2 Chronicles 6:22

Authorized King James Version

If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house;

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
אִם
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
#2
יֶֽחֱטָ֥א
sin
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
#3
אִישׁ֙
If a man
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
#4
לְרֵעֵ֔הוּ
against his neighbour
an associate (more or less close)
#5
וְנָֽשָׁא
be laid
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
#6
ב֥וֹ
H0
#7
אָלָ֖ה
upon him to make him swear
properly, to adjure, i.e., (usually in a bad sense) imprecate
#8
אָלָ֛ה
and an oath
an imprecation
#9
וּבָ֗א
come
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#10
אָלָ֛ה
and an oath
an imprecation
#11
לִפְנֵ֥י
before
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#12
מִֽזְבַּחֲךָ֖
thine altar
an altar
#13
בַּבַּ֥יִת
in this house
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#14
הַזֶּֽה׃
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

Analysis

This verse develops the covenant theme central to 2 Chronicles. The concept of divine revelation reflects the development of covenant within biblical theology. The literary structure and word choice here contribute to biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness, advancing the author's theological argument. The original language emphasizes careful word choice that would have carried specific theological weight for the original audience, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on covenant particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection