2 Chronicles 7:3

Authorized King James Version

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And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

Original Language Analysis

וְכֹ֣ל׀ H3605
וְכֹ֣ל׀
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 1 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
בְּנֵ֣י And when all the children H1121
בְּנֵ֣י And when all the children
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 2 of 23
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל of Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל of Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 3 of 23
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
רֹאִים֙ saw H7200
רֹאִים֙ saw
Strong's: H7200
Word #: 4 of 23
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
בְּרֶ֣דֶת came down H3381
בְּרֶ֣דֶת came down
Strong's: H3381
Word #: 5 of 23
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
הָאֵ֔שׁ how the fire H784
הָאֵ֔שׁ how the fire
Strong's: H784
Word #: 6 of 23
fire (literally or figuratively)
וּכְב֥וֹד and the glory H3519
וּכְב֥וֹד and the glory
Strong's: H3519
Word #: 7 of 23
properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness
לַֽיהוָה֙ of the LORD H3068
לַֽיהוָה֙ of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 8 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 9 of 23
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַבָּ֑יִת upon the house H1004
הַבָּ֑יִת upon the house
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 10 of 23
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
וַיִּכְרְעוּ֩ they bowed H3766
וַיִּכְרְעוּ֩ they bowed
Strong's: H3766
Word #: 11 of 23
to bend the knee; by implication, to sink, to prostrate
אַפַּ֨יִם themselves with their faces H639
אַפַּ֨יִם themselves with their faces
Strong's: H639
Word #: 12 of 23
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
אַ֤רְצָה to the ground H776
אַ֤רְצָה to the ground
Strong's: H776
Word #: 13 of 23
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 14 of 23
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הָרִֽצְפָה֙ upon the pavement H7531
הָרִֽצְפָה֙ upon the pavement
Strong's: H7531
Word #: 15 of 23
a hot stone; also a tessellated pavement
וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֔וּ and worshipped H7812
וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֔וּ and worshipped
Strong's: H7812
Word #: 16 of 23
to depress, i.e., prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or god)
וְהֹד֤וֹת and praised H3034
וְהֹד֤וֹת and praised
Strong's: H3034
Word #: 17 of 23
physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the ha
לַֽיהוָה֙ of the LORD H3068
לַֽיהוָה֙ of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 18 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
כִּ֣י H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 19 of 23
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
ט֔וֹב saying For he is good H2896
ט֔וֹב saying For he is good
Strong's: H2896
Word #: 20 of 23
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
כִּ֥י H3588
כִּ֥י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 21 of 23
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
לְעוֹלָ֖ם endureth for ever H5769
לְעוֹלָ֖ם endureth for ever
Strong's: H5769
Word #: 22 of 23
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ for his mercy H2617
חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ for his mercy
Strong's: H2617
Word #: 23 of 23
kindness; by implication (towards god) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty

Cross References

2 Chronicles 5:13It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;2 Chronicles 20:21And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.Isaiah 63:7I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.Luke 1:50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.Exodus 4:31And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.Ezra 3:11And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

Analysis & Commentary

The people's response to divine glory: 'And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.' Seeing God's glory produced immediate worship - bowing (kara), worshiping (hishtachavu), and praising (yadah). Their confession 'he is good; for his mercy endureth forever' became Israel's characteristic praise refrain. This demonstrates that encountering God's glory naturally produces humble worship and thanksgiving. The gospel produces similar response - seeing Christ's glory (John 1:14) leads to worship and proclamation of His goodness.

Historical Context

The entire assembly's unified worship (c. 960 BCE) following the fire and glory created a defining moment in Israel's history. This mass recognition of God's presence and praise established patterns for subsequent generations of worship.

Questions for Reflection