2 Chronicles 8 16

2 Chronicles 8:16 kjv

Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected.

2 Chronicles 8:16 nkjv

Now all the work of Solomon was well-ordered from the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was completed.

2 Chronicles 8:16 niv

All Solomon's work was carried out, from the day the foundation of the temple of the LORD was laid until its completion. So the temple of the LORD was finished.

2 Chronicles 8:16 esv

Thus was accomplished all the work of Solomon from the day the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was completed.

2 Chronicles 8:16 nlt

So Solomon made sure that all the work related to building the Temple of the LORD was carried out, from the day its foundation was laid to the day of its completion.

2 Chronicles 8 verses

2 Chronicles 8 16 Meaning

2 Chronicles 8:16 declares the absolute completion and excellent order of all of King Solomon's work on the Temple of the LORD. From its very foundation until its final brick was laid, every aspect of the construction and the ancillary facilities for worship was meticulously planned and flawlessly executed, leading to the full realization of the sacred edifice.

2 Chronicles 8 16 Context

2 Chronicles 8:16 concludes a passage detailing Solomon's extensive building projects (2 Chron 8:1-17) after the completion of the Temple and his own palace. Chapter 8 highlights Solomon's administrative acumen, his expansion of the kingdom's infrastructure, and crucially, his re-establishment of the courses for the priests and Levites for Temple service, following David's ordinances. This verse acts as a definitive summary, asserting that all of Solomon's religious and administrative arrangements regarding the Temple were established and conducted precisely as they should have been, from beginning to end. It assures the post-exilic audience, for whom the book of Chronicles was written, that the divinely-sanctioned institutions of worship under Solomon were perfect in their initial implementation, offering a blueprint and encouragement for their own efforts to restore the Temple and proper worship.

2 Chronicles 8 16 Word analysis

• "So all the work": Hebrew: kāl-məleḵeṯ (כָל־מְלֶאכֶת). "All" (kāl) denotes completeness, signifying that no aspect of the undertaking was neglected or unfinished. "Work" (məleḵeṯ) refers not only to the physical construction but also to the organization, administration, and various service roles associated with the Temple. It covers the entire project.
• "of Solomon": Refers to King Solomon, son of David. The Chronicler emphasizes Solomon's adherence to his father's divine blueprints and his own administrative competence in fulfilling this monumental task.
• "was well-ordered": Hebrew: hûḵan (הוּכַן). This is a Hophal imperfect form of the verb kûn, meaning "to be prepared," "to be established," "to be made firm" or "put in order." The Hophal stem implies a passive sense, suggesting that the work was not merely ordered by Solomon, but had become ordered, implying a divine enablement or establishment underlying human effort. It points to methodical, precise, and firmly established execution, going beyond mere completion to suggest perfection of arrangement.
• "from the day of the foundation": Hebrew: mîyōm hūyyaḏ (מִיּוֹם הֻיַּד). "From the day" (mîyōm) emphasizes the exact starting point. "Foundation" (hūyyaḏ) is a Hophal infinitive construct of yādāh, literally "to be thrown," metaphorically "to be founded" or "laid," referring to the laying of the cornerstones and the beginning of physical construction. It highlights the entire chronological scope of the project.
• "of the house of the LORD": Hebrew: bêṯ YHWH (בֵּית יְהוָה). This is the primary subject and focus: the Temple in Jerusalem, God's dwelling place. The name "LORD" (YHWH) underscores its sacred, divine purpose and origin.
• "until it was finished": Hebrew: wə‘aḏ-gāmərô (וְעַד־גָּמְר֑וֹ). "Until" (wə‘aḏ) marks the completion of the timeline. "Finished" (gāmərô, from gāmar) signifies brought to an end, accomplished, or completed in its entirety. This phrase, combined with "from the day of the foundation," emphasizes the comprehensiveness and sustained nature of the work.
• "So the house of the LORD was completed": Hebrew: wūṿayiṯ YHWH šālêm (וּבַ֣יִת יְהוָ֔ה שָׁלֵֽם). The repetition of "the house of the LORD" highlights its centrality. "Completed" (šālêm, from šālam) reinforces the finality. Šālam means to be complete, whole, perfect, or intact. This signifies not just that it ended, but that it was brought to perfection, lacking nothing. The house was brought to a state of wholeness and integrity, in accordance with the divine design.

Words-group Analysis

• "All the work of Solomon was well-ordered... until it was finished": This phrase highlights Solomon's thoroughness and divine enablement across the entire project. The emphasis on "well-ordered" (hûḵan) implies a deeper sense of divine guidance and establishment beyond mere human planning, indicating that God ensured its proper setup. The scope from "foundation" to "finished" underlines its full chronological and operational integrity.
• "So the house of the LORD was completed": This is a direct, conclusive statement summarizing the result of the well-ordered work. The use of šālêm (complete/whole/sound) conveys that the Temple was not just built, but perfectly finished to meet its intended purpose and divine specifications, signifying perfection in execution. The repetition of "house of the LORD" reaffirms that the successful construction of God's dwelling was the ultimate aim and achievement.

2 Chronicles 8 16 Bonus section

The Chronicler's specific phrasing, particularly "well-ordered" (hûḵan), echoes language often used in the Old Testament to describe things that are prepared, established, or set right by God (e.g., God preparing a throne, establishing His covenant). This subtly points to God's hand in Solomon's detailed administrative arrangements and the Temple's completion, ensuring it met divine standards. For the returning exiles, this narrative of a perfectly built and ordered Temple under God's guidance offered not only a model for their rebuilding efforts but also assurance that God would similarly enable them to restore what was lost. The meticulous details given to the Temple in both Kings and Chronicles underscore its centrality as the locus of God's presence and worship for Israel, making its perfect completion a pivotal theological point for the Chronicler.

2 Chronicles 8 16 Commentary

2 Chronicles 8:16 serves as a powerful declaration of the successful and meticulous completion of King Solomon's monumental undertaking: the construction of the Temple and its integrated system of service. The Chronicler emphasizes that this work was "well-ordered" or "firmly established" from its very inception to its ultimate finishing point. This implies not just human efficiency, but a divinely guided and prepared process. The active participation and enabling hand of God are subtly present, ensuring the work was not merely completed but brought to a state of integrity and wholeness (from shalem). This verse provides a stamp of divine approval on Solomon's Temple, portraying it as a perfect model of a holy edifice, crucial for reassuring the post-exilic community of the enduring legitimacy and ideal form of their central place of worship, motivating their own efforts to rebuild and re-establish proper Temple service. It illustrates the principle that God ensures the completion of that which He orchestrates and commissions.