2 Chronicles 7:15

KJV

Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer [that is made] in this place.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now mine eyes {H5869} shall be open {H6605}, and mine ears {H241} attent {H7183} unto the prayer {H8605} that is made in this place {H4725}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Now my eyes will be open and my ears will pay attention to the prayer made in this place.

Berean Standard Bible

Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

American Standard Version

Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent, unto the prayer that is made in this place.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Chronicles 7:15 presents a profound divine assurance from God to King Solomon, delivered immediately after the dedication of the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. This verse serves as a foundational declaration of God's unwavering attentiveness and responsiveness to the prayers offered within the newly consecrated sanctuary, promising His constant watchfulness and readiness to hear the supplications of His people who turn to Him in that designated place.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of God's direct, nocturnal response to King Solomon's extensive and heartfelt prayer of dedication for the newly completed Temple, as meticulously chronicled in [2 Chronicles 6](/2_chronicles/6 "2 Chronicles 6 - Solomon's Prayer of Dedication"). The divine affirmation follows a spectacular display of God's glory, where fire descended from heaven and consumed the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple, preventing the priests from entering ([2 Chronicles 7:1-3](/2_chronicles/7-1 "2 Chronicles 7:1-3 - God's Glory Fills the Temple")). God's appearance to Solomon, paralleled in [1 Kings 9:1-9](/1_kings/9-1 "1 Kings 9:1-9 - God's Covenant with Solomon"), confirms His acceptance of the Temple and reaffirms His covenant with Israel. Verse 15 establishes the premise of God's perpetual attentiveness, setting the stage for the conditional promise of national healing and restoration articulated in the well-known [2 Chronicles 7:14](/2_chronicles/7-14 "2 Chronicles 7:14 - God's Promise of Healing the Land"), which outlines the conditions for divine intervention.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The construction and dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem marked a pivotal moment in Israelite history, symbolizing the establishment of a permanent dwelling place for God's presence among His people, a concept previously represented by the portable tabernacle. Culturally, the Temple became the central hub for national worship, sacrifice, and pilgrimage, serving as the physical embodiment of the covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel. Prayers offered "in this place" were understood to carry particular significance, not because God was confined to a building, but because the Temple was the divinely appointed locus for meeting with Him, where His name would dwell ([1 Kings 8:29](/1_kings/8-29 "1 Kings 8:29 - God's Name Dwells in the Temple")). This context underscores the profound theological weight attached to God's promise to hear prayers specifically directed toward this sacred space, reinforcing its role as the spiritual heart of the nation.
* **Key Themes:** The primary themes embedded in [2 Chronicles 7:15](/2_chronicles/7-15 "2 Chronicles 7:15 - God's Attentiveness to Prayer") revolve around God's **attentiveness to prayer**, His **covenant faithfulness**, and the **significance of the sanctuary**. The vivid imagery of God's "eyes open" and "ears attent" powerfully conveys His active, vigilant, and personal engagement with the supplications of His people, emphasizing that He is not a distant deity but one who listens and responds. This promise is rooted in God's enduring covenant with Israel, assuring them that despite future transgressions, His accessibility would remain through the designated means of the Temple. The phrase "in this place" highlights the Temple's unique role as the divinely ordained meeting point, a symbol of God's presence and a tangible reminder of the covenant relationship, where Israel could seek His face and find a hearing for their prayers, as Solomon himself prayed in [2 Chronicles 6:40](/2_chronicles/6-40 "2 Chronicles 6:40 - Solomon's Prayer for God's Attentiveness").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **open (Hebrew, _pāthaḥ'_):** This verb signifies "to open," "to unclose," or "to set free." When applied to God's "eyes," it conveys an active, unhindered, and watchful gaze. It implies not merely a passive state of being open, but a deliberate and sustained act of observation, indicating God's constant and direct awareness of all that transpires, especially the prayers directed towards Him. It suggests an absence of obstruction or distraction, ensuring full divine perception.
* **attent (Hebrew, _qāshab'_):** Meaning "to listen closely," "to give heed," or "to pay attention," this word denotes a focused and intentional act of hearing. It goes beyond mere auditory reception to imply a readiness to process, understand, and respond. God's "ears attent" signify His active engagement with the content of the prayers, demonstrating His personal interest and commitment to discerning the heart and needs of the one praying.
* **prayer (Hebrew, _tĕphillāh'_):** This noun refers to "prayer," "intercession," or "supplication." It encompasses a broad range of communication with God, from humble requests and cries for help to fervent intercession and expressions of praise. The use of this general term emphasizes that God's promise of attentiveness extends to all forms of sincere communication directed to Him from "this place," encompassing the diverse needs and expressions of His people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now mine eyes shall be open":** This clause declares God's perpetual and active watchfulness. It conveys the image of God's gaze being continuously fixed upon the Temple and, by extension, upon those who pray within or towards it. This is not a passive observation but an engaged, discerning awareness, signifying that nothing escapes His divine notice, particularly the spiritual needs and sincere intentions of His supplicants.
* **"and mine ears attent":** Complementing the visual imagery, this phrase emphasizes God's active and focused listening. It assures the worshipper that God does not merely hear sounds but truly "attends" to the content and spirit of the prayers. This implies a readiness to comprehend, to consider, and ultimately to respond, underscoring God's personal and engaged relationship with His praying people.
* **"unto the prayer [that is made] in this place":** This final phrase specifies the object and location of God's promised attentiveness. "The prayer" refers to any supplication offered, while "in this place" unequivocally designates the Temple in Jerusalem. This highlights the Temple's unique role as the divinely appointed focal point for Israel's worship and prayer, a sacred space where God had promised to manifest His presence and receive the petitions of His covenant people.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message. **Anthropomorphism** is prominent, attributing human sensory organs—eyes and ears—to God. This device makes the abstract concept of divine omniscience and omnipresence relatable and comprehensible to human understanding, emphasizing God's active perception and engagement with His creation. The pairing of "eyes open" and "ears attent" creates a powerful **parallelism**, reinforcing the completeness and totality of God's awareness. This is a form of **synesthesia**, where two different senses are invoked to describe a single, unified divine action of comprehensive attentiveness. Furthermore, the phrase "in this place" functions as a **symbol** for the consecrated sanctuary, representing the specific covenantal context within which God promises to hear and respond, highlighting the sacredness and unique designation of the Temple as a meeting point between God and humanity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The promise in 2 Chronicles 7:15 transcends its immediate historical context, revealing enduring truths about God's character and His relationship with humanity. It underscores God's inherent nature as a God who hears and responds to prayer, demonstrating His profound accessibility and personal interest in the cries of His people. This divine attentiveness is not a passive reception but an active, vigilant posture, rooted in His covenant faithfulness. While the physical Temple served as the designated "place" for prayer in the Old Covenant, the spiritual principle remains: God is ever-ready to engage with those who sincerely seek Him, affirming His unchanging commitment to communion with humanity. This verse assures believers that their supplications are never unheard or unnoticed by the sovereign Lord.

