2 Chronicles 7:2
New International Version
The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it.

New Living Translation
The priests could not enter the Temple of the LORD because the glorious presence of the LORD filled it.

English Standard Version
And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’s house.

Berean Standard Bible
The priests were unable to enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled it.

King James Bible
And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.

New King James Version
And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’s house.

New American Standard Bible
And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’S house.

NASB 1995
The priests could not enter into the house of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’S house.

NASB 1977
And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’s house.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the priests could not enter into the house of Yahweh because the glory of Yahweh filled the house of Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
The priests could not enter the house of the LORD because the glory and brilliance of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house.

Christian Standard Bible
The priests were not able to enter the LORD’s temple because the glory of the LORD filled the temple of the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The priests were not able to enter the LORD’s temple because the glory of the LORD filled the temple of the LORD.

American Standard Version
And the priests could not enter into the house of Jehovah, because the glory of Jehovah filled Jehovah's house.

Contemporary English Version
and the priests could not go in.

English Revised Version
And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD'S house.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The priests couldn't go into the LORD's temple because the LORD's glory had filled the LORD's temple.

Good News Translation
Because the Temple was full of the dazzling light, the priests could not enter it.

International Standard Version
The priests could not enter into the Temple because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's Temple.

Majority Standard Bible
The priests were unable to enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled it.

NET Bible
The priests were unable to enter the LORD's temple because the LORD's splendor filled the LORD's temple.

New Heart English Bible
The priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.

World English Bible
The priests could not enter into Yahweh’s house, because Yahweh’s glory filled Yahweh’s house.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the priests have not been able to go into the house of YHWH, because the glory of YHWH has filled the house of YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
and the priests have not been able to go in unto the house of Jehovah, because the honour of Jehovah hath filled the house of Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the priests were not able to come in to the house of Jehovah, for the glory of Jehovah filled the house of Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Neither could the priests enter into the temple of the Lord, because the majesty of the Lord had filled the temple of the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Neither were the priests able to enter into the temple of the Lord, because the majesty of the Lord had filled the temple of the Lord.

New American Bible
But the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
The priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’s house.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Priests were not able to enter to the house of LORD JEHOVAH because the glory of the Shechinah of LORD JEHOVAH filled the house.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD'S house.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord at that time, for the glory of the Lord filled the house.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Fire from Heaven
1When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2The priests were unable to enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled it. 3When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.”…

Cross References
1 Kings 8:10-11
And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD / so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

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.

Ezekiel 43:4-5
and the glory of the LORD entered the temple through the gate facing east. / Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

Isaiah 6:4
At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.

Revelation 15:8
And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

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.

1 Kings 8:27
But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.

Exodus 24:16-17
and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered it, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. / And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop in the eyes of the Israelites.

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!”

Acts 7:48-49
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?

Isaiah 66:1
This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?

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.

Hebrews 9:24
For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.

Psalm 26:8
O LORD, I love the house where You dwell, the place where Your glory resides.

Psalm 29:9
The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in His temple all cry, “Glory!”


Treasury of Scripture

And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house.

the priests

2 Chronicles 5:14
So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

Exodus 24:17
And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

Isaiah 6:5
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

Jump to Previous
Able Enter Filled Full Glory Honour House Jehovah's LORD's Priests Temple
Jump to Next
Able Enter Filled Full Glory Honour House Jehovah's LORD's Priests Temple
2 Chronicles 7
1. God having given testimony to Solomon's prayer by fire from heaven,
2. and glory in the temple, the people worship him
4. Solomon's solemn sacrifice
8. Solomon having kept the feasts of tabernacles and dedication, dismisses the people
12. God appearing to Solomon, gives him promises upon condition














The priests were unable to enter
This phrase highlights the human limitation in the presence of divine holiness. The Hebrew root for "unable" (יָכֹל, yakol) implies a lack of strength or capacity. Historically, the priests were the mediators between God and the people, yet even they could not withstand the overwhelming presence of God's glory. This serves as a reminder of the transcendence and majesty of God, who is beyond human comprehension and ability.

the house of the LORD
The "house of the LORD" refers to the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem, a central place of worship for the Israelites. The Hebrew word for "house" (בַּיִת, bayit) signifies not just a physical structure but a dwelling place. In the ancient Near Eastern context, temples were seen as the earthly abode of deities. For Israel, the temple was the unique dwelling place of Yahweh, symbolizing His covenantal presence among His people.

because the glory of the LORD had filled it
The "glory of the LORD" (כְּבוֹד יְהוָה, kavod Yahweh) is a profound concept in Hebrew theology, representing God's manifest presence and majesty. The term "glory" (כָּבוֹד, kavod) conveys weightiness and honor. In the scriptural context, God's glory often appears as a radiant, overwhelming light, as seen in the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-35) and later in the temple. The filling of the temple with God's glory signifies His approval and acceptance of the temple as His dwelling place, a powerful affirmation of His covenant with Israel. This event echoes the dedication of the tabernacle, drawing a parallel between the two sacred spaces and underscoring the continuity of God's presence with His people throughout their history.

(2) And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord.--Hardly a different assertion from that of 2Chronicles 5:14 (" the priests could not stand to minister"); the cause in both instances being the same, and expressed in the same words (1Kings 8:11). But it is quite plain that the writer intends to record in 2 Chronicles 5, 7 two distinct appearances of the Divine glory, one before and one after the Prayer of Consecration, both of which were attended by the same effects upon the ministering priests.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The priests
הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (hak·kō·hă·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

were not
וְלֹ֤א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

able
יָֽכְלוּ֙ (yā·ḵə·lū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3201: To be able, have power

to enter
לָב֖וֹא (lā·ḇō·w)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the house
בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

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

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

the glory
כְבוֹד־ (ḵə·ḇō·wḏ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3519: Weight, splendor, copiousness

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

had filled
מָלֵ֥א (mā·lê)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of

[it].
בֵּ֥ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house


Links
2 Chronicles 7:2 NIV
2 Chronicles 7:2 NLT
2 Chronicles 7:2 ESV
2 Chronicles 7:2 NASB
2 Chronicles 7:2 KJV

2 Chronicles 7:2 BibleApps.com
2 Chronicles 7:2 Biblia Paralela
2 Chronicles 7:2 Chinese Bible
2 Chronicles 7:2 French Bible
2 Chronicles 7:2 Catholic Bible

OT History: 2 Chronicles 7:2 The priests could not enter into (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 7:1
Top of Page
Top of Page