2 Chronicles 2:6

But who is able to build a house for Him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain Him? Who then am I, that I should build a house for Him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before Him?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Solomon addresses Hiram of Tyre during the planning phase for the Jerusalem temple, immediately after declaring Yahweh's supremacy over all other deities. He frames the construction project within the reality of divine transcendence rather than architectural ambition.

The words — The verb יַעֲצָר (yaʿaṣer) literally means "to retain" or "hold," combined with כֹּחַ (koach, "strength") to denote capacity for containment. The phrase הַשָּׁמַיִם וּשְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם (haššāmayim ušĕmê haššāmayim) translates directly as "the heavens and the heavens of the heavens."

The thread — Solomon restates his own theological observation from 2 Chronicles 6:18 and aligns with the parallel account in 1 Kings 8:27 regarding divine inaccessibility to physical structures. Isaiah 66:1 develops the same theme by describing heaven as Yahweh’s throne and earth as His footstool.

Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that no human architecture can confine or house the Creator. It reduces the builder’s role to providing a designated location for sacrificial worship rather than claiming to house the divine presence.

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

King James Version

But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?

Cross-references

1 Kings 8:27 But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.
2 Chronicles 6:18 But will God indeed dwell with man upon the earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.
Isaiah 66:1 This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?
Acts 7:48 However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
Exodus 3:11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
Deuteronomy 12:5 Instead, you must seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to establish as a dwelling for His Name, and there you must go.
2 Samuel 7:18 Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
1 Chronicles 29:14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.
2 Chronicles 1:10 Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
Deuteronomy 12:14 you must offer them only in the place the LORD will choose in one of your tribal territories, and there you shall do all that I command you.