2 Chronicles 9 8

2 Chronicles 9:8 kjv

Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice.

2 Chronicles 9:8 nkjv

Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you, setting you on His throne to be king for the LORD your God! Because your God has loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore He made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness."

2 Chronicles 9:8 niv

Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the LORD your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king over them, to maintain justice and righteousness."

2 Chronicles 9:8 esv

Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the LORD your God! Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness."

2 Chronicles 9:8 nlt

Praise the LORD your God, who delights in you and has placed you on the throne as king to rule for him. Because God loves Israel and desires this kingdom to last forever, he has made you king over them so you can rule with justice and righteousness."

2 Chronicles 9 verses

2 Chronicles 9 8 Meaning

2 Chronicles 9:8 expresses the Queen of Sheba's declaration concerning Solomon's reign, attributing his position not to human prowess but directly to the Lord God's sovereign will and gracious pleasure. She recognized that God had chosen Solomon, established him on His own throne, and empowered him specifically for the purpose of upholding justice and righteousness for His people, demonstrating God's active involvement in the affairs of earthly rulers.

2 Chronicles 9 8 Context

Chapter 9 of 2 Chronicles narrates the celebrated visit of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon, renowned for his divinely granted wisdom and immense prosperity. Her extensive testing of Solomon with "hard questions" culminated in her being utterly overwhelmed by his wisdom, his household's order, and the glory of his kingdom. Verse 8 forms a pivotal part of her declaration, moving beyond mere human admiration to a profound theological recognition. It contextualizes Solomon's kingship not as a personal achievement but as an embodiment of God's pleasure and purpose for His people. This perspective distinguishes the God of Israel from other deities and highlights the unique covenant relationship where the king serves as God's vice-regent, unlike kings of surrounding pagan nations who often claimed divine ancestry or power independently. The Queen's praise directly counters the prevalent belief in many ancient Near Eastern cultures that a ruler's power derived solely from their military might or inherent divinity. Instead, she clearly attributes Solomon's throne and mission to Yahweh.

2 Chronicles 9 8 Word analysis

• Blessed (בָּרוּךְ - baruch): More than merely praising, this term implies active, divine favor and empowerment. It is an expression of deep gratitude and recognition of a blessing originating from God. It suggests an acknowledgment that God's power is manifest.
• be the Lord (יְהוָה - Yahweh): Refers to the covenant God of Israel, the self-existent, personal, and redemptive God. The Queen's use of Yahweh, not Elohim (general term for God), indicates a surprising level of specific theological understanding or recognition.
• your God (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim): General name for God, here referring specifically to Solomon's God. The juxtaposition with Yahweh emphasizes His personal relationship with Israel.
• who delighted (חָפֵץ - chaphetz): Signifies a strong affection, pleasure, or favorable disposition. It implies God took satisfaction and joy in Solomon for a specific purpose, going beyond mere toleration to active, positive regard. This is God's choosing will.
• in you: Direct divine approval upon Solomon, confirming his status as God's chosen king.
• to set you: Denotes God's sovereign action in placing Solomon on the throne. This was not accidental or merely a human decision but a divine appointment.
• on His throne: Refers to the "throne of the Lord" (1 Chr 29:23), indicating that the Davidic kings, including Solomon, ruled as God's vice-regents. It underscores the theocratic nature of Israel's kingship—the human king sat on God's earthly throne.
• as king: Specifies the divinely appointed office Solomon held. His authority and position were from God.
• for the Lord your God: Reiterates that Solomon's kingship and purpose were not for personal gain or glory but for God's purposes and glory. It was a service to God and His people.
• to administer (לְמֶלֶךְ - lemelech literally "to king", acting as "to rule"): This phrase clarifies the purpose and function of Solomon's divinely appointed kingship—to actively execute royal duties.
• justice (מִשְׁפָּט - mishpat): Encompasses legal judgment, righteous governance, fairness, and upholding the law. It relates to applying God's righteous standards in society.
• and righteousness (וּצְדָקָה - utz'daqah): Refers to moral integrity, ethical conduct, uprightness, and social justice. It is living in right relationship with God and others, manifesting His character.

Words-group analysis:

• "Blessed be the Lord your God who delighted in you": This phrase highlights divine favor as the source of Solomon's greatness. It grounds all of Solomon's wisdom and splendor not in himself, but in God's prior active blessing and deep pleasure.
• "to set you on His throne as king": This emphasizes God's sovereign installation of Solomon. It explicitly states that Solomon's kingship was a divine delegation, not merely a human succession. The throne is God's, the king sits on it as His representative.
• "for the Lord your God, to administer justice and righteousness": This delineates the divine purpose of Solomon's rule. His kingship served God's larger goal of establishing order, equity, and moral uprightness within His people, aligning Israel's governance with God's own character and law. This also served as a prophetic glimpse to the Messianic king.

2 Chronicles 9 8 Bonus section

• The Queen of Sheba, an influential non-Israelite ruler, expressing such a precise theological understanding and benediction towards Israel's God, adds immense credibility and universality to the portrayal of Yahweh's supremacy in the eyes of the nations. Her testimony is not a casual remark but a solemn declaration.
• The concept of the earthly king sitting on "His throne" (God's throne) reinforces the unique covenant relationship God had with the Davidic line. This wasn't merely a political seat; it was a sacred, delegated authority to represent divine rule on earth. This points powerfully towards the Messiah, who fully and eternally occupies God's throne.
• This verse can be seen as an encapsulation of the ideal king in Israel, highlighting that God chooses, empowers, and directs rulers, not for their personal benefit, but for the moral and spiritual well-being of the nation through righteous governance. It sets a divine standard for all forms of leadership.

2 Chronicles 9 8 Commentary

The Queen of Sheba's benediction in 2 Chronicles 9:8 offers a profound theological insight into the nature of kingship in Israel, moving beyond mere human flattery to ascribe ultimate glory to God. It highlights that Solomon's unparalleled wisdom, wealth, and peaceful reign were not ends in themselves, nor were they accidental. Rather, they were the direct outcome of God's personal delight and specific purpose for Solomon. His position as king was perceived as a divine trusteeship, a unique appointment where he sat upon God's very throne. This established his rule as an extension of God's own sovereign reign.

Crucially, the verse defines the divine mandate for this kingship: "to administer justice and righteousness." This signifies that true leadership, especially in God's covenant nation, is not about power or personal glory, but about upholding God's moral order, ensuring equitable judgment, and promoting integrity and social fairness among the people. Solomon’s reign was to reflect the character of God, who is Himself the ultimate source of justice and righteousness. This emphasis implicitly contrasts with the capricious and self-serving nature often seen in other ancient Near Eastern rulers, demonstrating a unique monotheistic ideal for governance.

This declaration from an outside observer serves to powerfully validate the Chronicler's narrative concerning God's active involvement in Israel's history and leadership. It affirms the theocratic principle where earthly rulers derive their legitimacy and their very function from the Almighty, ultimately foreshadowing the perfect and eternal reign of the true Messianic King, Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies and executes justice and righteousness.