Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.

2 CHRONICLES 2:4KJV
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2 Chronicles 2:4 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 2:4 mean?

2 Chronicles 2:4 describes Solomon’s purpose for building the temple: to honor the LORD God by dedicating a house for Him, where offerings, incense, and special rituals would be continually performed as commanded for Israel. The verse lists the specific acts of worship—incense, shewbread, burnt offerings—done at set times as a lasting ordinance.

Solomon is speaking to Hiram, king of Tyre, explaining why he needs skilled workers and materials for the temple. The verse highlights the temple’s role as a center for Israel’s worship, following God’s instructions about sacrifices and holy days. Solomon emphasizes that these practices are not temporary but are meant to be kept by Israel forever.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 2:4

  • "House" (בַּיִת, bayit): This word means more than just a building; it refers to a dwelling place, here specifically a sacred space for God’s presence among His people.
  • "Dedicate" (קָדַשׁ, qadash): This verb means to set apart as holy. Solomon’s goal is not just to build, but to make the temple a place specially devoted to God.
  • "Continual" (תָּמִיד, tamid): This word stresses that the offerings and rituals are to be ongoing, not occasional, showing the temple’s role in daily life and worship.
  • "Ordinance for ever" (חֻקַּת עוֹלָם, choqat olam): This phrase means a lasting or perpetual rule, underlining that these temple practices are intended as a permanent part of Israel’s relationship with God.

Why 2 Chronicles 2:4 matters

  • The verse clarifies that the temple was not just a national monument, but a place for specific, continual acts of worship as God commanded.
  • By listing incense, shewbread, and burnt offerings, Solomon shows that the temple’s routines were rooted in earlier instructions given in the Law, connecting his actions to Israel’s history.
  • The emphasis on “forever” highlights how central these practices were meant to be for Israel’s identity and ongoing relationship with God, not just for Solomon’s generation.

Where else these words appear

“shewbread” Hebrew H4635 · used in 9 verses

  • Leviticus 24:6 And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD.
  • 1 Chronicles 9:32 And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath.
  • 2 Chronicles 13:11 And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye have forsaken him.

“sweet” Hebrew H5561 · used in 15 verses

  • Exodus 25:6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
  • Exodus 35:8 And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,
  • Exodus 40:27 And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses.

“incense” Hebrew H7004 · used in 58 verses

  • Exodus 25:6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
  • Leviticus 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
  • Numbers 16:18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.

“sabbaths” Hebrew H7676 · used in 89 verses

  • Exodus 16:23 And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
  • Leviticus 26:35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.
  • Nehemiah 13:22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.