2 Chronicles 7:14

Authorized King James Version

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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Original Language Analysis

וְיִכָּֽנְע֨וּ shall humble H3665
וְיִכָּֽנְע֨וּ shall humble
Strong's: H3665
Word #: 1 of 21
properly, to bend the knee; hence, to humiliate, vanquish
עַמִּ֜י If my people H5971
עַמִּ֜י If my people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 2 of 21
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
אֲשֶׁ֧ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֧ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 3 of 21
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נִֽקְרָא which are called H7121
נִֽקְרָא which are called
Strong's: H7121
Word #: 4 of 21
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
שְׁמִ֣י by my name H8034
שְׁמִ֣י by my name
Strong's: H8034
Word #: 5 of 21
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם H5921
עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 6 of 21
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְיִֽתְפַּֽלְלוּ֙ themselves and pray H6419
וְיִֽתְפַּֽלְלוּ֙ themselves and pray
Strong's: H6419
Word #: 7 of 21
to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede, pray
וִֽיבַקְשׁ֣וּ and seek H1245
וִֽיבַקְשׁ֣וּ and seek
Strong's: H1245
Word #: 8 of 21
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
פָנַ֔י my face H6440
פָנַ֔י my face
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 9 of 21
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
וְיָשֻׁ֖בוּ and turn H7725
וְיָשֻׁ֖בוּ and turn
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 10 of 21
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
מִדַּרְכֵיהֶ֣ם ways H1870
מִדַּרְכֵיהֶ֣ם ways
Strong's: H1870
Word #: 11 of 21
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
הָֽרָעִ֑ים from their wicked H7451
הָֽרָעִ֑ים from their wicked
Strong's: H7451
Word #: 12 of 21
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
וַֽאֲנִי֙ H589
וַֽאֲנִי֙
Strong's: H589
Word #: 13 of 21
i
אֶשְׁמַ֣ע then will I hear H8085
אֶשְׁמַ֣ע then will I hear
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 14 of 21
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
מִן H4480
מִן
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 15 of 21
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם from heaven H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם from heaven
Strong's: H8064
Word #: 16 of 21
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
וְאֶסְלַח֙ and will forgive H5545
וְאֶסְלַח֙ and will forgive
Strong's: H5545
Word #: 17 of 21
to forgive
לְחַטָּאתָ֔ם their sin H2403
לְחַטָּאתָ֔ם their sin
Strong's: H2403
Word #: 18 of 21
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender
וְאֶרְפָּ֖א and will heal H7495
וְאֶרְפָּ֖א and will heal
Strong's: H7495
Word #: 19 of 21
properly, to mend (by stitching), i.e., (figuratively) to cure
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 20 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אַרְצָֽם׃ their land H776
אַרְצָֽם׃ their land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 21 of 21
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

Cross References

Proverbs 28:13He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.Jeremiah 33:6Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.Ezekiel 33:11Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?2 Chronicles 6:27Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.Jeremiah 8:22Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?Isaiah 63:19We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.Isaiah 59:20And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.2 Chronicles 6:30Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)Isaiah 45:19I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.Acts 9:11And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

Analysis & Commentary

This verse contains one of Scripture's most beloved promises: 'If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.' The four conditions (humble, pray, seek, turn) outline repentance's components. Humbling acknowledges sin's gravity; prayer expresses dependence; seeking God's face prioritizes relationship over benefits; turning from wickedness demonstrates genuine change. God's threefold response (hear, forgive, heal) addresses the spiritual (forgiveness) and physical (healing land) consequences of sin. While contextually about Israel and the land, the principle applies to all covenant people facing judgment.

Historical Context

God spoke this at night following the temple dedication (c. 960 BCE), anticipating future apostasy. This conditional promise governed Israel's history - when they repented, God restored; when they persisted in sin, judgment came. Post-exilic Israel clung to this hope.

Questions for Reflection