What Does 2 Chronicles 6:8 Mean in the King James?
But the LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:
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 desire to build a dwelling for God’s nature is already called good before the work takes shape.
THE MEANING
The LORD sees what is held in your heart and names it good: the desire to make a dwelling for his nature. That goodness is present before the intended work takes shape.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that an intention has no worth until it produces a finished result dissolves here; the inward purpose itself receives the word “good.”
THE ROOT
לְבָבְךָ
levavkha
GROWS FROM
ל־ב־ב
l-b-b
Heart, the inward center of thought, will, and intention.
English “heart” can sound like emotion alone, but לְבָבְךָ names the center of thought and intention. The verse repeats this word to show that the purpose held within David is itself seen and called good.
ALSO GROWS
levav: Heart; inner self.
לֵבָב
This is the noun at the center of לְבָבְךָ, locating the desire in the inward self.
libbev: To win or captivate the heart.
לִבֵּב
The same root can describe what moves the heart, showing that the purpose here is a held desire, not an external achievement.
לִבְנוֹת
livnot
GROWS FROM
ב־נ־ה
b-n-h
To build, establish, or build up.
“build” in this verse is livnot. The root reaches beyond masonry: אִבָּנֶה (ibbaneh) in Genesis 16:2 is rendered “I may obtain children,” literally “I may be built up.” Here David wants a house for God’s name, for his nature, and the next verse gives the building to his son.
ALSO GROWS
binyan: Building or structure.
בִּנְיָן
This branch makes the verse’s literal house visible as the work the root describes.
ibbaneh: I may be built up; in Genesis 16:2, to obtain children.
אִבָּנֶה
The family-building sense gives the house a living dimension: what is built can extend through another generation.
THE PATTERN
God’s regard reaches the heart’s intention and can call it good before the outward work is complete.
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.THE THREAD
Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name.The Hebrew repeats בנה (banah, to build) in לִבְנוֹת (livnot) here and תִּבְנֶה (tivneh) in the next verse. David’s intention is called good even as his son receives the work of building, holding purpose and completion within one unfolding work.
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