What does 2 Chronicles 6:36 mean?
"If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;" - 2 Chronicles 6:36
2 Chronicles 6:36 (KJV) reads, "If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;"
This verse is part of King Solomon's prayer of dedication after the completion of the temple in Jerusalem. In this prayer, Solomon acknowledges the inevitability of human sin and the consequences that come with it.
The first part of the verse, "If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,)" recognizes the fallen nature of humanity. It echoes the sentiment expressed in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." This acknowledgment of human sinfulness is a central theme throughout the Bible, emphasizing the need for redemption and the grace of God.
Solomon's prayer continues to address the consequences of sin, stating, "and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies." Here, Solomon understands that sin provokes the anger of God and leads to divine judgment. This reflects the Old Testament understanding of God's justice and the covenant relationship between God and his people. In the context of the Israelites, disobedience led to God's discipline, often through military defeat and exile.
The verse goes on to describe the result of God's anger and judgment, "and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near." This captivity is a punishment for the people's sin, as they are removed from their homeland and taken as captives to a distant land. This imagery draws on the historical experiences of the Israelites, particularly the Babylonian exile, and serves as a warning of the consequences of turning away from God.
Symbolically, this verse represents the consequences of sin and the importance of repentance and reconciliation. It underscores the idea that when people stray from God, they face the risk of separation from Him and the suffering that comes with it. It also emphasizes the need for humility and recognition of one's own sinful nature, as no one is exempt from the temptation to sin.
In the broader context of 2 Chronicles, this verse is part of Solomon's prayer for God's presence and favor to dwell in the newly built temple. It highlights the importance of acknowledging sin and seeking forgiveness as a prerequisite for experiencing God's mercy and restoration. The temple itself serves as a symbol of God's presence among His people and the opportunity for repentance and reconciliation.
Overall, 2 Chronicles 6:36 provides a sobering reflection on the reality of human sin and the serious consequences that come with it. It serves as a reminder of the need for humility, repentance, and reliance on God's grace. The verse also points to the central themes of judgment, exile, and restoration that run throughout the Old Testament, ultimately pointing to the redemptive work of Christ in the New Testament.
Have questions about 2 Chronicles 6:36?
Dive deeper into this scripture with Bible Chat — an AI-powered tool for exploring God's Word through conversation. Ask questions, get context, and grow in your understanding of the Bible.
Get Our Apps
2 Chronicles 6:36 Artwork
2 Chronicles 6:36 - "If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;"
"If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;" - 2 Chronicles 6:36
2 Chronicles 36:6 - "Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon."
2 Chronicles 36:22
1 Chronicles 6:36 - "The son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,"
1 Chronicles 2:36 - "And Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad,"
"Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon." - 2 Chronicles 36:6
2 Chronicles 36:2 - "Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem."
2 Chronicles 29:36 - "And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly."
2 Chronicles 20:36 - "And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion-geber."
2 Chronicles 36:7 - "Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon."
"The son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah," - 1 Chronicles 6:36
2 Kings 15:36 - "¶ Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Chronicles 36:3 - "And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in an hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold."
2 Chronicles 36:11 - "¶ Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem."
2 Chronicles 36:1 - "Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem."
"And Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad," - 1 Chronicles 2:36
2 Chronicles 36:12 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD."
2 Chronicles 36:18 - "And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon."
2 Chronicles 36:19 - "And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof."
2 Chronicles 6:13
2 Chronicles 36:16 - "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy."
2 Chronicles 36:20 - "And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:"
2 Chronicles 36:14 - "¶ Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem."
2 Chronicles 36:15 - "And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:"
2 Chronicles 36:9 - "¶ Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD."
2 Chronicles 36:10 - "And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem."
2 Chronicles 6:2 - "But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever."
2 Chronicles 36:21 - "To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years."
2 Chronicles 36:5 - "¶ Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God."