What Does 2 Chronicles 2:6 Mean in the King James?
But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The house is not built to contain God; it is built for what rises before him.
THE MEANING
The One whom heaven and the highest heavens cannot contain is not held by the house you build. The house has another purpose: an offering rises before him.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that a sacred structure can hold or localize God’s presence. Even the widest heavens cannot contain him.
THE ROOT
לְהַקְטִיר
lehaktir
GROWS FROM
קטר
קטר (qāṭar): to make smoke; burn incense or an offering.
“burn sacrifice” in this verse is lehaktir. לְהַקְטִיר (lehaktir, to make smoke in offering) grows from קטר (qāṭar, to make smoke). Its relatives name both the incense and the smoke itself, placing the house’s purpose in what rises before God: an offering, not a container for his presence.
ALSO GROWS
qetoret: Incense
קְטֹרֶת
The same root names the incense burned as an offering, linking the act of making smoke with what is burned.
qitor: Smoke or vapor
קִיטוֹר
This related noun names the rising smoke itself, echoing the offering at the house’s stated purpose.
THE PATTERN
God exceeds every created dwelling, while sacred places give form to human offerings before him.
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;THE THREAD
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.The Hebrew word קְטֹרֶת (qetoret, incense) shares the root קטר (qāṭar, make smoke) with לְהַקְטִיר (lehaktir, make smoke in offering) here. The connection reveals the house’s purpose through what rises before God: an offering, like prayer set forth as incense.
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