2 Chronicles 2:4

Behold, I am about to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God to dedicate to Him for burning fragrant incense before Him, for displaying the showbread continuously, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening as well as on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts of the LORD our God. This is ordained for Israel forever.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Solomon addresses Hiram king of Tyre while announcing his intention to construct a temple for Yahweh. This declaration follows his stated purpose to build a house for the Name of the LORD and a royal palace for himself.

The words — The Hebrew verb בֹּנֶה (boneh) means "building" or "about to build," directly modifying בַּיִת (bayit) for "house." The prepositional phrase לְשֵׁם יְהוָה (leshe Yahweh) translates literally as "for the Name of Yahweh," marking the structure's dedication to God's presence.

The thread — The text's mention of displaying the showbread and burning fragrant incense corresponds to the rituals outlined in Exodus 25:30 and Exodus 30:7. These liturgical duties are explicitly tied to the ongoing worship practices established for Israel.

Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to note that the temple's primary function is the execution of specific, timed sacrifices and offerings rather than architectural scale. It establishes these duties as a permanent ordinance that Israel must continuously observe.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

הִנֵּה֩hi.Nehhere!אֲנִ֨י'a.NiI בֽוֹנֶה־vo.neh-[am] about to build בַּ֜יִתBa.yita house לְשֵׁ֣ם׀le./Shemfor/ [the] name of יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהָ֗י'e.lo.Ha/iGod/ my לְהַקְדִּ֣ישׁle./hak.Dishto/ consecrate [it]ל֡וֹl/oto/ himלְהַקְטִ֣ירle./hak.Tirto/ make smoke לְפָנָ֣יוle./fa.Na/v<to>/ before/ him קְטֹֽרֶת־ke.to.ret-incense of סַמִּים֩sa.Mimperfume<s>וּמַעֲרֶ֨כֶתu./ma.'a.Re.khetand/ [the] row of תָּמִ֤ידta.Midcontinuity וְעֹלוֹת֙ve./'o.lOtand/ burnt offerings לַבֹּ֣קֶרla./Bo.kerfor the/ morning וְלָעֶ֔רֶבve./la./'E.revand/ for the/ evening לַשַּׁבָּתוֹת֙la./sha.ba.tOtfor the/ sabbaths וְלֶ֣חֳדָשִׁ֔יםve./Le./cho.da.Shimand/ for the/ new moons וּֽלְמוֹעֲדֵ֖יu./le./mo.'a.Deiand/ for/ [the] appointed times of יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ'e.lo.Hei./nuGod/ our לְעוֹלָ֖םle./'o.Lamfor/ ever זֹ֥אתzotthis עַל־'al-[is] on יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElIsrael

King James Version

Behold, I build an house to the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the Lord our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.

Cross-references

Exodus 30:7 And Aaron is to burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps.
Exodus 25:30 And place the Bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times.
2 Chronicles 2:1 Now Solomon purposed to build a house for the Name of the LORD and a royal palace for himself.
Leviticus 23:1 Then the LORD said to Moses,
Leviticus 24:5 You are also to take fine flour and bake twelve loaves, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf,
Numbers 28:1 Then the LORD said to Moses,
1 Kings 8:18 But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Since it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you have done well to have this in your heart.
1 Kings 8:63 And Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the house of the LORD.
Exodus 29:38 This is what you are to offer regularly on the altar, each day: two lambs that are a year old.