II Chronicles 6:39 · Bible study
2 Chronicles 6:39 Commentary: God Hears and Forgives
Hebrew · 4 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Solomon's plea for God to hear from heaven and forgive repentant Israel. Study the temple as a focal point for prayer and divine forgiveness.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God hears from heaven the repentant prayers of his people and forgives them, restoring their covenant relationship.
- Key words: shama (hear, listen with intent to act), salach (forgive, reserved for divine action), mishpat (justice or cause, legal standing before God).
- Main debate: Whether the temple remains a necessary focal point for prayer; Christians generally view Christ as the true temple (John 2:19, 21).
- Theological theme: The interplay of divine justice and mercy in forgiveness, requiring genuine repentance.
- Best use: A model for corporate confession and a source of hope in times of spiritual exile.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, their prayer and petition, and may You uphold their cause. May You forgive Your people who sinned against You.
WEB World English Bible 2000
then hear from heaven, even from your dwelling place, their prayer and their petitions, and maintain their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
then hear thou from heaven, even from thy dwelling-place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people who have sinned against thee.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
then Thou hast heard from the heavens, from the settled place of Thy dwelling, their prayer and their supplications, and hast maintained their cause, and forgiven Thy people who have sinned against Thee.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
then hear thou from the heavens, from the settled place of thy dwelling, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their right, and forgive thy people their sin against thee.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Then hear thou from heaven, that is, from thy firm dwelling place, their prayers, and do judgment, and forgive thy people, although they have sinned:
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Tú oirás desde los cielos, desde el lugar de tu morada, su oración y su ruego, y ampararás su causa, y perdonarás á tu pueblo que pecó contra ti.
Tu ouvirás desde os céus, desde o lugar de tua morada, sua oração e seu rogo, e ampararás sua causa, e perdoarás a teu povo que pecou contra ti.
exauce des cieux, du lieu de ta demeure, leurs prières et leurs supplications, et fais-leur droit; pardonne à ton peuple ses péchés contre toi!
so wollest du ihr Gebet und Flehen hören vom Himmel, vom Sitz deiner Wohnung, und ihnen zu ihrem Recht helfen und deinem Volk gnädig sein, das an dir gesündigt hat.
Hoor dan uit den hemel, uit de vaste plaats Uwer woning, hun gebed en hun smekingen, en voer hun recht uit, en vergeef Uw volk, wat zij tegen U gezondigd zullen hebben.
esaudisci dal cielo, dal luogo della tua dimora, la loro preghiera e le loro supplicazioni, e fa’ loro ragione; perdona al tuo popolo che ha peccato contro di te!
Wysłuchajże z nieba, z miejsca mieszkania twego, modlitwę ich i prośbę ich, a wykonaj sąd ich, i odpuść ludowi twemu, który tobie zgrzeszył.
тогда услышь с неба, с места обитания Твоего, молитву их и прошение их, и сделай, что потребно для них, и прости народу Твоему, в чем он согрешил пред Тобою.
求你從 天上 你的居 所 垂聽 你民的禱告 祈求，為他們伸冤，赦免他們 的 過犯。
Then give ear from heaven your living-place to their prayer and their cry, and see right done to them, answering with forgiveness your people who have done wrong against you.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Chronicles 6:39
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse captures the heart of Solomon's dedication prayer: God's dwelling is heaven, yet he promises to hear prayers directed toward the temple. Matthew Henry notes that Solomon 'here teaches them to pray' and to expect forgiveness even after exile. The Cambridge Bible identifies this as the section concerning 'the prayer of Israel in captivity.' The key theological point is that the temple functions not as a container for God but as a point of contact, a place where God's name dwells and toward which his people can orient their faith. The verb 'forgive' (salach) is a distinct Old Testament term reserved for divine forgiveness, showing that only God can clear the guilt of sin. The plea to 'maintain their cause' (mishpatam) restores not just their standing with God but their legal identity as his covenant people. The consensus is clear: God hears repentant prayers and restores his people, even from exile.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse teaches that when God's repentant people pray, he hears from heaven and forgives them, restoring their covenant standing.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The temple as a focal point for prayer | Christians agree that the temple was the designated place for God's name, and that praying toward it was a legitimate expression of faith in the Old Testament. | Some traditions see the temple as a type of Christ and continue to orient prayer toward Jerusalem or church buildings; others argue that with Christ, the need for physical orientation is abolished, since believers approach God directly through him. |
| The nature of God's dwelling | All traditions affirm that God is not confined to a building but dwells in heaven (cf. 2 Chron 6:18, 6:39). | The disagreement lies in how God's presence is mediated: some view the temple as a sacramental sign of God's presence on earth, while others see it as purely symbolic, with God's real presence only in heaven. |
| Forgiveness and repentance | Forgiveness is a divine gift conditioned on genuine repentance, as modeled in verses 37, 39. | Different Christian traditions emphasize various expressions of repentance: some require confession to a priest or elders, while others hold that private confession to God is sufficient, citing this prayer as an example. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The prayer of dedication recorded in 2 Chronicles 6 is one of the longest prayers in Scripture. According to the Cambridge Bible, it is divided into seven petitions, each responding to a different crisis Israel might face. Verse 39 is the climax of the final petition: the prayer of Israel in captivity. This section anticipates a future Solomon could already foresee, disobedience leading to exile. The temple was built as a 'house for the name of Yahweh' (2 Chronicles 6:5, 6), but Solomon himself confessed that 'heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain him' (v. 18). The practice of praying toward the temple (v. 38) was not superstition; it was a concrete expression of faith in God's covenant promises. Matthew Henry notes that Solomon 'teaches them to pray' in this way, so that even when far from home, they could orient themselves toward God's chosen place. The language of 'maintain their cause' (mishpat) recalls the covenant lawsuit: God, as judge, vindicates his people when they confess their sin. Ellicott's commentary (on vv. 36, 38) observes a climax in the confession: 'we have slipped, we have done crookedly, we have been godless.' This verse, then, is the turning point, a plea that God's justice and mercy meet in forgiveness.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Cambridge Bible observes that the passage reproduces 1 Kings 8:22, 50 with verbal changes and the omission of verses 50, 53, but these are editorial rather than textual variants.
