New International Version and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; New Living Translation If they turn to you with their whole heart and soul in the land of their captivity and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors—toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name— English Standard Version if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity to which they were carried captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, Berean Standard Bible and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name, Berean Literal Bible and they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity where they have been carried captive, and they pray toward their land that You gave to their fathers, and the city that You have chosen, and toward the house that I have built for Your name, King James Bible If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name: New King James Version and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been carried captive, and pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and toward the temple which I have built for Your name: New American Standard Bible if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward their land which You have given to their fathers and the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your name, NASB 1995 if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward their land which You have given to their fathers and the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your name, NASB 1977 if they return to Thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward their land which Thou hast given to their fathers, and the city which Thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Thy name, Legacy Standard Bible and if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward their land which You have given to their fathers and the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your name, Amplified Bible if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, and pray facing their land which You have given to their fathers and toward the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your Name; Berean Annotated Bible and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name, Christian Standard Bible and when they return to you with all their mind and all their heart in the land of their captivity where they were taken captive, and when they pray in the direction of their land that you gave their ancestors, and the city you have chosen, and toward the temple I have built for your name, Holman Christian Standard Bible and when they return to You with their whole mind and heart in the land of their captivity where they were taken captive, and when they pray in the direction of their land that You gave their ancestors, and the city You have chosen, and toward the temple I have built for Your name, American Standard Version if they return unto thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name: English Revised Version if they return unto thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name: GOD'S WORD® Translation if they change their attitude toward you in the land where they are captives, if they pray to you toward the land that you gave their ancestors, and the city you have chosen, and the temple I have built for your name, Good News Translation If in that land they truly and sincerely repent and pray to you as they face toward this land which you gave to our ancestors, this city which you have chosen, and this Temple which I have built for you, International Standard Version if they return to you with all of their heart and with all of their soul in the land where they have been taken captive, as they pray in the direction of their land that you have given to their ancestors and to the city that you have chosen, and to the Temple that I have built for your name, NET Bible When they return to you with all their heart and being in the land where they are held prisoner and direct their prayers toward the land you gave to their ancestors, your chosen city, and the temple I built for your honor, New Heart English Bible if they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, and the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for your name: Webster's Bible Translation If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray towards their land which thou gavest to their fathers, and towards the city which thou hast chosen, and towards the house which I have built for thy name: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleand when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name, World English Bible if they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward their land which you gave to their fathers, and the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for your name; Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionindeed, they have turned back to You with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their captivity, to where they have taken them captive, and they have prayed [in] the way of their land that You have given to their fathers, and of the city that You have chosen, and of the house that I have built for Your Name— Berean Literal Bible and they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity where they have been carried captive, and they pray toward their land that You gave to their fathers, and the city that You have chosen, and toward the house that I have built for Your name, Young's Literal Translation yea, they have turned back unto Thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their captivity, whither they have taken them captive, and they have prayed the way of their land that Thou hast given to their fathers, and of the city that Thou hast chosen, and of the house that I have built for Thy name: Smith's Literal Translation And they turned back to thee with all their heart and with all their soul into the land of their captivity where they carried them away captive; and they prayed the way of their land which thou gavest to their fathers, and the city which thou Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd return to thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their captivity, to which they were led away, and adore thee towards the way of their own land which thou gavest their fathers, and of the city, which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built to thy name: Catholic Public Domain Version and if they will have returned to you, with their whole heart and with their whole soul, in the land of their captivity to which they were led away, and if they