to prepare for me timber in abundance, because the temple I am building will be great and wonderful.
Parallel translations
- WEB even to prepare me timber in abundance; for the house which I am about to build will be great and wonderful.
- KJV Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great.
- NKJV to prepare timber for me in abundance, for the temple which I am about to build shall be great and wonderful.
- NASB to prepare timber in abundance for me, for the house which I am about to build will be great and wonderful.
- NLT An immense amount of timber will be needed, for the Temple I am going to build will be very large and magnificent.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Solomon wants timber in abundance because the house he builds will be great and wonderful. The temple's scale matches its sacred purpose.
Overview
Solomon stresses the extraordinary quality and size of the temple, fitting for the dwelling of God's name. The emphasis on its greatness reflects the worth of the One to be worshiped there. Such devotion to honoring God's house models wholehearted, costly worship.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- 2 Chr 2:5The house that I am building will be great, for our God is greater than all gods.
- 1 Kgs 9:8And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and will hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’
- 2 Chr 7:21And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 2:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.