2 Chronicles 7:1

Authorized King James Version

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Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

Original Language Analysis

וּכְכַלּ֤וֹת had made an end H3615
וּכְכַלּ֤וֹת had made an end
Strong's: H3615
Word #: 1 of 14
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)
שְׁלֹמֹה֙ Now when Solomon H8010
שְׁלֹמֹה֙ Now when Solomon
Strong's: H8010
Word #: 2 of 14
shelomah, david's successor
לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֔ל of praying H6419
לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֔ל of praying
Strong's: H6419
Word #: 3 of 14
to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede, pray
וְהָאֵ֗שׁ the fire H784
וְהָאֵ֗שׁ the fire
Strong's: H784
Word #: 4 of 14
fire (literally or figuratively)
יָֽרְדָה֙ came down H3381
יָֽרְדָה֙ came down
Strong's: H3381
Word #: 5 of 14
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
מֵֽהַשָּׁמַ֔יִם from heaven H8064
מֵֽהַשָּׁמַ֔יִם from heaven
Strong's: H8064
Word #: 6 of 14
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
וַתֹּ֥אכַל and consumed H398
וַתֹּ֥אכַל and consumed
Strong's: H398
Word #: 7 of 14
to eat (literally or figuratively)
הָֽעֹלָ֖ה the burnt offering H5930
הָֽעֹלָ֖ה the burnt offering
Strong's: H5930
Word #: 8 of 14
a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)
וְהַזְּבָחִ֑ים and the sacrifices H2077
וְהַזְּבָחִ֑ים and the sacrifices
Strong's: H2077
Word #: 9 of 14
properly, a slaughter, i.e., the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act)
וּכְב֥וֹד and the glory H3519
וּכְב֥וֹד and the glory
Strong's: H3519
Word #: 10 of 14
properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness
יְהוָ֖ה of the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֖ה of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 11 of 14
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
מָלֵ֥א filled H4390
מָלֵ֥א filled
Strong's: H4390
Word #: 12 of 14
to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 13 of 14
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַבָּֽיִת׃ the house H1004
הַבָּֽיִת׃ the house
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 14 of 14
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

Analysis & Commentary

The dramatic theophany 'when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house' validates both the temple and Solomon's reign through visible divine approval. Fire from heaven consuming sacrifice signifies God's acceptance (cf. Leviticus 9:24, 1 Kings 18:38). The consuming fire symbolizes God's holy wrath satisfied by substitutionary sacrifice - pointing to Christ bearing God's wrath on the cross. The glory filling the house demonstrates God's covenant presence. This dramatic moment cannot be repeated through human effort; it's pure divine initiative.

Historical Context

This spectacular manifestation (c. 960 BCE) marked the temple as God's chosen dwelling place. Subsequent worship would continue in this sanctified space, but this unique authentication established the temple's legitimacy for centuries.

Questions for Reflection