Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 6:23
then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Solomon addresses God during the temple dedication, outlining covenant responses to two specific scenarios: a neighbor dispute requiring an oath at the altar (2 Chronicles 6:22) and national defeat followed by confession in the temple (2 Chronicles 6:24).
The words — The Hebrew תִּשְׁמַע (tish.ma') translates literally to "you will hear" and שָׁפַטְתָּ (sha.fa.tá) to "you will judge," anchoring the prayer as a direct petition for divine attention and legal verdict.
The thread — The motif of divine hearing paired with judicial action recurs in Proverbs 17:15 against perverting justice, Isaiah 3:10 on the righteous receiving their labor's fruit, and Jeremiah 51:56 on the wicked facing retribution.
Why it lands — The text establishes that God's verdicts are triggered by covenant behavior, requiring readers to accept that divine reward and condemnation follow directly from human deeds without exception.
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
Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 17:15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.
- Isaiah 3:10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.
- Jeremiah 51:56 For a destroyer is coming against her—against Babylon. Her warriors will be captured, and their bows will be broken, for the LORD is a God of retribution; He will repay in full.
- Ezekiel 18:20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.
- Romans 2:9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek;
- Numbers 5:27 When he has made her drink the water, if she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, then the water that brings a curse will enter her and cause bitter suffering; her belly will swell, her thigh will shrivel, and she will become accursed among her people.
- Deuteronomy 25:1 If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned.
- 2 Kings 9:26 ‘As surely as I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons yesterday, declares the LORD, so will I repay you on this plot of ground, declares the LORD.’ Now then, according to the word of the LORD, pick him up and throw him on the plot of ground.”
- Psalms 10:14 But You have regarded trouble and grief; You see to repay it by Your hand. The victim entrusts himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.
- Proverbs 1:31 So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.