The house that I am building
This phrase refers to the temple that Solomon is constructing in Jerusalem. The Hebrew word for "house" is "בַּיִת" (bayit), which can mean a physical structure or a household. In this context, it signifies the temple, a central place of worship for the Israelites. The temple was not just a building but a symbol of God's presence among His people. Historically, the construction of the temple was a monumental task, requiring vast resources and labor, reflecting the importance of this sacred space in Israelite society.

will be great
The Hebrew word for "great" is "גָּדוֹל" (gadol), which implies not only size but also significance and magnificence. Solomon's temple was renowned for its grandeur and splendor, designed to reflect the glory of God. The greatness of the temple was not merely in its physical dimensions but in its purpose as a dwelling place for the Almighty. This phrase underscores the intention to honor God with a structure that befits His majesty.

for our God is greater
Here, the Hebrew word for "greater" is "גָּדוֹל" (gadol), the same as used earlier, emphasizing the supremacy of the God of Israel. This statement is a declaration of faith, acknowledging that the God of Israel surpasses all other deities in power, authority, and majesty. In the ancient Near Eastern context, where many nations worshiped multiple gods, this assertion of God's greatness was a bold proclamation of monotheism and the unique covenant relationship between God and Israel.

than all gods
The phrase "all gods" refers to the deities worshiped by surrounding nations. The Hebrew word for "gods" is "אֱלֹהִים" (elohim), which can mean gods or judges, but in this context, it refers to the false gods of other cultures. This part of the verse highlights the exclusivity and supremacy of the God of Israel. It serves as a reminder of the first commandment, which calls for the worship of the one true God alone. Historically, this was a counter-cultural stance, as polytheism was prevalent in the ancient world.

(5) And the house which I build is great.--1Chronicles 29:1.

Great is our God above all gods.--Exodus 18

11; Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 77:13; Psalm 95:3. According to modern notions of magnitude, the Temple of Solomon was a small building. (See on 1Kings 6:2-3.) Shelley's . . .

Verses 5, 6. - The contents of these verses beg some special observation, in the first place, as having been judged by the writer of Chronicles matter desirable to be retained and put in his work. To find a place for this subject amid his careful selection, and rejection in many cases, of the matter at his command, is certainly a decision in harmony with his general design in this work. Then, again, they may be remarked on as spoken to another king, who, whether it were to be expected or no, was, it is plain, a sympathizing hearer of the piety and religious resolution of Solomon (ver. 12). This is one of the touches of history that does not diminish our regret that we do not know more of Hiram. He was no "proselyte," but he had the sympathy of a convert to the religion of the Jew. Perhaps the simplest and most natural explanation may just be the truest, that Hiram for some long time had seen "the rising" kingdom, and alike in David and Solomon in turn, "the coming" men. He had been more calmly and deliberately impressed than the Queen of Sheba afterwards, but not less effectually and operatively impressed. And once more the passage is noteworthy for the utterances of Solomon in themselves. As parenthetically testifying to a powerful man, who could be a powerful helper of Solomon's enterprise, his outburst of explanation, and of ardent religious purpose, and of humble godly awe, is natural. But that he should call the temple he purposed to build "so great," as we cannot put it down either to intentional exaggeration or to sober historic fact, must the rather be honestly set down to such considerations as these, viz. that in point of fact, neither David nor Solomon were "travelled men," as Joseph and Moses, for instance. Their measures of greatness were largely dependent upon the existing material and furnishing of their own little country. And further, Solomon speaks of the temple as great very probably from the point of view of its simple religious uses (note end of ver. 6) as the place of sacrifice in especial rather than as a place, for instance, of vast congregations and vast processions. Then, too, as compared with the tabernacle, it would loom "great," whether for size or for its enduring material. Meantime, though Solomon does indeed use the words (ver. 5)," The house.., is great," yet, throwing on the words the light of the remaining clause of the verse, and of David's words in 1 Chronicles 29:1, it is not very certain that the main thing present to his mind was not the size, but rather the character of the house, and the solemn character of the enterprise itself (1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 6:18). Who am I... save only to burn sacrifice before him? The drift of Solomon's thought is plain - that nothing would justify mortal man, if he purported to build really a palace of residence for him whom the heaven of heavens could not contain, but that he is justified all the more in "not giving sleep to his eyes, nor slumber to his eyelids, until he had found out a place" (Psalm 132:4, 5) where man might acceptably, in God's appointed way, draw near to him. If "earth draw near to heaven," it may be confidently depended on that heaven will not be slow to bend down its glory, majesty, grace, to earth.

Parallel Commentaries ...


The house
וְהַבַּ֛יִת (wə·hab·ba·yiṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

that
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

I
אֲנִ֥י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

am building
בוֹנֶ֖ה (ḇō·w·neh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1129: To build

will be great,
גָּד֑וֹל (gā·ḏō·wl)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

our God
אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ (’ĕ·lō·hê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

is greater
גָד֥וֹל (ḡā·ḏō·wl)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

than all
מִכָּל־ (mik·kāl)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

gods.
הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 2:5 The house which I build is great (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)