* [Psalm 66:19-20](/psalms/66-19 "Psalm 66:19-20 - God Has Heard My Prayer")
* [Jeremiah 29:12-13](/jeremiah/29-12 "Jeremiah 29:12-13 - Seek Me and Find Me")
* [1 John 5:14-15](/1_john/5-14 "1 John 5:14-15 - Confidence in Prayer")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The timeless truth of 2 Chronicles 7:15 offers immense encouragement and a profound call to prayer for believers today. Though the physical Temple no longer stands as the singular "place," God's character as one who hears and responds to prayer remains immutable. This verse invites us to approach God with unwavering confidence, knowing that His "eyes are open and ears attent" to our every cry, whisper, and heartfelt groan. It reminds us that prayer is not a monologue into the void but a genuine dialogue with a living, attentive God who desires to engage with His children. Our prayers, offered in faith and sincerity, are not just heard but are actively considered and responded to by a loving Father. Therefore, we are called to cultivate a consistent and fervent prayer life, trusting in the active, watchful, and responsive nature of our God, who delights in the communion He shares with us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of God's "eyes open" and "ears attent" deepen your understanding of His character and presence in your life?**
* **In what ways can you cultivate a greater sense of God's attentiveness in your personal prayer life?**
* **Considering the shift from the physical Temple to the spiritual reality in Christ, what does "this place" mean for your prayers today?**
* **How does the promise of God's attentiveness encourage you to pray more boldly and persistently, even in difficult circumstances?**

