2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 2:1–6

¹Now Solomon purposed to build a house for the Name of the LORD and a royal palace for himself. ²So he conscripted 70,000 porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors.

³Then Solomon sent word to Hiram^a king of Tyre:

“Do for me as you did for my father David when you sent him cedars to build himself a house to live in. ⁴Behold, 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.

⁵The house that I am building will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. ⁶But 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?

Footnotes

a 2:3 Hebrew Huram, a variant of Hiram; also in verses 11 and 12

Read all of 2 Chronicles 2

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

2 Chronicles 2:1

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Now Solomon	שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה	šə·lō·mōh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8010 Solomon
purposed	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to build	לִבְנ֥וֹת	liḇ·nō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1129 build
a house	בַּ֙יִת֙	ba·yiṯ	Noun - masculine singular	H1004 house
for the Name	לְשֵׁ֣ם	lə·šêm	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct	H8034 name
of the LORD	יְהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
and a royal	לְמַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃	lə·mal·ḵū·ṯōw	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H4438 royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom
palace for himself	וּבַ֖יִת	ū·ḇa·yiṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H1004 house

2 Chronicles 2:2

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So he conscripted	וַיִּסְפֹּ֨ר	way·yis·pōr	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5608 count
70,000	שִׁבְעִ֥ים	šiḇ·‘îm	Number - common plural	H7657 seventy
porters	סַבָּ֔ל	sab·bāl	Noun - masculine singular	H5449 load, burden
80,000	וּשְׁמוֹנִ֥ים	ū·šə·mō·w·nîm	Conjunctive waw; Number - common plural	H8084 an eighty
stonecutters	חֹצֵ֣ב	ḥō·ṣêḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H2672 hew, hew out, cleave
in the mountains	בָּהָ֑ר	bā·hār	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H2022 mountain, hill, hill-country
and 3,600	שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת	šə·lō·šeṯ	Number - masculine singular construct	H7969 a three, triad
supervisors	וּמְנַצְּחִ֣ים	ū·mə·naṣ·ṣə·ḥîm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural	H5329 be pre-eminent, enduring

2 Chronicles 2:3

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then Solomon	שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה	šə·lō·mōh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8010 Solomon
sent	וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח	way·yiš·laḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7971 send
word to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Hiram	חוּרָ֥ם	ḥū·rām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H2361 Hiram
king	מֶֽלֶךְ־	me·leḵ-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4428 king
of Tyre	צֹ֖ר	ṣōr	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H6865 Tyre
Do for me as	כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר	ka·’ă·šer	Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
you did	עָשִׂ֙יתָ֙	‘ā·śî·ṯā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
for	עִם־	‘im-	Preposition	H5973 with
my father	אָבִ֔י	’ā·ḇî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H1 father
David	דָּוִ֣יד	dā·wîḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
when you sent	וַתִּֽשְׁלַֽח־	wat·tiš·laḥ-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular	H7971 send
him	ל֣וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
cedars	אֲרָזִ֔ים	’ă·rā·zîm	Noun - masculine plural	H730 cedar
to build	לִבְנֽוֹת־	liḇ·nō·wṯ-	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1129 build
himself	ל֥וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
a house	בַ֖יִת	ḇa·yiṯ	Noun - masculine singular	H1004 house
to live	לָשֶׁ֥בֶת	lā·še·ḇeṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
in	בּֽוֹ׃	bōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular

2 Chronicles 2:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Behold	הִנֵּה֩	hin·nêh	Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
I am about to build	בֽוֹנֶה־	ḇō·w·neh-	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H1129 build
a house	בַּ֜יִת	ba·yiṯ	Noun - masculine singular	H1004 house
for the Name	לְשֵׁ֣ם׀	lə·šêm	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct	H8034 name
of the LORD	יְהוָ֣ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
my God	אֱלֹהָ֗י	’ĕ·lō·hāy	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H430 God
to dedicate	לְהַקְדִּ֣ישׁ	lə·haq·dîš	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H6942 be set apart, consecrated
to Him	ל֡וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
for burning	לְהַקְטִ֣יר	lə·haq·ṭîr	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H6999 make sacrifices smoke, send them up in smoke
fragrant	סַמִּים֩	sam·mîm	Noun - masculine plural	H5561 spice
incense	קְטֹֽרֶת־	qə·ṭō·reṯ-	Noun - feminine singular construct	H7004 smoke, odour of (burning) sacrifice, incense
before Him	לְפָנָ֣יו	lə·p̄ā·nāw	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct; third person masculine singular	H6440 face, before
for displaying the showbread	וּמַעֲרֶ֨כֶת	ū·ma·‘ă·re·ḵeṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct	H4635 arrangement, pile
continuously	תָּמִ֤יד	tā·mîḏ	Adverb	H8548 continuity
and for making burnt offerings	וְעֹלוֹת֙	wə·‘ō·lō·wṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine plural	H5930 whole burnt-offering
every morning	לַבֹּ֣קֶר	lab·bō·qer	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1242 morning
and evening	וְלָעֶ֔רֶב	wə·lā·‘e·reḇ	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6153 (sun)set, evening
as well as on the Sabbaths	לַשַּׁבָּתוֹת֙	laš·šab·bā·ṯō·wṯ	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - common plural	H7676 Sabbath
New Moons	וְלֶ֣חֳדָשִׁ֔ים	wə·le·ḥo·ḏā·šîm	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H2320 (newness), new moon, month
and appointed feasts	וּֽלְמוֹעֲדֵ֖י	ū·lə·mō·w·‘ă·ḏê	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct	H4150 appointed time, place, meeting
of the LORD	יְהוָ֣ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
our God	אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ	’ĕ·lō·hê·nū	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common plural	H430 God
This	זֹ֥את	zōṯ	Pronoun - feminine singular	H2063 this
is ordained for	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
Israel forever	יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel

2 Chronicles 2:5

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The house	וְהַבַּ֛יִת	wə·hab·ba·yiṯ	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1004 house
that	אֲשֶׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
I	אֲנִ֥י	’ă·nî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
am building	בוֹנֶ֖ה	ḇō·w·neh	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H1129 build
will be great	גָּד֑וֹל	gā·ḏō·wl	Adjective - masculine singular	H1419 great
for	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
our God	אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ	’ĕ·lō·hê·nū	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common plural	H430 God
is greater	גָד֥וֹל	ḡā·ḏō·wl	Adjective - masculine singular	H1419 great
than all	מִכָּל־	mik·kāl	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
gods	הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃	hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H430 God

2 Chronicles 2:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But who	וּמִ֤י	ū·mî	Conjunctive waw; Interrogative	H4310 who?
is able	יַעֲצָר־	ya·‘ă·ṣār-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6113 restrain, retain
to build	לִבְנֽוֹת־	liḇ·nō·wṯ-	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1129 build
a house	בַ֔יִת	ḇa·yiṯ	Noun - masculine singular	H1004 house
for Him	ל֣וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
since	כִּ֧י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the heavens	הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם	haš·šā·ma·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8064 sky, aloft
even the highest heavens	וּשְׁמֵ֥י	ū·šə·mê	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct	H8064 sky, aloft
cannot	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
contain Him	יְכַלְכְּלֻ֑הוּ	yə·ḵal·kə·lu·hū	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural; third person masculine singular	H3557 comprehend, contain
Who then	וּמִ֤י	ū·mî	Conjunctive waw; Interrogative	H4310 who?
am I	אֲנִי֙	’ă·nî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
that	אֲשֶׁ֣ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
I should build	אֶבְנֶה־	’eḇ·neh-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H1129 build
a house	בַ֔יִת	ḇa·yiṯ	Noun - masculine singular	H1004 house
for Him	לּ֣וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
except	כִּ֖י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
to burn sacrifices	לְהַקְטִ֥יר	lə·haq·ṭîr	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H6999 make sacrifices smoke, send them up in smoke
before Him	לְפָנָֽיו׃	lə·p̄ā·nāw	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct; third person masculine singular	H6440 face, before