TRV
Translation
King James Version
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;
Complete Jewish Bible
"If your people go out to fight their enemies, no matter by which way you send them, and they pray to you toward the city you chose and the house I built for your name;
Berean Standard Bible
When Your people go to war against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to You in the direction of the city You have chosen and the house I have built for Your Name,
American Standard Version
If thy people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatsoever way 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;
World English Bible Messianic
“If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to you toward this city which you have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name;
Geneva Bible (1599)
When thy people shall goe out to battell against their enemies, by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray to thee, in the way towarde this citie, which thou hast chosen, euen toward the house which I haue built to thy Name,
Young's Literal Translation
`When Thy people doth go out to battle against its enemies in the way that Thou dost send them, and they have prayed unto Thee the way of this city that Thou hast fixed on, and the house that I have built for Thy name:
See also
In the KJVVerse 11,317 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
2 Chronicles 6:34 is a profound segment of King Solomon's dedicatory prayer for the Temple, articulating a critical condition for Israel's success in warfare. It posits that divine authorization ("by the way that thou shalt send them") and fervent, directed prayer ("pray unto thee toward this city... and the house which I have built for thy name") are paramount. This verse underscores Israel's absolute dependence on God's sovereign will and His accessible presence, emphasizing that true victory in conflict flows from obedience to His command and a humble reliance on His power.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Solomon's prayer in 2 Chronicles 6:34 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological message and underscore Israel's covenantal relationship with God. The primary structural device is a Conditional Clause, setting up an "If... then..." relationship (though the "then" is implied in the subsequent verses of the prayer, where God is asked to hear and act). This structure emphasizes the covenantal nature of God's relationship with Israel: their obedience and proper spiritual posture are presented as prerequisites for divine intervention and favor. The phrase "this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name" utilizes Merism or Synecdoche, where two distinct but intimately related entities (the city of Jerusalem and the Temple within it) are mentioned together to represent the entire spiritual and national center, serving as the singular focal point of God's presence and Israel's worship. There is also a powerful element of Repetition and Emphasis on "thy name" throughout Solomon's prayer (e.g., 2 Chronicles 6:20, 2 Chronicles 6:33), which underscores the profound idea that the Temple's true significance lies not in its physical structure, but in its sacred connection to God's revealed character, authority, and accessible presence. Finally, the Temple itself functions as a powerful Symbolism, representing God's dwelling among His people, a tangible point of access for prayer, repentance, and the reception of divine favor and forgiveness.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Chronicles 6:34 profoundly articulates the Old Testament understanding of divine sovereignty over all aspects of national life, including the critical domain of warfare. It transcends a simplistic view of military might, asserting that true victory and protection emanate from God alone, contingent upon His explicit authorization and the people's humble, directed prayer. This perspective aligns seamlessly with the broader biblical narrative where God is consistently portrayed as the ultimate warrior and deliverer, and human strength is deemed utterly insufficient without His favor. The Temple, though a physical structure, serves as a powerful symbol of God's accessible presence, a designated locus where Israel could turn to seek His face, confess their sins, and appeal for His intervention. This highlights the vital role of prayer as the indispensable conduit through which God's people engage with His power and faithfulness, reminding us that even in the most challenging and dangerous circumstances, their ultimate hope and security rested solely in the Lord.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While believers today do not engage in physical, divinely mandated warfare in the same way ancient Israel did, the enduring principles embedded in 2 Chronicles 6:34 remain profoundly relevant for our contemporary lives. We are called to engage in spiritual battles against unseen forces (Ephesians 6:12), confront personal challenges, and navigate a world often hostile to God's kingdom and His values. This verse teaches us the absolute necessity of seeking God's divine direction and authorization before embarking on any significant endeavor or confronting adversity. Our actions must align with His purposes, not merely our own desires, ambitions, or perceived strengths. Furthermore, it powerfully underscores the centrality of prayer as our primary weapon and most vital resource. Just as the Israelites turned towards the Temple, we are to turn our hearts towards God, trusting that He hears and responds when we call upon Him in faith, regardless of our physical location. Our ultimate reliance must be on God's power and faithfulness, not on our own capabilities, wisdom, or material resources. True victory in life's battles, whether spiritual, emotional, or circumstantial, comes from humble dependence on the Lord, knowing that He is our ultimate help, hope, and strategic guide.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why is "by the way that thou shalt send them" so important in this verse?
Answer: This phrase is crucially important because it fundamentally distinguishes divinely authorized warfare from mere human aggression, territorial expansion, or political ambition. For ancient Israel, going to war was not always a human decision but often a direct divine commission. When God "sends" His people to war, it signifies His explicit authorization, His specific purpose for the conflict, and His active presence within it. This means that success is entirely contingent upon His will and power, not solely on Israel's military might or strategic prowess. It underscores that Israel was meant to be an instrument in God's hands, fighting battles that served His redemptive and covenantal purposes, rather than pursuing their own agenda. This principle profoundly emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty over national affairs and establishes the ethical and theological framework within which Israel was to operate.
How does the Temple function as a focal point for prayer if God is omnipresent?
Answer: While God is indeed omnipresent and cannot be confined to any physical structure, the Temple in Jerusalem was consecrated as the specific place where God chose to make His "name" dwell. This means it was the designated site where His character, glory, and covenant presence were uniquely manifested and where He promised to meet with His people. The Temple served as a tangible symbol of God's unwavering commitment to His covenant with Israel and a visible point of access for prayer, sacrifice, and repentance. Praying "toward" the Temple was not about limiting God to a building, but about an act of faith and obedience, acknowledging God's chosen dwelling place among them and directing their hearts and prayers to where His glory had been revealed. It provided a concrete, visible representation of God's accessibility and His willingness to hear and respond to His people's cries, fostering a sense of corporate unity and spiritual direction.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The profound principles embedded in 2 Chronicles 6:34 find their ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The concept of God "sending" His people to war foreshadows the ultimate "Sent One," Jesus Himself, who was sent by the Father into the world not to condemn it, but to save it (John 3:17). His entire earthly ministry was the decisive spiritual warfare against sin, death, and the powers of darkness, culminating in His triumphant victory on the cross, where He disarmed and triumphed over them (Colossians 2:15). Furthermore, the emphasis on praying "toward" the Temple, the place of God's name, points directly to Christ as the true and ultimate Temple. Jesus Himself declared, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," speaking prophetically of the temple of His own body (John 2:19-21). Through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, He became the singular, eternal access point to God, perfectly fulfilling the Temple's symbolic role. Believers no longer need to pray towards a physical building, but can approach God directly and confidently through Christ, who is our Great High Priest and eternally intercedes for us at the right hand of God (Hebrews 4:16, Romans 8:34). In Christ, we are made part of a "spiritual house" and a holy priesthood, a living temple where God dwells by His Spirit (1 Peter 2:5), enabling us to worship God in spirit and truth, unbound by geographical location or physical structures (John 4:23-24).