2 Chronicles 2 · Verse 6

2 Chronicles 2:6

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?
2 Chronicles 2:6, King James Version

2 Chronicles 2:6 in other translations

BSBBut 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?
WEBBut who is able to build him a house, since heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain him? Who am I then, that I should build him a house, except just to burn incense before him?
ASVBut who is able to build him a house, seeing heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him a house, save only to burn incense before him?
YLTand who doth retain strength to build to Him a house, for the heavens, even the heavens of the heavens, do not contain Him? and who am I that I do build to Him a house, except to make perfume before Him?
DARBYBut who is able to build him a house, seeing the heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him? And who am I that I should build him a house, except to burn sacrifice before him?
BBEBut who may have strength enough to make a house for him, seeing that the heaven and the heaven of heavens are not wide enough to be his resting-place? who am I then to make a house for him? But I am building it only for the burning of perfume before him.
WebsterBut who is able to build him a house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then that I should build him a house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?

What does 2 Chronicles 2:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Chronicles 2:3-6

3-6. Solomon sent to Huram--The correspondence was probably conducted on both sides in writing (2Ch 2:11; also see on 1Ki 5:8). As thou didst deal with David my father--This would seem decisive of the question whether the Huram then reigning in Tyre was David's friend (see on 1Ki 5:1-6). In opening the business, Solomon grounded his request for Tyrian aid on two reasons: 1. The temple he proposed to build must be a…

Read the full comment on 2 Chronicles 2:3-6 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 Seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens - "For the lower heavens, the middle heavens, and the upper heavens cannot contain him, seeing he sustains all things by the arm of his power. Heaven is the throne of his glory, the earth his footstool; the deep, and the whole world, are sustained by the spirit of his Word, [ברוח מימריה beruach meqmereih]. Who am I, then, that I should build him a house?" - Targum. Save only to burn sacrifice - It is not under the hope that the house shall be able to contain him, but merely for the purpose of burning incense to him, and offering him sacrifice, that I have erected it.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

2 Chronicles 2:6 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וּמִ֤יu.Miand who?H4310
יַעֲצָר\־ya.'a.tzor-will he retainH6113
כֹּ֙חַ֙ko.achstrengthH3581
לִבְנֽוֹת\־Liv.not-to buildH1129
ל֣וֹlofor him
בַ֔יִתVa.yita houseH1004
כִּ֧יkiforH3588
הַשָּׁמַ֛יִםha.sha.Ma.yimthe heavensH8064
וּשְׁמֵ֥יu.she.Meiand [the] heavens ofH8064
הַשָּׁמַ֖יִםha.sha.Ma.yimthe heavensH8064
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
יְכַלְכְּלֻ֑הוּye.khal.ke.Lu.huthey will contain himH3557
וּמִ֤יu.Miand who?H4310
אֲנִי֙'a.Ni[am] IH589
אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherthatH834
אֶבְנֶה\־'ev.neh-I will buildH1129
לּ֣וֹlofor him
בַ֔יִתVa.yita houseH1004
כִּ֖יkithatH3588
אִם\־'im-exceptH518
לְהַקְטִ֥ירle.hak.Tirto make smokeH6999
לְפָנָֽיו\׃le.fa.Nav<to> before himH6440

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Chronicles 2:6

  • 2 Chronicles 6:18

    But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!

  • Isaiah 66:1

    Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

  • 1 Kings 8:27

    But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

  • Acts 7:48-49

    Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

  • 1 Chronicles 29:14

    But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

  • Exodus 3:11

    And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

  • 2 Chronicles 1:10

    Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

  • 2 Samuel 7:18

    Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

  • Deuteronomy 12:5-6

    But unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:

  • 2 Corinthians 2:16

    To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

  • Deuteronomy 12:26

    Only thy holy things which thou hast, and thy vows, thou shalt take, and go unto the place which the Lord shall choose:

  • Deuteronomy 12:14

    But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
But who.
6:18; 1Ki 8:27; Isa 66:1; Ac 7:48,49
is able. Heb. hath returned, or obtained strength. who am Ithen.
1:10; Ex 3:11; 2Sa 7:18; 1Ch 29:14; 2Co 2:16; Eph 3:8
save only.
De 12:5,6,11,14,26

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Chronicles 2:5

    And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.

  • 2 Chronicles 2:6

    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?

  • 2 Chronicles 2:7

    Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.

Read all of 2 Chronicles 2

2 Chronicles 2:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Mas ¿quién será tan poderoso que le edifique casa? Los cielos y los cielos de los cielos no le pueden comprender; ¿quién pues soy yo, que le edifique casa, sino para quemar perfumes delante de él?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et maintenant, envoie-moi un homme habile à travailler en or, et en argent, et en airain, et en fer, et en pourpre, et en cramoisi, et en bleu, et qui sache graver, avec les hommes habiles qui sont auprès de moi en Juda et à Jérusalem et que David, mon père, a préparés.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Aber wer vermöchte ihm ein Haus zu bauen? denn die Himmel und der Himmel Himmel können ihn nicht fassen. Und wer bin ich, daß ich ihm ein Haus bauen sollte, es sei denn, um vor ihm zu räuchern?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Quis ergo poterit prævalere, ut ædificet ei dignam domum? si cælum, et cæli cælorum, capere eum nequeunt, quantus ego sum, ut possim ædificare ei domum? sed ad hoc tantum, ut adoleatur incensum coram illo.