2 Chronicles 6:36 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 6:36 mean?

2 Chronicles 6:36 says that if the people of Israel sin against God—since everyone sins—and God becomes angry and allows their enemies to capture them and take them away to a distant or nearby land, this is a consequence of their wrongdoing. The verse recognizes human imperfection and the reality that sin can lead to serious consequences, including exile.

King Solomon is speaking here, praying to God during the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. He is asking God to be merciful to Israel even when they sin and face punishment, acknowledging that no one is without sin. The verse is part of a longer prayer where Solomon anticipates situations where the people might be taken captive because of their disobedience, and he is asking God to hear their prayers even from exile.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 6:36

• "sin" (חָטָא, chata’): This word means to miss the mark or to do wrong. Solomon uses it to acknowledge that everyone falls short and makes mistakes before God.
• "man" (אָדָם, adam): This word refers to a human being in general, emphasizing the universal nature of sin—no one is exempt.
• "sinneth" (חָטָא, chata’): The repetition of this word highlights the ongoing and repeated nature of human failure.
• "angry" (אָנַף, anaph): This word means to be enraged or to show wrath. It shows that God’s anger is a response to persistent wrongdoing, not a random reaction.
• "deliver" (נָתַן, natan): This means to give or hand over. Here, it describes God allowing Israel to fall into the hands of their enemies as a result of their actions.
• "enemies" (אֹיֵב, oyev): This word means adversaries or those who are hostile. It clarifies that the captors are not just foreign nations, but actual opponents.
• "away/captives" (שָׁבָה, shavah): This word means to take captive or to carry away. It underscores the seriousness of the consequence—being forcibly removed from their land.
• "land" (אֶרֶץ, erets): This refers to any territory or country, not just Israel, showing that exile could be to any place, near or far.
• "off" (רָחוֹק, rachoq) and "near" (קָרוֹב, qarov): These words stress that the distance of exile does not matter; the situation applies whether the people are taken far away or remain close by.

Why 2 Chronicles 6:36 matters

• This verse clarifies that sin is a universal human problem, not just an occasional mistake made by a few people—Solomon openly states that "there is no man which sinneth not."
• The verse highlights the seriousness of turning away from God, showing that real consequences, like exile, can result from persistent disobedience.
• In the context of Solomon’s prayer, this verse sets up the hope that even when the worst happens, God might still listen to prayers of repentance, which is developed in the following verses.