Reception History
Jewish tradition has long valued this prayer as a pattern for repentance and restoration, and it is reflected in synagogue liturgy for times of national penitence. Christians from the patristic era onward have read the temple as a foreshadowing of Christ, through whom believers approach God's heavenly throne. Matthew Henry's commentary highlights the verse as teaching God's readiness to forgive. In both traditions, the verse has been quoted in sermons on repentance and the assurance of pardon, affirming that no exile is beyond the reach of God's mercy.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God hears from heaven. He is not confined to the temple, yet he promises to listen (v. 39a). This affirms both God's transcendence and his attentiveness.
- God maintains his people's cause. Sin forfeits covenant standing, but God restores his people when they repent (v. 39b). The word mishpat implies a legal restoration, not just pardon.
- God forgives. The verb salach in Hebrew is used only of divine forgiveness. Only God can clear guilt (v. 39c). This is the heart of the prayer.
Five-point outline
- The context of exile. Sin leads to judgment, but repentance opens the door for mercy (vv. 36, 37).
- The posture of prayer. Turning toward the temple is a physical act of faith in God's promises (v. 38).
- The content of petition. Hear, maintain cause, forgive, these three requests cover the whole scope of restoration.
- The condition of confession. Solomon models the words of repentance (v. 37) as necessary for forgiveness.
- The character of God. He is both just (maintaining cause) and merciful (forgiving). This prayer trusts God to be both.
Illustration hooks
- A child who runs away from home and finally calls, hoping to be welcomed back. The phone call itself is an act of turning, and the parent's response is grace.
- A courtroom scene where the judge not only dismisses the case but restores the defendant's full rights. That is what 'maintain their cause' suggests, more than acquittal, it is reinstatement.
- Praying toward a church building not because God is locked inside, but because the physical direction focuses faith on God's promises. Many Christians still find it meaningful to face a cross or an altar when praying.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God hear my prayer even if I'm not in a church building?
- Can I be forgiven after a sin that feels too big?
- How do I know if my repentance is genuine enough?
Leading a Discussion
Solomon's prayer envisions the worst-case scenario: God's people exiled because of their sin. Yet even then, Solomon dares to ask for forgiveness. This passage invites us to examine our own confidence in God's mercy when we have failed.
Discussion questions
- What does verse 39 reveal about Solomon's understanding of God's character?
- Why does Solomon ask God to 'maintain their cause' in addition to forgiving them? What does that tell us about the effects of sin?
- How does the temple function in this prayer? Is it necessary for God to hear? Read 2 Chronicles 6:18 alongside verse 39.
- What role does confession play in the forgiveness described here? Read verse 37 alongside verse 39.
- How might this prayer shape the way you pray after a personal failure?
- In what ways does Jesus fulfill the role of the temple as the place where we meet God and receive forgiveness?
- How can we encourage one another to pray with the same boldness and repentance that Solomon models?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| II Chronicles 6:35 | then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. |
| Psalms 25:18 | Consider my affliction and my travail. Forgive all my sins. |
| Micah 7:18 | Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn’t retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness. |
| Micah 7:20 | You will give truth to Jacob, and mercy to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old. |
| Zechariah 1:15 | I am very angry with the nations that are at ease; for I was but a little displeased, but they added to the calamity.” |
| Zechariah 1:16 | Therefore Yahweh says: “I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy. My house shall be built in it,” says Yahweh of Armies, “and a line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.”’ |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
3 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary breaks down Solomon's prayer into its distinct thematic sections, showing how each petition addresses a specific situation. It also notes that the bronze stand mentioned here is called a laver in Hebrew, and suggests that the word for "cause" is better translated as "right."
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note stresses that God's true dwelling is heaven, not the temple, so prayers must ascend there. Mercy flows only after judgment of the cause, showing that forgiveness follows honest confession, not mere ritual. God himself pleads the case of his repentant people.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry observes that Solomon, though a king on a raised platform, kneels low in prayer, showing that true worship humbles even the highest earthly dignity before God's infinite greatness. Solomon's opening words contrast God's unique majesty with His willingness to keep covenant with weak, walking servants.