King James Version

What Does 2 Chronicles 29:7 Mean?

2 Chronicles 29:7 in the King James Version says “Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offe...” — study this verse from 2 Chronicles chapter 29 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.”

2 Chronicles 29:7 · KJV

Context

5

And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.

6

For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs. turned their: Heb. given the neck

7

Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.

8

Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble , to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes. trouble: Heb. commotion

9

For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.

Read 2 Chronicles 29 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.

This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Comprehensive restoration of worship beginning immediately. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those who forsake Him face judgment. This pattern provides instruction for the post-exilic community on the conditions for God's blessing.

The account demonstrates God's covenant faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. Even in judgment, God preserves a remnant and offers restoration through repentance. The repeated cycle of apostasy, judgment, and restoration reveals both human sinfulness and divine mercy. References to the temple, proper worship, and priestly service emphasize the Chronicler's concern for correct religious observance.

Theologically, these accounts point beyond immediate history to God's ultimate purposes through the Davidic line. Despite repeated failures, God preserves David's dynasty, anticipating the perfect King who will reign in righteousness. The pattern of judgment for sin and restoration through repentance prefigures the gospel message of salvation through Christ.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This passage occurs during the divided monarchy period when Judah existed separately from northern Israel. The Chronicler writes from a post-exilic perspective, addressing the restored community in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (539 BCE onward). His emphasis on temple worship, proper religious observance, and God's covenant faithfulness speaks directly to the needs of his audience who had just rebuilt the temple and were reestablishing their identity as God's people.

The historical context demonstrates both God's judgment on persistent sin and His readiness to restore those who genuinely repent. The Chronicler omits most northern kingdom material, focusing on Judah and the Davidic line to emphasize God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. Archaeological discoveries from sites like Lachish, Beersheba, and Jerusalem corroborate the biblical accounts of various kings' reigns and building projects.

Understanding the Chronicler's post-exilic perspective is crucial—he's not merely recording history but applying past lessons to his contemporary audience, showing that the same principles of seeking God, maintaining proper worship, and covenant faithfulness that determined blessing or judgment in the past still apply.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse illustrate the principle of divine retribution (blessing for obedience, judgment for sin)?
  2. What specific applications does this passage have for maintaining spiritual faithfulness in contemporary Christian life?
  3. How does this account point to God's ultimate purposes through the Davidic line and the coming Messiah?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
גַּ֣ם1 of 16
H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

סָֽגְר֞וּ2 of 16

“Also they have shut up”

H5462

to shut up; figuratively, to surrender

דַּלְת֣וֹת3 of 16

“the doors”

H1817

something swinging, i.e., the valve of a door

הָֽאוּלָ֗ם4 of 16

“of the porch”

H197

a vestibule (as bound to the building)

וַיְכַבּוּ֙5 of 16

“and put out”

H3518

to expire or (causatively) to extinguish (fire, light, anger)

אֶת6 of 16
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַנֵּר֔וֹת7 of 16

“the lamps”

H5216

a lamp (i.e., the burner) or light (literally or figuratively)

וּקְטֹ֖רֶת8 of 16

“incense”

H7004

a fumigation

לֹ֣א9 of 16
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

הִקְטִ֑ירוּ10 of 16

“and have not burned”

H6999

to smoke, i.e., turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship)

וְעֹלָה֙11 of 16

“burnt offerings”

H5930

a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)

לֹֽא12 of 16
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

הֶעֱל֣וּ13 of 16

“nor offered”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

בַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ14 of 16

“in the holy”

H6944

a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity

לֵֽאלֹהֵ֖י15 of 16

“place unto the God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃16 of 16

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 2 Chronicles. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

2 Chronicles 29:7 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 2 Chronicles 29:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Chronicles 28:24Leviticus 24:2-8Malachi 1:102 Chronicles 29:32 Kings 16:17-18

Places in This Verse

Holy Place 2Room · Modern: Mount Moriah · 31.78°N, 35.24°E23 verses across 8 books
View all places in 2 Chronicles 29 →

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