will adore you in the direction of their own land, which you gave to their fathers, and of the city, which you have chosen, and of the house, which I have built to your name, New American Bible if with all their heart and soul they turn back to you in the land of those who took them captive, and pray toward their land which you gave their ancestors, the city you have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name, New Revised Standard Version if they repent with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity, to which they were taken captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their ancestors, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIf they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity to which they were carried captive, and pray toward their land which thou gavest to their fathers and toward the city which thou hast chosen for thyself and toward the house which I have built for thy name; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they will return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the city of their captivity where they took them captive, and they will pray in the road of the land that you have given to their fathers, the city that you have chosen for yourself and the house that I have built for your name. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917if they return unto Thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which Thou gavest unto their fathers, and the city which Thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Thy name; Brenton Septuagint Translation and if they shall turn to thee with all their heart and all their soul in the land of them that carried them captives, whither they carried them captives, and shall pray toward their land which thou gavest to their fathers, and the city which thou didst choose, and the house which I built to thy name: - Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Solomon's Prayer of Dedication…37and when they come to their senses in the land to which they were taken, and they repent and plead with You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly,’ 38and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name, 39then 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.… Cross References and when they return to You with all their heart and soul Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 30:2 and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey His voice with all your heart and all your soul according to everything I am giving you today, Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. in the land of the enemies who took them captive 1 Kings 8:46 When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to his own land, whether far or near, Leviticus 26:39-42 Those of you who survive in the lands of your enemies will waste away in their iniquity and will decay in the sins of their fathers. / But if they will confess their iniquity and that of their fathers in the unfaithfulness that they practiced against Me, by which they have also walked in hostility toward Me— / and I acted with hostility toward them and brought them into the land of their enemies—and if their uncircumcised hearts will be humbled and they will make amends for their iniquity, … Deuteronomy 30:1-5 “When all these things come upon you—the blessings and curses I have set before you—and you call them to mind in all the nations to which the LORD your God has banished you, / and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey His voice with all your heart and all your soul according to everything I am giving you today, / then He will restore you from captivity and have compassion on you and gather you from all the nations to which the LORD your God has scattered you. … and when they pray in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers 1 Kings 8:48 and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray to You in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name, Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Nehemiah 1:8-9 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, / but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’ the city You have chosen 1 Kings 11:36 I will give one tribe to his son, so that My servant David will always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put My Name. 2 Kings 21:7 Manasseh even took the carved Asherah pole he had made and set it up in the temple, of which the LORD had said to David and his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will establish My Name forever. Psalm 132:13-14 For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home: / “This is My resting place forever and ever; here I will dwell, for I have desired this home. and the house I have built for Your Name 1 Kings 9:3 And the LORD said to him: “I have heard your prayer and petition before Me. I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting My Name there forever; My eyes and My heart will be there for all time. 2 Chronicles 7:16 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. 1 Kings 8:29 May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. Daniel 9:4-19 And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments, / we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances. / We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, fathers, and all the people of the land. … Treasury of Scripture If they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, and toward the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for your name: return Deuteronomy 30:2-6 And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; … Jeremiah 29:12-14 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you… Hosea 14:1-4 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity… pray toward 2 Chronicles 33:11-13 Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon… Daniel 9:3,4 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: … the city 2 Chronicles 6:34 If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name; Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Jump to Previous Built Captive Captives Captivity Carried Chosen City Fathers Gavest Heart House Soul Towards WhitherJump to Next Built Captive Captives Captivity Carried Chosen City Fathers Gavest Heart House Soul Towards Whither2 Chronicles 6 1. Solomon, having blessed the people, blessed God12. Solomon's prayer in the consecration of the temple, upon the bronze platform. and when they return to You with all their heart and soul Repentance must involve the whole person, marked by a sincere rejection of sin and renewed allegiance to God. Even after judgment, Israel would not be beyond restoration if the people turned back to Him genuinely. Deu 4:29 But if from there you will seek the LORD your God,… in the land of the enemies who took them captive, Exile would place Israel under foreign power because of persistent disobedience. Yet captivity would not remove them from God’s rule or prevent Him from hearing their prayers. 