TRV
Translation
King James Version
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.
KJV (with Strong's)
Complete Jewish Bible
Yes, listen to the pleas of your servant, and also those of your people Isra'el when they pray toward this place. Hear from where you live, from heaven; and when you hear, forgive!
Berean Standard Bible
Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive.
American Standard Version
And hearken thou to the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: yea, hear thou from thy dwelling-place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.
World English Bible Messianic
Listen to the petitions of your servant, and of your people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: yes, hear from your dwelling place, even from heaven; and when you hear, forgive.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Heare thou therefore the supplication of thy seruant, and of thy people Israel, which they pray in this place: and heare thou in the place of thine habitation, euen in heauen, and when thou hearest, be mercifull.
Young's Literal Translation
`And Thou hast hearkened unto the supplications of Thy servant, and of Thy people Israel, that they pray towards this place, and Thou dost hear from the place of Thy dwelling, from the heavens, and hast hearkened, and forgiven.
See also
In the KJVVerse 11,304 of 31,102
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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
2 Chronicles 6:21 captures a profound moment in King Solomon's dedicatory prayer for the newly completed Temple in Jerusalem. Standing before the altar, Solomon humbly intercedes on behalf of himself and all Israel, earnestly petitioning God to hear their fervent pleas directed towards this sacred edifice. The verse masterfully balances God's transcendent nature, acknowledging His dwelling place in heaven, with His immanent willingness to engage with humanity, culminating in a vital request for divine forgiveness whenever He hears their supplications. It encapsulates the very heart of the covenantal relationship: Israel's utter dependence on God's grace and His faithful readiness to respond to a repentant heart.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Solomon's prayer in 2 Chronicles 6:21 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound theological message. Repetition is notably prominent, particularly through the repeated use of forms of the Hebrew verb "to hear" (שָׁמַע, šāma‘): "Hearken... hear thou... when thou hearest." This rhetorical emphasis intensifies the urgency and centrality of God's attentive responsiveness to prayer, reinforcing the core request for divine engagement. Symbolism is also a key device, with the Temple serving as a powerful and multi-faceted symbol. While not God's literal dwelling, it functions as a tangible point of reference for Israel's spiritual orientation, representing the consecrated space where God's presence is uniquely manifested and where His people can seek His face and mercy. Furthermore, the prayer utilizes Anthropomorphism, attributing the human action of "hearing" to God. This device makes the transcendent God relatable and accessible, conveying His active engagement with human petitions and His profound attentiveness, even though His understanding and perception transcend all human sensory experience.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly articulates the very essence of the covenant relationship between God and Israel, emphasizing God's multifaceted character as both transcendent and immanent, perfectly just and infinitely merciful. It establishes prayer as the primary and most vital means of communication and reconciliation, particularly in the face of human sin, distress, and national calamity. The fervent request for God to "hear" and "forgive" underscores the foundational biblical truth that God is not only intimately attentive to His people's cries but is also abundant in mercy, ever ready to pardon those who turn to Him in genuine repentance. This enduring principle of divine responsiveness to humble supplication and the boundless availability of forgiveness is a consistent, life-giving thread woven throughout the entire Old Testament, powerfully pointing to God's unwavering faithfulness despite the recurring failings of humanity.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Solomon's prayer in 2 Chronicles 6:21 offers timeless encouragement and profound instruction for believers in every generation. While the physical Temple in Jerusalem no longer stands as the central focal point of prayer, the spiritual principles articulated here remain profoundly relevant and eternally true. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God is eternally accessible and profoundly responsive to the sincere prayers of His people, regardless of their physical location or circumstances. We are invited, indeed commanded, to approach Him with our "supplications," knowing with absolute certainty that He hears us from His glorious heavenly throne. Moreover, the culminating plea for "forgiveness" serves as an enduring and powerful reminder of God's merciful character and His unwavering readiness to pardon sin when we genuinely repent and seek Him. This passage reinforces the vital importance of consistent, humble, and faith-filled prayer, especially in times of personal struggle, communal distress, or national crisis, prompting us to turn to God in unwavering faith, confident in His boundless willingness to listen and to forgive.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does God literally "hear" from heaven, or is this a metaphor?
Answer: The phrase "hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven" is an anthropomorphism, a literary device that attributes human characteristics or actions (like hearing with ears) to God. While God does not possess physical ears in the way humans do, this language conveys the profound and comforting truth of His active attentiveness and responsiveness to human prayer. It assures us that God is not distant, indifferent, or unaware, but is fully cognizant of and deeply engaged with the petitions of His people. It powerfully emphasizes His omniscience and omnipresence, meaning He hears all prayers, regardless of their origin, from His exalted, heavenly throne, and possesses both the infinite power and the loving will to respond.
How does the Temple's role as a "place" for prayer in the Old Testament relate to Christian worship today?
Answer: In the Old Testament, the Temple served as a unique, consecrated space where God's presence was uniquely manifested and where Israel could direct their prayers and sacrifices. It was a tangible symbol of God's covenant with His people, a physical point of access. However, the New Testament reveals that this symbolic and temporary role is ultimately fulfilled and transformed in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself declared, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up, speaking of the temple of His own body. Through His perfect atoning sacrifice and glorious resurrection, Christ became the ultimate "place" where humanity meets God, receives forgiveness, and finds reconciliation (Hebrews 10:19-22). Therefore, Christians today do not pray towards a physical building but pray in the name of Jesus, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, directly to God the Father, knowing that our access is secured by Christ's finished work on the cross. Moreover, individual believers and the gathered community of believers are now considered the "temple of the Holy Spirit" (1-corinthians/6-19), making God's presence immanent within His people.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Solomon's earnest prayer in 2 Chronicles 6:21, with its fervent plea for God to "hear" from heaven and mercifully "forgive," finds its ultimate, glorious, and complete fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The magnificent Temple, towards which Israel directed their prayers, was a temporary and symbolic dwelling place for God's presence, a tangible shadow pointing prophetically to the greater reality to come. Christ is the true and eternal Temple, the very embodiment of God's presence among humanity, as profoundly declared in John 1:14. No longer do believers need to pray towards a physical edifice or rely on an earthly priesthood; instead, we pray through Christ, who is our perfect High Priest and sole Mediator, continually interceding for us before the Father's glorious throne in heaven (Hebrews 7:25). The forgiveness that Solomon so earnestly sought, which was then contingent upon animal sacrifices and the Temple system, is now freely, fully, and eternally available through the once-for-all atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Through His shed blood and triumphant resurrection, Christ has opened a new and living way directly to the Father, granting us bold and confident access to the throne of grace, where we can receive abundant mercy and find timely grace to help in every time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Thus, Solomon's poignant prayer for God to hear and forgive from heaven is not merely answered, but infinitely surpassed and perfectly realized in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ, who is our ultimate access to God and the inexhaustible source of eternal forgiveness.