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2 Chronicles 2:6

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.

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

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?

7 Send me, therefore, a craftsman skilled in engraving to work with gold and silver, with bronze and iron, and with purple, crimson, and blue yarn. He will work with my craftsmen in Judah and Jerusalem, whom my father David provided.

8 Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants have skill to cut timber there. And indeed, my servants will work with yours

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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?
KJV
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?
WEB
But 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?
ASV
But 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?
DARBY
But 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?
BLB
And who can keep strength to build unto Him a temple, since the heavens and the heavens of the heavens cannot contain Him? And who [am] I that I should build unto Him a temple, for but to burn sacrifices before Him?
ÅB
Men hvem makter vel å bygge ham et hus? Himlene og himlenes himler rommer ham ikke. Hvem er da jeg, at jeg skulle bygge ham et hus? Jeg vil bare brenne røkelse for hans åsyn.
OTB
Men hvem er i stand til å bygge et hus for Ham,
siden himlene og de høyeste himler ikke kan romme Ham?
Så hvem er jeg, at jeg skulle bygge et hus for Ham,
annet enn som et sted å brenne røkelse for Ham?
B1930
Men hvem makter vel å bygge ham et hus? Himlene og himlenes himler rummer ham ikke. Hvem er da jeg, at jeg skulde bygge ham et hus? Jeg vil bare brenne røkelse for hans åsyn.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Chronicles 6:18

    But will God indeed dwell with man upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.

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  • 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?

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  • 1 Kings 8:27

    But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.

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  • Acts 7:48–49

    However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:

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  • 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.

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  • Exodus 3:11

    But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

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  • 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?”

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  • 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?

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