2 Chronicles 9 27

2 Chronicles 9:27 kjv

And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycamore trees that are in the low plains in abundance.

2 Chronicles 9:27 nkjv

The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar trees as abundant as the sycamores which are in the lowland.

2 Chronicles 9:27 niv

The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills.

2 Chronicles 9:27 esv

And the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah.

2 Chronicles 9:27 nlt

The king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stone. And valuable cedar timber was as common as the sycamore-fig trees that grow in the foothills of Judah.

2 Chronicles 9 verses

2 Chronicles 9 27 Meaning

2 Chronicles 9:27 describes the unparalleled prosperity of King Solomon's reign, asserting that silver became as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar wood, a highly prized timber, became as plentiful as the sycamore-fig trees found in the lowlands. This hyperbolic language illustrates the immense wealth and abundance that characterized Israel under Solomon, signifying a period when formerly valuable resources lost their exclusivity due to their sheer quantity, a clear demonstration of divine blessing and wisdom.

2 Chronicles 9 27 Context

2 Chronicles Chapter 9 serves as a concluding summary of King Solomon's magnificent reign, highlighting his extraordinary wisdom, wealth, and international renown. The preceding verses detail the Queen of Sheba's awe-struck visit, Solomon's unprecedented income from gold (2 Chr 9:13-14), his elaborate throne (2 Chr 9:17-19), and his vast collection of chariots and horsemen (2 Chr 9:25). Verse 27, along with its parallel in 1 Kings 10:27 and an earlier similar statement in 2 Chronicles 1:15, encapsulates the economic prosperity achieved under Solomon's leadership. This prosperity was seen as a direct fulfillment of God's promise to Solomon for his choice of wisdom over personal riches, allowing Israel to reach its zenith of temporal power and glory. Historically, this period represented the peak of the united monarchy of Israel, enjoying unparalleled peace and access to trade routes that brought immense wealth to Jerusalem. Culturally, silver was a standard measure of wealth and commerce, while cedar from Lebanon was a luxury building material, contrasting sharply with ordinary stones and common sycamore-fig trees from the lowland Shephelah, making the hyperbolic comparison potent.

2 Chronicles 9 27 Word analysis

• The king: (Hebrew: הַמֶּלֶךְ, ha-melek) Refers specifically to King Solomon, emphasizing his supreme authority and capacity to command such vast resources. Solomon was uniquely gifted with divine wisdom and wealth, distinguishing his reign.
• made silver: (Hebrew: וַיִּתֵּן כֶּסֶף, wa-yitten keseph) Literally, "and he gave silver" or "he put silver." This implies an active process of accumulation and making it readily available or widespread, rather than just passively receiving it. Keseph (silver) was the primary currency and symbol of wealth in the ancient Near East.
• as common in Jerusalem as stones: (Hebrew: כַּאֲבָנִים בִּירוּשָׁלַ‍ִם, ka'avanim bi-yrushalayim) This is a powerful hyperbole. Stones ('avanim) were, and are, abundant and virtually worthless as currency. Comparing silver, a valuable commodity, to stones illustrates an extraordinary degree of abundance that made silver seem commonplace, diminishing its perceived value. Jerusalem (Yerushalaim) was the capital, the focal point of this divine blessing and worldly opulence.
• and cedar: (Hebrew: וַאֲרָזִים, wa'arazim) Refers to cedarwood from Lebanon. Cedar was a highly prized, aromatic, and durable timber, often imported and extremely expensive. It was predominantly used for the most significant and prestigious building projects, like the Temple and the king's palace (e.g., 1 Ki 5:6-10). Its presence signified wealth and luxury.
• as plentiful as: (Hebrew: כַּשִּׁקְמִים, ka-shiqmim) This comparative phrase again emphasizes superabundance. The sycamore-fig trees were a ubiquitous and common tree.
• the sycamore-fig trees: (Hebrew: שִׁקְמִים, shiqmim) The sycamore-fig tree (Ficus sycomorus) was a fast-growing, widespread tree in the lowlands of Israel, yielding a low-quality, soft wood primarily used for common carpentry and cheaper construction due to its inferiority compared to cedar. Its commonality makes it a perfect contrast to the precious cedar.
• in the Shephelah: (Hebrew: בַּשְּׁפֵלָה, ba-shephelah) The geographical region refers to the "lowland" or foothills of Judah between the coastal plain and the central mountainous region. Sycamore-fig trees thrived in this warmer climate. This specific geographical reference emphasizes the typical, readily available resource contrasted with the costly, imported cedar.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The king made silver as common...as stones": This phrase highlights Solomon's active role in facilitating prosperity. It signifies not just wealth being present but becoming incredibly accessible, reducing its former perceived value due to sheer quantity. It paints a picture of extraordinary economic abundance.
• "and cedar as plentiful as the sycamore-fig trees": This comparison showcases the overwhelming supply of a once-rare and costly resource. It vividly communicates that items once symbolizing luxury (cedar) were as ubiquitous as the most common materials, signaling unprecedented architectural and material abundance.
• "in Jerusalem...in the Shephelah": These geographical references ground the hyperboles in specific, understandable locations. Jerusalem being the center of this immense wealth and the Shephelah representing where common trees thrived, amplifies the contrast between the luxury of the capital and the ordinary, further emphasizing the scale of Solomon's prosperity.

2 Chronicles 9 27 Bonus section

• The use of hyperbole in this verse ("as common as stones," "as plentiful as sycamore-figs") is a characteristic literary device in ancient Near Eastern texts to convey superlative greatness and emphasize the extent of wealth, far beyond mere economic statistics.
• This statement underlines God's power to supply exceeding abundantly, consistent with promises made for covenant faithfulness.
• The reversal of economic value – where the valuable becomes commonplace – implies that Solomon's reign brought a kind of economic 'paradise' or unparalleled blessing, a stark contrast to periods of scarcity common in the ancient world.
• The chronicler emphasizes God's faithfulness in elevating Israel's status through Solomon's wisdom and material blessing, creating an enduring memory of Israel's peak of worldly glory. This historical high point later served as a standard or memory of what Israel could achieve under God's blessing.

2 Chronicles 9 27 Commentary

2 Chronicles 9:27 encapsulates the zenith of Israel's national prosperity and glory under King Solomon. This verse uses powerful hyperbole, equating silver, a precious metal, to common stones and expensive Lebanese cedar to the ordinary sycamore trees of the lowlands. This state of unparalleled abundance was a direct result of God's blessing on Solomon's reign, in fulfillment of promises related to wisdom and covenant faithfulness (e.g., 2 Chr 1:12). It was a testament to God's capacity to elevate His chosen kingdom to prominence, illustrating a "golden age" where resources typically limited or expensive were now readily available. This demonstrates that true prosperity ultimately flows from divine favor, exceeding natural means. While portraying glorious opulence, the chronicler's description subtly highlights that this level of material wealth was extraordinary, implying its transient nature or the temptations it might bring, foreshadowing the kingdom's later challenges despite its magnificent beginning.