### FAQ
**Was God's promise in 2 Chronicles 7:15 only for prayers made physically inside Solomon's Temple?**

Answer: While the immediate context of [2 Chronicles 7:15](/2_chronicles/7-15 "2 Chronicles 7:15 - God's Attentiveness to Prayer") clearly refers to the physical Temple in Jerusalem ("in this place"), the underlying theological principle of God's attentiveness to prayer is not limited to a specific geographical location. For ancient Israel, the Temple was the divinely appointed locus of God's presence and the symbolic center of their worship and covenant relationship. God promised to meet them there. However, the Old Testament itself shows God hearing prayers from outside the Temple (e.g., [Jonah 2:1-9](/jonah/2-1 "Jonah 2:1-9 - Jonah's Prayer from the Fish's Belly"), [Daniel 6:10](/daniel/6-10 "Daniel 6:10 - Daniel's Prayer in Babylon")). For New Testament believers, the concept of "place" has expanded significantly. Through Christ, believers are now the "temple of the Holy Spirit" ([1 Corinthians 6:19](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19 - Your Body is a Temple")), and God promises His presence wherever even "two or three are gathered in My name" ([Matthew 18:20](/matthew/18-20 "Matthew 18:20 - Where Two or Three Are Gathered")). Thus, the spiritual truth of God's attentive nature transcends the physical structure, assuring that He hears prayers offered in sincerity and faith from any place.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The promise of God's open eyes and attentive ears in [2 Chronicles 7:15](/2_chronicles/7-15 "2 Chronicles 7:15 - God's Attentiveness to Prayer") finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The physical Temple, to which God promised His attentiveness, was a shadow and a type of a greater reality. Jesus Himself declared, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," speaking of the temple of His body ([John 2:19-21](/john/2-19 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus Speaks of His Body as the Temple")). Christ is the true and living Temple, the ultimate meeting place between God and humanity, in whom "the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" ([Colossians 2:9](/colossians/2-9 "Colossians 2:9 - Fullness of Deity in Christ")). Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus tore the veil separating humanity from God's most holy presence ([Matthew 27:51](/matthew/27-51 "Matthew 27:51 - The Temple Veil Torn")), granting believers direct access to the Father. Now, through Christ, we have "boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him" ([Ephesians 3:12](/ephesians/3-12 "Ephesians 3:12 - Access to God Through Christ")), and can "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" to the throne of grace ([Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Boldness to Enter the Holiest Place")). Our prayers are heard not because of a physical building, but because they are offered in the name of the one Mediator, Jesus Christ, who ever lives to make intercession for us ([Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Jesus Our Intercessor")). Thus, God's promise to hear prayers "in this place" is perfectly fulfilled in the reality of Christ, the living Temple, through whom all genuine prayer ascends to an ever-attentive God.

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

1 Peter 3:12

For the eyes of the Lord [are] over the righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord [is] against them that do evil.

2 Chronicles 6:40

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.

2 Chronicles 6:20

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.

Nehemiah 1:6

Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

Deuteronomy 11:12

A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God [are] always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.

Psalms 65:2

O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

Psalms 130:2

Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.