2 Chronicles 6:1
New International Version
Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;

New Living Translation
Then Solomon prayed, “O LORD, you have said that you would live in a thick cloud of darkness.

English Standard Version
Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud;

King James Bible
Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

New King James Version
Then Solomon spoke: “The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud.

New American Standard Bible
Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick darkness.

NASB 1995
Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.

NASB 1977
Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Solomon said, “Yahweh has said that He would dwell in the cloud of dense gloom.

Amplified Bible
Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.

Christian Standard Bible
Then Solomon said: The LORD said he would dwell in total darkness,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Solomon said: The LORD said He would dwell in thick darkness,

American Standard Version
Then spake Solomon, Jehovah hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

Contemporary English Version
Solomon prayed: "Our LORD, you said that you would live in a dark cloud.

English Revised Version
Then spake Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Solomon said, "The LORD said he would live in a dark cloud.

Good News Translation
Then King Solomon prayed, "LORD, you have chosen to live in clouds and darkness.

International Standard Version
Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he lives shrouded in darkness.

Majority Standard Bible
Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud;

NET Bible
Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he lives in thick darkness.

New Heart English Bible
Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in the thick cloud.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

World English Bible
Then Solomon said, “Yahweh has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Then Solomon said, “YHWH said [He would] dwell in thick darkness,

Young's Literal Translation
Then said Solomon, 'Jehovah said -- to dwell in thick darkness,

Smith's Literal Translation
Then said Solomon, Jehovah said to dwell in thick clouds.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then Solomon said: The Lord promised that he would dwell in a cloud.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Solomon said: “The Lord has promised that he would dwell in a cloud.

New American Bible
Then Solomon said: “The LORD intends to dwell in the dark cloud;

New Revised Standard Version
Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would reside in thick darkness.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
THEN Solomon said, O LORD, thou hast declared that thou wouldst dwell in the thick darkness.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Then Solomon said: ”LORD JEHOVAH, you have spoken, dwelling in darkness.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then spoke Solomon: The LORD hath said that He would dwell in the thick darkness.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Then said Solomon, The Lord said that he would dwell in thick darkness.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon Praises the LORD
1Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud; 2and I have built You an exalted house, a place for You to dwell forever.”…

Cross References
1 Kings 8:12
Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.

Exodus 20:21
And the people stood at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

Exodus 40:34-35
Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. / Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Leviticus 16:2
And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

Psalm 18:11
He made darkness His hiding place, and storm clouds a canopy around Him.

Psalm 97:2
Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation.

Isaiah 45:15
Truly You are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.

Isaiah 60:2
For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you.

Matthew 17:5
While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”

Mark 9:7
Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!”

Luke 9:34-35
While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. / And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him!”

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 12:28-29
Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” / The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.

Acts 1:9
After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.

Acts 7:48-50
However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: / ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be? / Has not My hand made all these things?’


Treasury of Scripture

Then said Solomon, The LORD has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

The Lord

Exodus 20:21
And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

Exodus 24:15-18
And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount…

Leviticus 16:2
And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

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2 Chronicles 6
1. Solomon, having blessed the people, blessed God
12. Solomon's prayer in the consecration of the temple, upon the bronze platform.














Then Solomon said
This phrase marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of 2 Chronicles. Solomon, the son of David, is now the king of Israel, and he stands as a central figure in the fulfillment of God's promises to David. The Hebrew root for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) is often used in the Old Testament to denote not just speaking, but declaring or proclaiming something of significance. Solomon's words here are not mere conversation; they are a proclamation of divine truth and fulfillment. Historically, this moment follows the completion of the Temple, a monumental achievement in Israel's history, symbolizing God's dwelling among His people.

The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud
This phrase is rich with theological and historical significance. The "LORD" (יהוה, Yahweh) is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His promises. The concept of God dwelling "in the thick cloud" harkens back to the theophanies of the Old Testament, where God's presence is often associated with clouds, as seen in Exodus 19:9 and 24:16. The Hebrew word for "dwell" (שָׁכַן, shakan) is related to the word "Shekinah," which refers to the divine presence. This imagery of the "thick cloud" signifies God's transcendence and mystery, yet also His immanence and willingness to be with His people. Archaeologically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of temples as the dwelling places of deities, but uniquely, the God of Israel is not confined to the Temple; He chooses to dwell among His people, highlighting His relational nature.

VI.

2. KING SOLOMON BLESSES HIS PEOPLE AND HIS GOD

(2Chronicles 6:1-11.) (Comp. 1Kings 8:12-21.)

This section also is in verbal agreement with the parallel account, with a few slight exceptions.

(1) The thick darkness.--'Araphel, which is explained as caligo nubium, "gloom of clouds." (See Exodus 20:21; Deuteronomy 4:11; Psalm 18:9. Comp. the Greek, ?????.) The Targum on 1Kings 8:12 reads Jerusalem, but this is probably a gloss. . . .

Verse 1. - In the thick darkness; Hebrew, מַּעֲרַפֶל. The Lord had said this in so many words, and also by not a few practical examples (Leviticus 16:2; Exodus 19:9; Exodus 24:16; Exodus 25:22; Exodus 40:34, 35). This thing which he said, and did, even while really instructing, after the manner of special revelation, a specialized people, is essentially what he ever has said and ever is doing in all time, in all the world, and in all nature and providence. It is a fact and it is necessary that his glory be for the present veiled in "clouds and darkness" (Psalm 97:2; Psalm 18. n).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then
אָ֖ז (’āz)
Adverb
Strong's 227: At that time, place, therefore

Solomon
שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה (šə·lō·mōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8010: Solomon -- David's son and successor to his throne

said:
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“The LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

said
אָמַ֔ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

that He would dwell
לִשְׁכּ֖וֹן (liš·kō·wn)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7931: To settle down, abide, dwell

in the thick cloud;
בָּעֲרָפֶֽל׃ (bā·‘ă·rā·p̄el)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6205: Cloud, heavy cloud


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 6:1 Then spoke Solomon Yahweh has said that (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 5:14
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