2 Chronicles 29:16

Authorized King James Version

And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ
H935
went
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#2
הַ֠כֹּֽהֲנִים
H3548
And the priests
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
#3
לִפְנִ֣ימָה
H6441
into the inner part
faceward, i.e., indoors
#4
בֵּ֣ית
H1004
of the house
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#5
יְהוָ֑ה
H3068
of the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#6
לְטַהֵר֒
H2891
to cleanse
to be pure (physical sound, clear, unadulterated; levitically, uncontaminated; morally, innocent or holy)
#7
לְהוֹצִ֥יא
H3318
it and brought out
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
#8
אֵ֤ת
H853
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#9
כָּל
H3605
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#10
הַטֻּמְאָה֙
H2932
all the uncleanness
religious impurity
#11
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#12
מָֽצְאוּ֙
H4672
that they found
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
#13
בְּהֵיכַ֣ל
H1964
in the temple
a large public building, such as a palace or temple
#14
יְהוָ֑ה
H3068
of the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#15
לַֽחֲצַ֖ר
H2691
into the court
a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)
#16
בֵּ֣ית
H1004
of the house
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#17
יְהוָ֑ה
H3068
of the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#18
וַֽיְקַבְּלוּ֙
H6901
took
to admit, i.e., take (literally or figuratively)
#19
הַלְוִיִּ֔ם
H3881
And the Levites
a levite or descendant of levi
#20
לְהוֹצִ֥יא
H3318
it and brought out
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
#21
לְנַֽחַל
H5158
into the brook
a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine)
#22
קִדְר֖וֹן
H6939
Kidron
kidron, a brook near jerusalem
#23
חֽוּצָה׃
H2351
abroad
properly, separate by a wall, i.e., outside, outdoors

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of 2 Chronicles Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection