2 Chronicles 6:18

God's power and sovereignty God's holiness Humility

¹⁶ Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.

¹⁷ Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.

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!

¹⁹ Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee:

²⁰ That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.
KJV: 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!
WEB: “But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house which I have built!
ASV: 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 builded!
DARBY: But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? behold, the heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!
BLB: But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, the heavens, and the heavens of the heavens cannot contain You. How much less this house that I have built!

ÅB: Men bor da Gud virkelig hos menneskene på jorden? Se, himlene og himlenes himler rommer deg ikke; hvor meget mindre da dette hus som jeg har bygget!
OTB: Men vil Gud virkelig bo med menneskene på jorden? Se, himmelen og den høyeste himmel kan ikke romme Deg; hvor mye mindre dette huset som jeg har bygget!
B1930: Men bor da Gud virkelig hos menneskene på jorden? Se, himlene og himlenes himler rummer dig ikke; hvor meget mindre da dette hus som jeg har bygget!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

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?
Read in context
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?
Read in context
Psalms 139:7–10
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Read in context
2 Corinthians 12:2
I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
Read in context
Acts 7:48–49
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
Read in context
2 Chronicles 32:15
Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?
Read in context
Psalms 113:5–6
Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
Read in context
Acts 17:24
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Read in context