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2 Chronicles 7:16

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For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

For now have I chosen {H977} and sanctified {H6942} this house {H1004}, that my name {H8034} may be there for {H5704} ever {H5769}: and mine eyes {H5869} and mine heart {H3820} shall be there perpetually {H3117}.

For now I have chosen and consecrated this house, so that my name can be there forever; my eyes and heart will always be there.

For I have now chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will be there for all time.

For now have I chosen and hallowed this house, that my name may be there for ever; and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.

Commentary

Context

This powerful declaration from God in 2 Chronicles 7:16 comes immediately after His appearance to King Solomon by night, following the magnificent dedication of the newly completed Temple in Jerusalem. Solomon had just offered an extensive prayer, asking God to hear the petitions of His people from this holy place (2 Chronicles 6). God's response, beginning in 2 Chronicles 7:12, affirms His acceptance of the Temple and His commitment to it as a central place of worship and encounter with Him.

Key Themes

  • Divine Choice and Sanctification: God explicitly states, "For now have I chosen and sanctified this house." This highlights God's sovereign initiative in selecting and setting apart the Temple for His divine purposes. It wasn't merely a grand human construction; it was a place consecrated by God Himself.
  • God's Enduring Presence and Name: The phrase "that my name may be there for ever" signifies that the Temple was to be the designated place where God's character, authority, and covenant presence would be uniquely manifested. His 'name' represents His very being. This promise of His presence was not fleeting but eternal.
  • Perpetual Attention and Care: "And mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually" conveys God's unwavering focus, affection, and commitment to this sacred space and, by extension, to the people who would seek Him there. It speaks to God's deep desire for relationship and His constant watchfulness over His chosen sanctuary. This echoes earlier promises of God dwelling among His people, as seen with the Tabernacle in Exodus.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "chosen" is bachar (בָּחַר), which implies a deliberate act of selection and preference. "Sanctified" comes from qadash (קָדַשׁ), meaning to make holy, to consecrate, or to set apart for sacred use. These terms emphasize the Temple's unique status, not due to its physical grandeur, but because of God's divine designation. The word "perpetually" is tamid (תָּמִיד), conveying continuity and eternity, underscoring the enduring nature of God's commitment.

Practical Application

While the physical Temple in Jerusalem no longer stands, the principles revealed in this verse remain profoundly relevant. God's desire for a dwelling place among His people is eternal. In the New Testament, we learn that believers, individually and corporately, become the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16). This means God's "eyes" and "heart" are perpetually on His people, the Church. This verse encourages us to:

  • Recognize God's Presence: Understand that God desires to dwell with us and manifest His presence in our lives and communities.
  • Live Consecrated Lives: Just as the Temple was sanctified, we are called to live holy lives, set apart for God's purposes, recognizing that our bodies are His temple.
  • Seek God with Confidence: Knowing that God's "eyes and heart" are perpetually focused on His people should inspire us to approach Him in prayer and worship with assurance, trusting in His unwavering love and commitment.
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Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 7:15 (10 votes)

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

  • 2 Chronicles 7:12 (8 votes)

    ¶ And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.

  • 2 Chronicles 6:5 (7 votes)

    Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:

  • 2 Chronicles 6:6 (7 votes)

    But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

  • 1 Kings 9:3 (6 votes)

    And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

  • 2 Chronicles 6:20 (5 votes)

    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.

  • John 2:19 (4 votes)

    Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.