prayer of dedication precedes offerings. |
| Exod 40:29 | Set up the altar of burnt offering at the entrance… | Moses offering sacrifices for the tabernacle. |
| 2 Chr 7:1-3 | Fire came down from heaven… glory of the Lord filled… | Direct cause and context for the response. |
| Exod 40:34-35 | Glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle... | Similar divine manifestation. |
| Lev 9:24 | Fire came out from before the Lord and consumed… | Divine acceptance through fire consuming sacrifice. |
| 1 Kgs 8:10-11 | The cloud filled the house of the Lord... | Parallel to glory filling the temple. |
| Ezek 43:4-5 | The glory of the Lord entered the temple… | Prophetic vision of glory in a future temple. |
| Luke 2:13-14 | Multitude of the heavenly host praising God… | Response to divine revelation (Christ's birth). |
| Rev 4:10-11 | The twenty-four elders fall down before Him… | Heavenly worship of God. |
2 Chronicles 7 verses
2 Chronicles 7 4 Meaning
2 Chronicles 7:4 states that "Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord." This verse immediately follows the dramatic descent of fire from heaven and the filling of the Temple with the glory of the Lord, signaling divine approval and presence. It signifies a profound act of corporate worship, gratitude, and dedication, led by Solomon and joined by the entire congregation of Israel, in response to God's powerful manifestation. The offering of sacrifices was the primary means of communion, propitiation, and thanksgiving to God within the Old Covenant.
2 Chronicles 7 4 Context
2 Chronicles 7:4 is nestled within the significant event of the dedication of Solomon's Temple. Immediately preceding this verse (2 Chr 7:1-3), the narrative details a spectacular display of God's approval: fire descending from heaven to consume the sacrifices and the overwhelming glory of the Lord filling the temple, so much so that the priests could not enter. This divine manifestation led the people to fall on their faces in worship. Verse 4 then describes the king and the people's immediate and monumental response through sacrificial offerings. The chapter continues by detailing the immense number of animals offered, the duration of the feast, and God's subsequent appearance to Solomon with promises and warnings regarding the future of the kingdom in relation to their covenant faithfulness. Historically and culturally, grand public sacrifices were the apex of national worship and an integral part of covenantal interaction with Yahweh in ancient Israel, expressing thanksgiving, seeking atonement, and affirming communal identity before God.
2 Chronicles 7 4 Word analysis
- Then (וַיַּהַס֙ - vayyahas): This conjunctive word (meaning "and," "so," or "then") connects the action directly and immediately to the preceding divine manifestation of fire and glory. It implies that the offering was a direct and swift response to God's powerful presence.
- the king (הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ - hammeleḵ): Refers to King Solomon. His leadership in worship underscores the integral role of the monarch in Israelite religious life, not just as a political leader but also as a chief figure in national spiritual devotion.
- and all the people (וְכׇל־ הָעָם֙ - wəḵol- hā‘ām): Emphasizes the collective and unified participation of the entire assembly of Israel. This was not merely a royal ceremony but a comprehensive, nationwide act of worship and dedication, signifying national unity in devotion to God.
- offered sacrifices (זֹבְחִ֥ים זֶ֫בַח֙ - zoḇəḥîm zeḇaḥ, from the root זָבַח zabaḥ): The verb zabaḥ signifies "to slaughter for sacrifice," denoting a solemn ritual offering. The term "sacrifices" (zebach) refers generally to animal offerings. These sacrifices included various types, likely burnt offerings (expressing dedication and propitiation) and peace offerings (enabling fellowship and thanksgiving, with parts consumed by the offerers). This act was central to approaching God under the Mosaic Law.
- before the Lord (לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה - liḏnê Yahweh): Literally "before the face of Yahweh." This phrase emphasizes that the sacrifices were directly offered to the true God, Yahweh, in His immediate and manifest presence. It highlights the sanctity of the act and the specific, divine recipient of their worship, underscoring the covenant relationship between God and His people.
Words-group analysis:
- "The king and all the people offered sacrifices": This phrase portrays the unified action of both the royal leadership and the entire community of Israel in worship. It highlights the corporate nature of their devotion and their collective response to God's presence, signifying a moment of national religious harmony.
- "offered sacrifices before the Lord": This phrase encapsulates the essence of Israelite worship: actions of dedication and propitiation that were specifically directed towards Yahweh. It emphasizes that these profound acts were performed in conscious awareness of God's active presence, underscoring the purpose and spiritual significance of the temple as a dwelling place for God's presence among His people.
2 Chronicles 7 4 Bonus section
- The overwhelming scale of the sacrifices, particularly the peace offerings (2 Chr 7:5), implied communal feasting and celebration with God, emphasizing a joyful communion with the divine presence established in the temple.
- The Chronicler's repetitive emphasis on "the king and all the people" (2 Chr 7:4, 7:8-9) highlights a key theme in Chronicles: the unity of Israel under a righteous leader, serving God. This reflects an ideal that the Chronicler sought to present to his post-exilic audience, encouraging unified worship and adherence to God's Law.
- This massive act of dedication also serves as a polemic against the polytheism prevalent in surrounding nations, firmly establishing Yahweh as the one true God to whom such magnificent devotion was due, rejecting any compromise with other deities.
- This event serves as a foundational moment for Israel's worship, demonstrating divine acceptance of their means of approach and providing a visible sign of God's presence in their midst, affirming His promises made to David and Solomon.
2 Chronicles 7 4 Commentary
2 Chronicles 7:4 is the immediate, overflowing response of God's people to a spectacular divine manifestation. Following the descending fire and glorious presence, Solomon, as the appointed leader, joined by the entire nation, pours out offerings of vast proportions. This act was more than a ceremonial duty; it was a deeply ingrained, costly, and tangible expression of their collective awe, gratitude, and renewed covenant commitment. It affirms that true worship is not merely intellectual assent or emotional feeling, but often a costly, unified action of surrender and thanksgiving performed in recognition of God's revelation and authority. It illustrates the profound truth that encountering the living God demands a tangible, wholehearted response.