2 Chronicles 6:37 Meaning: What Repentance Really Looks Like
yet if they come to their senses in the land where they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication to you in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done perversely, and have dealt wickedly;’
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;
yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done perversely, and have dealt wickedly;
and they have turned it back unto their heart in the land whither they have been taken captive, and have turned back, and made supplication unto Thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done perversely, and have done wickedly;
and if they shall take it to heart in the land whither they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done iniquity and have dealt perversely;
Meaning in one sentence
Solomon prays for Israel in exile: coming to senses, turning, pleading, confessing. This is the shape of true repentance toward God.
Context
Solomon has just finished building the temple. Now he stands before the altar and prays, a long, open-hearted prayer about what will happen when God’s people fail. He knows they will sin. He knows that sin leads to consequences, even exile. So he asks God in advance to be ready to forgive. This verse comes in the section where Solomon imagines Israel carried off to a foreign land. He does not pray that they would be spared the exile. He prays that when they are there, they would come to their senses and turn back. The whole prayer is a request for mercy on the other side of failure.
Key Words
The Hebrew phrase behind come to their senses is literally bring back to their heart. The word for heart here is levav, not just feelings, but the whole inner self: mind, will, memory, conscience. To repent is not a new idea. It is returning to what you already know in your heart but have stopped listening to.
The verb turn is shuv, the great Old Testament word for repentance. It means to go back the way you came, to reverse direction. This is not a vague feeling of regret. It is movement, a deliberate turning away from the old path and toward God.
And the confession piles three words together: sinned (missed the mark), done perversely (twisted what is straight), acted wickedly (broken the relationship). They do not minimize. They name the full weight of what they have done. That is what repentance sounds like when it is real.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have seen this verse as a model of the repentance God desires. The Targum (an ancient Jewish paraphrase) opens the phrase this way: If thy fear should return into their hearts, suggesting that true repentance begins when the awe of God comes alive again in a person.
Reformed commentators like Matthew Henry place this prayer within the larger story of God’s covenant mercy: even when His people break every promise, He still prepares a way back. Catholic readers note that do penance (Douay-Rheims) is not about earning forgiveness, but about turning the whole self toward God. All traditions agree that this sequence, coming to oneself, turning, pleading, confessing, is the shape of heartfelt repentance, not a formula to recite.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think coming to their senses means nothing more than intellectual regret, realising the exile was a bad idea. In fact, the Hebrew pictures a return to the heart (levav), the core of a person. Repentance is not just knowing you were wrong. It is letting that knowledge reach the place where your choices live.
Living This Out
You might not be in a foreign land, but you know what it is to feel far from God. Maybe a habit pulled you away. Maybe you just drifted. This verse gives you a path. Start by letting your heart remember what it already knows. Do not stay stuck in shame, turn, and let turning be a real change of direction. Then speak the truth aloud. You do not need perfect words. God already knows. He is listening before you begin.
Main takeaway: Repentance is not a feeling but a journey home: come to your senses, turn toward God, and tell Him the truth about what you have done.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
When you do something wrong, the best thing is to stop, think, and tell God you are sorry. That is what it means to come back to Him.
For ages 9, 12
Solomon is praying ahead of time. He knows God’s people will mess up and be taken far away. But he also knows that when they finally stop and think, when they remember God and say, “We sinned, we did wrong”, God will be ready to forgive. True repentance is not just feeling bad. It is turning around and coming home.
Questions People Ask
What does 'come to their senses' mean in the original Hebrew?
The Hebrew phrase is literally 'bring back to their heart' (levav). It means more than just thinking, it involves the whole inner self: mind, will, conscience. Repentance begins when the truth about ourselves reaches that deep place.
Why does Solomon mention exile when he is praying at the temple dedication?
Solomon knows the people will sin and face consequences, including exile. He prays ahead of time so that when they are far away and finally turn back, God will remember this prayer and forgive them. It is a request for mercy prepared in advance.
Why does the confession use three different words for sin?
The three words, sinned, done perversely, acted wickedly, cover different angles: missing the mark, twisting what is right, and breaking relationship. Together they show that true repentance does not minimize the wrong. It names it honestly, without excuses.
How is this verse relevant for Christians today?
The same pattern applies: when you realize you have drifted from God, do not stay in guilt. Come to your senses (let your heart remember), turn back to God, and speak the truth to Him. He promises to hear. The prayer of Solomon shows that God always leaves a way home.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study