2 Chronicles 2:6

6 "But ¹who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except * to burn incense before Him?

2 Chronicles 2:6 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 2:6

But who is able to build him an house
Suitable to the greatness of his majesty, especially as he dwells not in temples made with hands:

seeing the heaven, and heaven of heavens, cannot contain him?
see ( 1 Kings 8:27 ) ,

who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn
sacrifice before him?
since God was an immense and infinite Being, be would have Hiram to understand that he had no thought of building an house, in which he could be circumscribed and contained, only a place in which he might be worshipped, and sacrifices offered to him.

2 Chronicles 2:6 In-Context

4 "Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, dedicating it to Him, to burn fragrant incense before Him and to set out the showbread continually, and to offer burnt offerings morning and evening, on sabbaths and on new moons and on the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, this being required forever in Israel.

5 "The house which I am about to build will be great, for greater is our God than all the gods.

6 "But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense before Him?

7 "Now send me a skilled man to work in gold, silver, brass and iron, and in purple, crimson and violet fabrics, and who knows how to make engravings, to work with the skilled men whom I have in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.

8 "Send me also cedar, cypress and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber of Lebanon; and indeed my servants will work with your servants,

Cross References

• 1. 1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 6:18

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "offer up in smoke"