1Ki 8:46 When they sin against You—for there is no one… and when they pray in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, Facing the land expressed confidence in God’s covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and hope for return to the inheritance He had given Israel. 1Ki 8:48 and when they return to You with all their heart and soul… the city You have chosen, Jerusalem was the place God selected for His name and for the central worship of Israel. Its significance rested on God’s choice and the presence of the temple. 1Ki 11:36 I will give one tribe to his son, so that My servant David… and the house I have built for Your Name, Solomon’s temple was dedicated to the honor of God and served as the appointed center for sacrifice, prayer, and worship. It testified that God had placed His name among His people, though He was not confined to the building. 1Ki 9:3 And the LORD said to him: “I have heard your prayer… Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonThe king of Israel who built the temple in Jerusalem and is offering this prayer of dedication. 2. Israelites The people of Israel who may find themselves in captivity due to disobedience and are the subject of Solomon's intercessory prayer. 3. Jerusalem The city chosen by God, where the temple was built, and toward which the Israelites are instructed to pray. 4. The Temple The house built by Solomon for the Name of the Lord, serving as a focal point for worship and prayer. 5. Captivity The condition of being taken away from their homeland, which Solomon anticipates as a consequence of Israel's future disobedience. Teaching Points Repentance and ReturnTrue repentance involves a heartfelt return to God, acknowledging past disobedience and seeking His forgiveness. The Power of Prayer Prayer is a powerful tool for restoration and reconciliation with God, especially when directed with sincerity and faith. Significance of Place The physical act of praying toward Jerusalem symbolizes a spiritual orientation toward God's promises and presence. God's Faithfulness Despite the consequences of disobedience, God remains faithful to His covenant and is willing to restore His people upon their repentance. Community and Intercession Solomon's prayer highlights the importance of interceding for others, recognizing the communal aspect of faith and repentance. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 6:38?2. How does 2 Chronicles 6:38 emphasize the importance of heartfelt repentance and prayer? 3. What role does "turn back to You" play in restoring a relationship with God? 4. How can we apply Solomon's prayer in 2 Chronicles 6:38 to our lives? 5. How does 2 Chronicles 6:38 connect with 1 John 1:9 about confession? 6. What steps can we take to ensure our prayers align with God's will? 7. What is the historical context of 2 Chronicles 6:38? 8. How does 2 Chronicles 6:38 relate to the theme of repentance? 9. What archaeological evidence supports the events in 2 Chronicles 6? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Chronicles 6? (38) In the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives.--Kings, "in the land of their enemies who carried them captives." The Syriac has, "in the cities of their captors who carried them captive." Perhaps their captivity is a corruption of their captors; or the relative ('asher), rendered whither, may refer to land, meaning the hostile nation, "in the land of their captivity which carried them captive."Solomon’s plea in 2 Chronicles 6:38 shows that genuine, whole-hearted repentance, even from foreign soil, reaches God’s heart. By facing the promised land, chosen city, and dedicated house, exiles declared unwavering trust in God’s covenant, His redemptive agenda centered in Jerusalem, and His provision for atonement. The verse teaches that no matter how far sin scatters God’s people, humble return and faith-filled prayer open the way to forgiveness and restoration. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew and when they returnוְשָׁ֣בוּ (wə·šā·ḇū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again to You אֵלֶ֗יךָ (’ê·le·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to with all בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every their heart לִבָּם֙ (lib·bām) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre and וּבְכָל־ (ū·ḇə·ḵāl) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every soul נַפְשָׁ֔ם (nap̄·šām) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion in the land בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (bə·’e·reṣ) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 776: Earth, land of the enemies שִׁבְיָ֖ם (šiḇ·yām) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 7633: Captivity, captives who אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that took them captive, שָׁב֣וּ (šā·ḇū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 7617: To transport into captivity and when they pray וְהִֽתְפַּֽלְל֗וּ (wə·hiṯ·pal·lū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 6419: To judge, to intercede, pray in the direction דֶּ֤רֶךְ (de·reḵ) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action of the land אַרְצָם֙ (’ar·ṣām) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 776: Earth, land that אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that You gave נָתַ֣תָּה (nā·ṯat·tāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set to their fathers, לַאֲבוֹתָ֔ם (la·’ă·ḇō·w·ṯām) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 1: Father the city וְהָעִיר֙ (wə·hā·‘îr) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5892: Excitement You have chosen, בָּחַ֔רְתָּ (bā·ḥar·tā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 977: To try, select and the house וְלַבַּ֖יִת (wə·lab·ba·yiṯ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1004: A house I have built בָּנִ֥יתִי (bā·nî·ṯî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 1129: To build for Your Name, לִשְׁמֶֽךָ׃ (liš·me·ḵā) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 8034: A name Additonal Resources 2 Chronicles 6:38 Blue Letter Bible2 Chronicles 6:38 Bible Gateway 2 Chronicles 6:38 Bible.com 2 Chronicles 6:38 NIV |
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