TRV
Translation
King James Version
¶ And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:
Complete Jewish Bible
Then he stood before the altar of ADONAI in the presence of the whole community of Isra'el, spread out his hands -
Berean Standard Bible
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.
American Standard Version
And he stood before the altar of Jehovah in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands
World English Bible Messianic
He stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands
Geneva Bible (1599)
And the King stoode before the altar of the Lord, in the presence of all the Congregation of Israel, and stretched out his hands,
Young's Literal Translation
And he standeth before the altar of Jehovah, over-against all the assembly of Israel, and spreadeth out his hand, --
In the KJVVerse 11,295 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 6 verses 12–42
12 ¶ And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:
13 For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,
14 And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts:
15 Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.
16 Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.
17 Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.
18 But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!
19 Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee:
20 That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place.
21 Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.
22 If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house;
23 Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.
24 And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;
25 Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.
26 When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;
27 Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.
28 If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be:
29 Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house:
30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)
31 That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.
32 Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house;
33 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.
34 If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;
35 Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
36 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;
37 Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly;
38 If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:
39 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.
40 Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
41 Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.
42 O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant.
Solomon had, in the foregoing verses, signed and sealed, as it were, the deed of dedication, by which the temple was appropriated to the honour and service of God. Now here he prays the consecration-prayer, by which it was made a figure of Christ, the great Mediator, through whom we are to offer all our prayers, and to expect all God's favours, and to whom we are to have an eye in every thing where we have to do with God. We have opened the particulars of this prayer (1 Kings 8) and therefore shall now only glean up some few passages in it which may be the proper subjects of our meditation.
I. Here are some doctrinal truths occasionally laid down. As, 1. That the God of Israel is a being of incomparable perfection. We cannot describe him; but this we know, there is none like him in heaven or in earth, Ch2 6:14. All the creatures have their fellow-creatures, but the Creator has not his peer. He is infinitely above all, and over all, God blessed for ever. 2. That he is, and will be, true to every word that he has spoken; and all that serve him in sincerity shall certainly find him both faithful and kind. Those that set God always before them, and walk before him with all their hearts, shall find him as good as his word and better; he will both keep covenant with them and show mercy to them, Ch2 6:14. 3. That he is a being infinite and immense, whom the heaven, and heaven of heavens, cannot contain, and to whose felicity nothing is added by the utmost we can do in his service, Ch2 6:18. He is infinitely beyond the bounds of the creation and infinitely above the praises of all intelligent creatures. 4. That he, and he only, knows the hearts of the children of men, Ch2 6:30. All men's thoughts, aims, and affections, are naked and open before him; and, however the imaginations and intents of our hearts may be concealed from men, angels, and devils, they cannot be hidden from God, who knows not only what is in the heart, but the heart itself and all the beatings of it. 5. That there is no such thing as a sinless perfection to be found in this life (Ch2 6:36): There is no man who sinneth not; nay, who doeth good and sinneth not; so he writes, agreeable to what he here says, Ecc 7:20.
II. Here are some suppositions or cases put which are to be taken notice of. 1. He supposed that if doubts and controversies arose between man and man both sides would agree to appeal to God, and lay an oath upon the person whose testimony must decide the matter, Ch2 6:22. The religious reverence of an oath, as it was ancient, so, it may be presumed, it will continue as long as there are any remains of conscience and right reason among men. 2. He supposed that, though Israel enjoyed a profound peace and tranquillity, yet troublesome times would come. He did not think the mountain of their prosperity stood so strong but that it might be moved; nay, he expected sin would move it. 3. He supposed that those who had not called upon God at other times, yet, in their affliction, would seek him early and earnestly. "When they are in distress they will confess their sins, and confess thy name, and make supplication to thee." Trouble will drive those to God who have said to him, Depart, Ch2 6:24, Ch2 6:26, Ch2 6:28. 4. He supposed that strangers would come from afar to worship the God of Israel and to pay homage to him; and this also might reasonably be expected, considering what worthless things the gods of the nations were, and what proofs the God of Israel had given of his being Lord of the whole earth.
III. Here are petitions very pertinent. 1. That God would own this house, and have an eye to it, as the place of which he had said that he would put his name there, Ch2 6:20. He could not, in faith, have asked God to show such peculiar favour to this house above any other if he himself had not said that it should be his rest for ever. The prayer that will speed must be warranted by the word. We may with humble confidence pray to God to be well pleased with us in Jesus Christ, because he had declared himself well pleased in him - This is my beloved Son; but he says not now of any house, "This is my beloved place." 2. That God would hear and accept the prayers which should be made in or towards that place, Ch2 6:21. He asked not that God should help them whether they prayed for themselves or no, but that God would help them in answer to their prayers. Even Christ's intercessions do not supersede but encourage our supplications. He prayed that God would hear from his dwelling-place, even from heaven. Heaven in his dwelling-place still, not this temple; and thence help must come. When thou hearest forgive. Note, The forgiveness of our sins is that which makes way for all the other answers to our prayers, Removendo prohibens - The evil which it drives away it keeps away. 3. That God would give judgment according to equity upon all the appeals that should be made to him, Ch2 6:23, Ch2 6:30. This we may, in faith, pray for, for we are sure it shall be done. God sitteth on the throne judging right. 4. That God would return in mercy to his people when they repented, and reformed, and sought unto him, Ch2 6:25, Ch2 6:27, Ch2 6:38, Ch2 6:39. This we also may, in faith, pray for, building upon the repeated declarations God has made of his readiness to accepts penitents. 5. That God would bid the strangers welcome to this house, and answer their prayers (Ch2 6:33); for, if there be in duty, why should there not be in privilege one law for the stranger and for one born in the land? Lev 24:22. 6. That God would, upon all occasions, own and plead the cause of his people Israel, against all the opposers of it (Ch2 6:35): Maintain their cause; and again, Ch2 6:39. If they be the Israel of God, their cause is the cause of God, and he would espouse it. 7. He concludes this prayer with some expressions which he had learned of his good father, and borrowed from one of his psalms. We had then not in the Kings, but here we have them, Ch2 6:41, Ch2 6:42. The whole word of God is of use to direct us in prayer; and how can we express ourselves in better language to God than that of his own Spirit? But these words were of use, in a special manner, to direct Solomon, because they had reference to this very work that he was now doing. We have them, Psa 132:8-10. He prayer (Ch2 6:41), (1.) That God would take possession of the temple, and keep possession, that he would make it his resting-place: Thou and the ark; what will the ark do without the God of the ark-ordinances without the God of the ordinances? (2.) That he would make the ministers of the temple public blessings: Clothe them with salvation, that is, not only save them, but make them instrumental to save others, by offering the sacrifices of righteousness. (3.) That the service of the temple might turn abundantly to the joy and satisfaction of all the Lord's people: Let thy saints rejoice in goodness, that is, in the goodness of thy house, Psa 65:4. "Let all that come hither to worship, like the eunuch, go away rejoicing." He pleads two things, Ch2 6:42. [1.] His own relation to God: "Turn not away the face of thy anointed. Lord, thou hast appointed me to be king, and wilt not thou own me?" [2.] God's covenant with his father: Remember thy mercies of David thy servant - the piety of David towards God (so some understand it and so the word sometimes signifies), his pious care of the ark, and concern for it (see Psa 132:1, Psa 132:2, etc.), or the promises of God to David, which were mercies to him, his great support and comforts in all his troubles. We may plead, as Solomon does here, with an eye to Christ: - "We deserve that God should turn away our face, that he should reject us and our prayers; but we come in the name of the Lord Jesus, thy anointed, thy Messiah (so the word is), thy Christ, so the lxx. Him thou hearest always, and wilt never turn away his face. We have no righteousness of our own to plead, but, Lord, remember the mercies of David thy servant." Christ is God's servant (Isa 42:1), and is called David, Hos 3:5. "Lord, remember his mercies, and accept us on the account of them. Remember his tender concern for his Father's honour and man's salvation, and what he did and suffered from that principle. Remember the promises of the everlasting covenant, which free grace has made to us in Christ, and which are called the sure mercies of David," Isa 55:3 and Act 13:34. This must be all our desire and all our hope, all our prayer and all our plea; for it is all our salvation.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 12–42. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Second Chronicles 6:12 captures a monumental moment during the dedication of Solomon's magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. This verse vividly portrays King Solomon positioned before the newly consecrated altar of the LORD, in the full view of the assembled congregation of Israel, extending his hands in a posture of profound and earnest prayer. It serves as the solemn and pivotal prelude to his extensive dedicatory prayer, marking the culmination of years of labor and the formal establishment of God's dwelling place among His people, thereby underscoring the king's crucial role as both spiritual leader and intercessor for the nation.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: This verse is strategically placed immediately after the dramatic account of the Ark of the Covenant being brought into the Most Holy Place of the Temple, and the subsequent filling of the Temple with the overwhelming glory of the LORD, manifested as a cloud so dense that the priests could not stand to minister 2 Chronicles 5:1-14. This divine affirmation of God's tangible presence creates an atmosphere of profound awe and reverence, setting the sacred stage for Solomon's address and subsequent prayer. The entire narrative of 2 Chronicles 5 and 2 Chronicles 6 focuses on the Temple's completion and dedication, with Solomon's prayer serving as the theological centerpiece, establishing the purpose and function of the Temple as a designated place for prayer and the manifestation of God's presence. This account closely parallels the narrative found in 1 Kings 8:22, highlighting its historical and theological importance across the biblical record.
Historical & Cultural Context: The dedication of the Temple represented arguably the most significant event in Israelite history since the Exodus and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. It marked a profound transition from the nomadic worship centered on the Tabernacle to a permanent, centralized place of worship in Jerusalem, the capital of the united kingdom. Solomon, as king, stood not in the capacity of a priest (a role exclusively reserved for the Levitical priesthood), but as the divinely appointed leader and representative of the entire nation. His public posture before the altar, in the presence of "all the congregation of Israel," powerfully underscored the corporate nature of their covenant relationship with Yahweh. Such grand public assemblies for significant religious events were common in ancient Israel, serving to reinforce communal identity, solidify shared commitment to the covenant, and publicly acknowledge God's sovereignty. The altar itself was the epicenter of Israelite worship, the designated place of sacrifice and atonement, symbolizing the divinely ordained means of access to God's presence.
Key Themes: Several major themes converge in this verse and the broader context of 2 Chronicles 6. First, the theme of Divine Presence and Glory is paramount, powerfully evidenced by the cloud filling the Temple just prior to Solomon's prayer, signifying God's tangible indwelling 2 Chronicles 5:13-14. Second, Public Leadership and Intercession is powerfully demonstrated by Solomon's act. As king, he models humility and profound dependence on God for his people, acting as their intercessor, a role that foreshadows the ultimate mediator. Third, the Centrality of Worship and Prayer is highlighted by Solomon's position before the altar, emphasizing that despite the grandeur and magnificence of the Temple, true access to God and the efficacy of worship were found in sincere prayer and adherence to God's prescribed means of approaching Him. This moment sets the stage for a prayer that articulates the covenant relationship and God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises, particularly those made to David 2 Chronicles 6:4-11.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs powerful Imagery to convey its profound meaning. The vivid visual of King Solomon, the earthly monarch, standing before the sacred altar with his hands outstretched creates a deeply memorable and evocative scene of humility and earnest prayer. This imagery evokes a palpable sense of solemnity, reverence, and profound dependence on God, effectively contrasting the king's immense earthly power and regal authority with his spiritual posture of supplication. Furthermore, there is significant Symbolism present within the verse. The "altar of the LORD" symbolizes the divinely ordained means of atonement, sacrifice, and access to God's holy presence, representing the core of Israelite worship. Concurrently, the act of "spreading forth his hands" symbolizes the spiritual posture of humility, openness, vulnerability, and fervent intercession. Together, these powerful literary elements paint a comprehensive picture of a nation's leader mediating between God and His people through a divinely ordained ritual and a universally understood gesture of prayer, emphasizing the spiritual gravity of the moment.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Solomon's posture in 2 Chronicles 6:12 is a profound theological statement, underscoring that even the most powerful earthly leader, in the most magnificent sacred space ever constructed, must approach the Almighty God with humility, reverence, and utter dependence. The act of spreading forth hands before the altar, the designated place of sacrifice, powerfully signifies that true access to God is not through human merit, earthly achievement, or kingly authority, but through divine provision and the humble posture of supplication. This public display of intercession for the entire nation establishes a vital pattern of leadership that prioritizes spiritual responsibility, communal solidarity, and unwavering reliance on God's covenant faithfulness. It serves as a timeless reminder that true authority, particularly in spiritual matters, is ultimately rooted in humble service, earnest prayer, and the profound acknowledgment of God as the ultimate sovereign and provider.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Solomon's act in 2 Chronicles 6:12 transcends its specific historical setting, offering timeless and profound principles for worship, leadership, and personal devotion. His public posture before the altar, representing the entire nation, calls believers today to consider the sincerity, intentionality, and humility of their own approach to God, whether in private devotion or corporate worship. It powerfully reminds us that prayer is not merely a private exercise but can be a potent public witness, demonstrating profound dependence on God and earnest intercession for others. Just as Solomon modeled humility and reliance on God for the entire congregation, so too are leaders in all spheres—family, church, community, and nation—called to exemplify a vibrant prayer life and a consistent posture of humility before the Divine. The centrality of the altar, the place of sacrifice and atonement, further emphasizes that our access to God is always predicated on His gracious provision for sin, leading us to a deeper appreciation for the ultimate sacrifice. When we gather for corporate worship, we participate in a communal act of seeking God's face, echoing the unity and shared purpose of Israel gathered before their King and their God, and recognizing our collective need for His presence and grace.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why was it significant that Solomon stood "before the altar of the LORD" rather than, say, in the Most Holy Place?
Answer: It was highly significant that Solomon stood "before the altar of the LORD" in the Temple courtyard, rather than attempting to enter the Most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place was the innermost sanctuary, reserved exclusively for the high priest, and he was permitted to enter only once a year on the solemn Day of Atonement Leviticus 16:2. Solomon, though king, was not a Levitical priest and thus was strictly forbidden from entering this sacred inner sanctuary. His position before the altar, which was the designated place of sacrifice and public worship, was the appropriate and divinely sanctioned place for him to intercede for the nation. This location underscored his role as a representative of the people, not as a priestly mediator, and emphasized that even the king must adhere to God's established order for worship and access, acknowledging the mediatorial role of the priesthood and the necessity of sacrifice for approaching a holy God.
What is the meaning of "spreading forth his hands" in biblical prayer?
Answer: The act of "spreading forth his hands" (or often "lifting up hands") is a common and highly symbolic posture of prayer found throughout the Bible. It signifies a variety of profound spiritual attitudes, including earnest supplication, deep humility, complete dependence on God, and a fervent desire to receive divine favor and blessing from Him. It is an outward physical manifestation of an inward spiritual posture of openness, vulnerability, and complete reliance before the Almighty. This gesture is seen in various biblical contexts, such as Moses interceding for Israel Exodus 9:29, the psalmist crying out to God in distress Psalm 143:6, and even the prophet Isaiah depicting a posture of prayer Isaiah 1:15. In Solomon's specific case, it powerfully conveys the depth of his earnestness, humility, and spiritual engagement as he intercedes for the entire nation during this pivotal and sacred moment of Temple dedication.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Solomon's profound act of standing before the altar and spreading forth his hands in earnest intercession for Israel finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Solomon, as an earthly king, acted as a representative and mediator for his people, but his intercession was inherently imperfect and temporary, dependent upon the ongoing sacrifices offered at the earthly altar. Jesus, however, is the true and eternal King, who not only perfectly intercedes for His people but is also the ultimate and final sacrifice, and indeed, the true Temple Himself. Just as Solomon stood before the earthly altar, Jesus, our great High Priest, "entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption" Hebrews 9:12. He did not merely spread forth His hands in prayer; He stretched them out in ultimate self-sacrifice on the cross, offering Himself as the perfect, sufficient, and final atonement for all sin. Through His finished work on Calvary, believers now have direct, unhindered access to God's holy presence, not through an earthly temple or a physical altar, but through Christ Himself, who definitively declared, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me" John 14:6. Our prayers are heard and accepted not because of our physical posture or geographical location, but because we pray in the name of the One who ever lives to make perfect intercession for us Hebrews 7:25. Thus, Solomon's earnest and humble posture profoundly foreshadows the perfect, enduring, and eternally efficacious intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the true Temple, the ultimate sacrifice, and our eternal High Priest.