2 Chronicles 7 7

2 Chronicles 7:7 kjv

Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.

2 Chronicles 7:7 nkjv

Furthermore Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the LORD; for there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat.

2 Chronicles 7:7 niv

Solomon consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the LORD, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions.

2 Chronicles 7:7 esv

And Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD, for there he offered the burnt offering and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar Solomon had made could not hold the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat.

2 Chronicles 7:7 nlt

Solomon then consecrated the central area of the courtyard in front of the LORD's Temple. He offered burnt offerings and the fat of peace offerings there, because the bronze altar he had built could not hold all the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and sacrificial fat.

2 Chronicles 7 verses

2 Chronicles 7 7 Meaning

2 Chronicles 7:7 details a practical measure undertaken by King Solomon during the extensive dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. Due to the exceptionally large number of offerings — burnt offerings, peace offerings, and meat offerings — the immense bronze altar originally built for the Temple proved insufficient to accommodate them all. Consequently, Solomon consecrated a portion of the court immediately in front of the Temple building. This expanded sacred space served as a temporary, additional area for the priests to continue offering sacrifices, enabling the full scope of worship and celebration. It highlights both the unprecedented scale of the dedication and God's abundant provision and acceptance, necessitating an overflow of sacrificial devotion.

2 Chronicles 7 7 Context

2 Chronicles 7:7 is embedded within the climactic narrative of the dedication of Solomon's Temple. Immediately preceding this verse, fire from heaven consumes the offerings, and the glory of the Lord fills the Temple (2 Chron 7:1-3), signifying divine acceptance and presence. This profound moment leads to an overwhelming response from the people and the king, offering sacrifices in unprecedented numbers (2 Chron 7:4-6). The verse therefore describes the necessary logistical adaptation to handle this immense overflow of sacrificial worship. The "seven days" dedication festival, followed by another seven-day feast, underlines the extraordinary length and magnitude of this national event. The bronze altar, though magnificent in scale (20 cubits square, 2 Chron 4:1), simply could not contain the volume of whole burnt offerings, the choicest fat from the fellowship offerings, and grain offerings brought before the Lord. This unique situation necessitated an extraordinary measure—the temporary consecration of an additional, larger space for the altars in the court, to accommodate the depth of their devotion and the divine blessing.

2 Chronicles 7 7 Word analysis

• Solomon consecrated (קִדַּשׁ - qiddash): To set apart as holy; dedicate. This act signifies Solomon's unique role as king-priest in this foundational moment, sanctioned by God's glory and fire immediately before. It underscores his spiritual authority and leadership in making this space permissible for sacred rites.
• also: Implies an additional action, supplementing the primary function of the existing altar, highlighting the extraordinary circumstances.
• the middle of the court (תּוֹךְ הֶחָצֵר - tokh heḥatzēr): Refers to the inner area of the temple courtyard. This space was usually for worshipers, but here it was temporarily elevated to sacrificial use. It denotes a specific, designated area "before the house of the LORD" rather than just any open ground.
• that was before the house of the LORD (לִפְנֵי בֵּית יְהוָה - liphnēi beit YHWH): Emphasizes its proximity to the sanctuary, marking it as a highly sacred and appropriate area for this sacred expansion, maintaining proper reverence and direction in worship.
• he offered: The active role of Solomon as the one enabling and overseeing these numerous offerings, reinforcing his central role in the dedication ceremonies and as a mediator for his people.
• the burnt offerings (הָעֹלוֹת - hā‘ōlōt): Sacrifices entirely consumed by fire, symbolizing complete surrender, devotion, and atonement for sin. Their vast quantity indicated intense and comprehensive consecration.
• and the fat of the peace offerings (וְחֵלֶב הַשְּׁלָמִים - veḥēlev hashshlāmîm): The richest and choicest part of the fellowship (peace) offerings, symbolizing fellowship, thanksgiving, and reconciliation with God. The sheer volume indicated a national celebration of divine favor.
• because (כִּי - kî): A causal conjunction, providing the reason for Solomon's unusual action. It points to a practical necessity driven by an abundance of zeal and divine provision.
• the brasen altar (מִזְבַּח הַנְּחֹשֶׁת - mizbaḥ hanneḥōšet): The large altar made of bronze (copper), typically symbolizing durability and purification (sometimes associated with judgment). Its physical limitations are surprising given its massive dimensions (20 cubits square, 2 Chron 4:1), underscoring the overwhelming scale of the sacrifices.
• which Solomon had made: Specifies this was the permanent, humanly constructed altar, highlighting that even humanly perfect provisions can be insufficient in the face of immense divine blessing and human devotion.
• was not able to receive (לֹא יָכֹל לְהָכִיל - lō' yākhōl lehakil): Emphasizes physical inadequacy. This logistical problem metaphorically points to the eventual spiritual insufficiency of the Old Covenant sacrificial system itself—it could not ultimately "contain" or perfectly atone for sin, foreshadowing the need for a perfect, final sacrifice.
• and the meat offerings (וְהַמְּנָחָה - vehamma‘nāḥâ): Refers to grain (cereal) offerings, typically accompanying animal sacrifices or offered independently as thanksgiving for divine provision. Their inclusion indicates the holistic and comprehensive nature of the offerings.

2 Chronicles 7 7 Bonus section

The dedication period lasted an astonishing 14 days (seven for the altar dedication/feast of dedication, followed by the seven-day Feast of Booths, 2 Chron 7:8-9), requiring sustained sacrificial activity on an unprecedented scale. This long period of worship and celebration further explains the necessity for expanded sacrificial space. The narrative contrasts the impressive human engineering of the Temple and altar with the limitless nature of God's glory and the people's resulting boundless devotion. This event exemplifies how divine blessing can prompt such a fervent human response that even the most meticulously prepared physical provisions become too small, necessitating divine ingenuity (through Solomon's Spirit-led action) to accommodate the overflow. This echoes a principle where God's favor often outstrips human expectation and capacity, leading to moments that redefine conventional boundaries for His glory.

2 Chronicles 7 7 Commentary

2 Chronicles 7:7 reveals the sheer magnitude of worship during the Temple dedication. Following the awe-inspiring descent of fire and glory, the nation's response was an unprecedented wave of sacrifices, so vast that even the colossal bronze altar could not contain them. This verse signifies the people's intense zeal and Solomon's expedient yet consecrated response. It’s a remarkable instance where a king, not a priest, undertakes an act of sacred consecration to facilitate worship. The temporary expansion of the holy space underscores God’s abundant acceptance, which overwhelmed the physical limits of the existing infrastructure. It portrays a moment of immense divine-human communion, where human devotion overflowed the appointed means, and God implicitly approved the extraordinary measure. In a deeper sense, this practical inadequacy of a perfectly constructed altar subtly foreshadows the ultimate inadequacy of all animal sacrifices to permanently atone for sin, hinting at the future necessity of a perfect and sufficient sacrifice in Christ, whose work far surpasses any physical altar's capacity.