2 Chronicles 2:6

2 Chronicles 2:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?
• New International Version (NIV)But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?
• English Standard Version (ESV)But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him?
• New King James Version (NKJV)But who is able to build Him a temple, since heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a temple, except to burn sacrifice before Him?

Context of 2 Chronicles 2:6

4Now I am building a temple for the name of the Lord my God in order to dedicate it to him for burning fragrant incense before him, for displaying the rows of the Bread of the Presence continuously, and for sacrificing burnt offerings for the morning and the evening, the Sabbaths and the New Moons, and the appointed festivals of the Lord our God. This is ordained for Israel permanently. 5The temple that I am building will be great, for our God is greater than any of the gods. But who is able to build a temple for him, since even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain him? Who am I then that I should build a temple for him except as a place to burn incense before him? 7Therefore, send me an artisan who is skilled in engraving to work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and with purple, crimson, and blue yarn. He will work with the artisans who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, appointed by my father David. 8Also, send me cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut the trees of Lebanon. Note that my servants will be with your servants

2 Chronicles 2:6 word by word

וּמִ֤י יַעֲצָר־כֹּ֙חַ֙ לִבְנֽוֹת־ל֣וֹ בַ֔יִת כִּ֧י הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם וּשְׁמֵ֥י הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם לֹ֣א יְכַלְכְּלֻ֑הוּ וּמִ֤י אֲנִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶבְנֶה־לּ֣וֹ בַ֔יִת כִּ֖י אִם־לְהַקְטִ֥יר לְפָנָֽיו׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But who is ableכֹּחַkôach kôach · strengthH3581
• But who is ableעָצַר‛âtsar · to restrainH6113
• to buildבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• him an houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
• seeing the heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
• cannot containכּוּלkûl · to sustainH3557
• save only[כִּי] אם'im · if: exceptH518
• to burn sacrificeקָטַרqâţar · to offer: offerH6999
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440

Cross-references for 2 Chronicles 2:6

• 2 Chronicles 6:18But will God indeed live on earth with humans? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain you, much less this temple I have built.
• 1 Kings 8:27But will God indeed live on earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain you, much less this temple I have built.
• Isaiah 66:1This is what the Lord says: Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. Where could you possibly build a house for me? And where would my resting place be?
• Acts 7:48but the Most High does not dwell in sanctuaries made with hands, as the prophet says:
• 2 Chronicles 1:10Now grant me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people, for who can judge this great people of yours?”
• Exodus 3:11But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
• 2 Samuel 7:18Then King David went in, sat in the Lord’s presence, and said, Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far?
• 1 Chronicles 29:14But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your own hand.
• 2 Corinthians 2:16To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things?
• Ephesians 3:8This grace was given to me — the least of all the saints — to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ,
• Deuteronomy 12:5Instead, turn to the place the Lord your God chooses from all your tribes to put his name for his dwelling and go there.

Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 2:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens - "For the lower heavens, the middle heavens, and the upper heavens cannot contain him, seeing he sustains all things by the arm of his power. Heaven is the throne of his glory, the earth his footstool; the deep, and the whole world, are sustained by the spirit of his Word, [מימריה ברוח beruach meqmereih ]. Who am I, then, that I should build him a house?" - Targum. Save only to burn sacrifice - It is not under the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Save only to burn sacrifice before him - Solomon seems to mean that to build the temple can only be justified on the human - not on the divine - side. “God dwelleth not in temples made with hands;” He cannot be confined to them; He does in no sort need them. The sole reason for building a temple lies in the needs of man: his worship must he local; the sacrifices commanded in the Law had of necessity to be offered somewhere.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-6The house...will be great: The temple's greatness and God's greatness are different. Even the highest heavens cannot contain God.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-63-6. Solomon sent to Huram--The correspondence was probably conducted on both sides in writing (2Ch 2:11; also see on 1Ki 5:8). As thou didst deal with David my father--This would seem decisive of the question whether the Huram then reigning in Tyre was David's friend (see on 1Ki 5:1-6). In opening the business, Solomon grounded his request for Tyrian aid on two reasons: 1. The temple he proposed to build must be a solid and permanent building because the…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Chronicles 2:6

• God Continued...
• Heaven
• Hiram
• Humility
• Liberality
• Temple
• Tyre

In the dictionaries

• Cut
• Graving
• Solomon
• Omnipresence
• Silver
• Temple

Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings