2 Chronicles 6:12

KJV

¶ And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:

KJV (with Strong's)

And he stood {H5975} before {H6440} the altar {H4196} of the LORD {H3068} in the presence of all the congregation {H6951} of Israel {H3478}, and spread forth {H6566} his hands {H3709}:

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Chronicles 6:12 captures a profoundly significant moment during the dedication of Solomon's magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. This verse depicts King Solomon taking his stand before the newly consecrated altar of the LORD, in full view of the assembled congregation of Israel, and extending his hands in a posture of earnest prayer. It serves as the solemn 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, underscoring the king's role as a spiritual leader and intercessor for the nation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows 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 glory of the LORD, manifested as a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister [2 Chronicles 5:1-14](/2_chronicles/5-1 "2 Chronicles 5:1-14 - The Ark Brought to the Temple"). This divine affirmation of God's presence creates an atmosphere of profound awe and reverence, setting the stage for Solomon's address and prayer. The entire narrative of [2 Chronicles 5](/2_chronicles/5 "2 Chronicles 5 - The Ark and the Glory") and [2 Chronicles 6](/2_chronicles/6 "2 Chronicles 6 - Solomon's Prayer of Dedication") focuses on the Temple's completion and dedication, with Solomon's prayer being the theological centerpiece, establishing the purpose and function of the Temple as a place of prayer and God's presence. This account closely parallels the narrative found in [1 Kings 8:22](/1_kings/8-22 "1 Kings 8:22 - Solomon's Prayer in 1 Kings"), highlighting its historical and theological importance across the biblical record.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The dedication of the Temple was arguably the most significant event in Israelite history since the Exodus and the giving of the Law at Sinai. It marked the transition from a nomadic tabernacle worship to a permanent, centralized place of worship in Jerusalem, the capital of the united kingdom. Solomon, as king, stood not as a priest (a role reserved for the Levitical priesthood), but as the divinely appointed leader and representative of the nation. His public posture before the altar, in the presence of "all the congregation of Israel," underscored the corporate nature of their covenant relationship with Yahweh. Such public assemblies for significant religious events were common, reinforcing communal identity and shared commitment to the covenant. The altar itself was the epicenter of Israelite worship, the place of sacrifice and atonement, symbolizing access to God's presence.
* **Key Themes:** Several major themes converge in this verse and the broader context of [2 Chronicles 6](/2_chronicles/6 "2 Chronicles 6 - Solomon's Prayer of Dedication"). First, the theme of **Divine Presence and Glory** is paramount, as evidenced by the cloud filling the Temple just prior to Solomon's prayer [2 Chronicles 5:13-14](/2_chronicles/5-13 "2 Chronicles 5:13-14 - The Glory of the LORD Fills the Temple"). Second, **Public Leadership and Intercession** is powerfully demonstrated by Solomon's act. As king, he models humility and 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 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 faithfulness to His promises, particularly those made to David [2 Chronicles 6:4-11](/2_chronicles/6-4 "2 Chronicles 6:4-11 - Solomon's Benediction").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Stood (Hebrew, _ʿāmad'_):** This verb often denotes taking a firm, established position, sometimes implying readiness for action, service, or judgment. Here, Solomon "stood" (עָמַד, *ʿāmad*) before the altar, signifying his official, authoritative posture as king and representative of the people. It is not a casual stance but a deliberate assumption of a position of leadership and responsibility in the presence of God and His people.
* **Altar (Hebrew, _mizbēaḥ'_):** The "altar" (מִזְבֵּחַ, *mizbēaḥ*) was the central piece of furniture in the Temple courtyard, where sacrifices were offered. It was the primary point of contact between God and His people for atonement and worship. Solomon's position "before the altar of the LORD" emphasizes that even the king, in his moment of greatest triumph, must approach God through the prescribed means of worship, acknowledging the need for sacrifice and divine grace.
* **Spread forth his hands (Hebrew, _pāras yādayim'_):** This is a classic biblical idiom for prayer, supplication, or blessing. The phrase "spread forth his hands" (פָּרַשׂ יָדַיִם, *pāras yādayim*) visually communicates an open, receptive, and dependent posture. It signifies reaching out to God in earnest petition, humility, and a desire to receive from Him, often accompanied by deep emotional sincerity. It is a gesture of both appeal and surrender, a physical manifestation of a spiritual posture.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he stood before the altar of the LORD":** This clause establishes Solomon's physical position and the sacred context of his action. His standing implies a formal, deliberate act, taking his place at the focal point of Israelite worship. The "altar of the LORD" specifies the sacred object and the divine recipient of the worship, emphasizing that this is an act directed towards Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel.
* **"in the presence of all the congregation of Israel":** This highlights the public and corporate nature of the event. Solomon's prayer is not a private devotion but a national act of worship and intercession, performed before the entire assembled community. This public witness underscores his role as the nation's spiritual representative and the collective nature of Israel's relationship with God.
* **"and spread forth his hands":** This describes Solomon's specific bodily posture, which is a common biblical gesture of prayer and supplication. The act of extending or spreading the hands signifies an open, humble, and earnest appeal to God, demonstrating dependence, receptivity, and a pouring out of one's heart in petition. It sets the tone for the extensive prayer that follows, indicating a deep spiritual engagement.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs powerful **Imagery** to convey its meaning. The visual of Solomon, the king, standing before the sacred altar with hands outstretched, creates a vivid and memorable scene of humility and earnest prayer. This imagery evokes a sense of solemnity, reverence, and profound dependence on God, contrasting the king's earthly power with his spiritual posture of supplication. Furthermore, there is significant **Symbolism** present. The "altar of the LORD" symbolizes the means of atonement and access to God's presence, while the act of "spreading forth his hands" symbolizes the spiritual posture of humility, openness, and intercession. Together, these elements paint a picture of a nation's leader mediating between God and His people through a divinely ordained ritual and a universally understood gesture of prayer.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Solomon's posture in 2 Chronicles 6:12 is a profound theological statement. It underscores that even the most powerful earthly leader, in the most magnificent sacred space, must approach God with humility and dependence. The act of spreading forth hands before the altar, the place of sacrifice, signifies that access to God is not through human merit or achievement, but through divine provision and the posture of supplication. This public display of intercession for the nation establishes a pattern of leadership that prioritizes spiritual responsibility and reliance on God's covenant faithfulness. It reminds us that true authority, particularly in spiritual matters, is rooted in humble service and earnest prayer, acknowledging God as the ultimate sovereign.

* [Exodus 9:29](/exodus/9-29 "Moses Spreads His Hands in Prayer")
* [Psalm 143:6](/psalms/143-6 "The Psalmist's Prayer of Supplication")
* [Lamentations 3:41](/lamentations/3-41 "Lifting Hands to God in Prayer")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Solomon's act in 2 Chronicles 6:12 transcends its historical setting, offering timeless principles for worship and leadership. His public posture before the altar, representing the entire nation, calls believers today to consider the sincerity and intentionality of their own approach to God. It reminds us that prayer is not merely a private exercise but can be a powerful public witness, demonstrating dependence on God and 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, and community—called to exemplify a vibrant prayer life and a 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 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 purpose of Israel gathered before their King and their God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways does my personal prayer posture, both physical and spiritual, reflect humility and dependence on God?**
* **How does Solomon's example challenge my understanding of leadership, particularly in demonstrating spiritual reliance and intercession for those I lead?**
* **What is the significance of "corporate worship" in my life, and how can I more fully engage in communal prayer and seeking God's presence with others?**

### 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 entering the Most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place was reserved exclusively for the high priest, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement [Leviticus 16:2](/leviticus/16-2 "The High Priest Enters the Holy Place"). Solomon, though king, was not a Levitical priest and thus was forbidden from entering the inner sanctuary. His position before the altar, the place of sacrifice and public worship, was the appropriate and divinely sanctioned place for him to intercede for the nation. It 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. This location underscored his role as a representative of the people, not as a priestly mediator.

**What is the meaning of "spreading forth his hands" in biblical prayer?**

Answer: The act of "spreading forth his hands" (or "lifting up hands") is a common and highly symbolic posture of prayer throughout the Bible. It signifies a variety of spiritual attitudes, including earnest supplication, deep humility, dependence on God, and a desire to receive from Him. It is an outward physical manifestation of an inward spiritual posture of openness and vulnerability before the Almighty. Examples include Moses interceding for Israel [Exodus 9:29](/exodus/9-29 "Moses' Prayer for Deliverance"), the psalmist crying out to God [Psalm 143:6](/psalms/143-6 "A Prayer for Deliverance"), and even the prophet Isaiah depicting a posture of prayer [Isaiah 1:15](/isaiah/1-15 "God Rejects Empty Ritual"). In Solomon's case, it conveys the depth of his earnestness as he intercedes for the entire nation during this pivotal moment of Temple dedication.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Solomon's act of standing before the altar and spreading forth his hands in intercession for Israel finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Solomon, as king, acted as a representative and mediator for his people, but his intercession was imperfect and temporary, dependent on the sacrifices offered at the altar. Jesus, however, is the true and eternal King, who not only intercedes for His people but is also the ultimate sacrifice and the true Temple. 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](/hebrews/9-12 "Christ's Sacrifice as Eternal Redemption"). He did not merely spread forth His hands in prayer, but stretched them out on the cross, offering Himself as the perfect and final atonement for sin. Through His finished work, believers now have direct access to God's presence, not through an earthly temple or altar, but through Christ Himself, who is the way, the truth, and the life [John 14:6](/john/14-6 "Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life"). Our prayers are heard not because of our posture or location, but because we pray in the name of the One who ever lives to make intercession for us [Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Christ's Eternal Intercession"). Thus, Solomon's earnest posture foreshadows the perfect and enduring intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ, the true Temple, the ultimate sacrifice, and the eternal High Priest.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 63:4

Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

Psalms 143:6

I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul [thirsteth] after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

Job 11:13

¶ If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

Exodus 9:33

And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.

Isaiah 50:10

¶ Who [is] among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh [in] darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.

2 Kings 23:3

And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all [their] heart and all [their] soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.

1 Timothy 2:8

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.