King James Version

What Does 2 Chronicles 33:7 Mean?

2 Chronicles 33:7 in the King James Version says “And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomo...” — study this verse from 2 Chronicles chapter 33 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:”

2 Chronicles 33:7 · KJV

Context

5

And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

6

And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

7

And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

8

Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.

9

So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.

Read 2 Chronicles 33 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing God's mercy even to the worst sinner who truly repents. 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 · 28 words
אָשִׂ֥ים1 of 28

“And he set”

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

אֶת2 of 28
H853

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

פֶּ֥סֶל3 of 28

“a carved image”

H6459

an idol

הַסֶּ֖מֶל4 of 28

“the idol”

H5566

a likeness

אֲשֶׁ֣ר5 of 28
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

עָשָׂ֑ה6 of 28

“which he had made”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

בַּבַּ֨יִת7 of 28

“In this house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

אֱלֹהִים֙8 of 28

“of 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

אֲשֶׁ֨ר9 of 28
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

אָמַ֤ר10 of 28

“had said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֱלֹהִים֙11 of 28

“of 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

אֶל12 of 28
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

דָּוִיד֙13 of 28

“to David”

H1732

david, the youngest son of jesse

וְאֶל14 of 28
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה15 of 28

“and to Solomon”

H8010

shelomah, david's successor

בְנ֔וֹ16 of 28

“his son”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

בַּבַּ֨יִת17 of 28

“In this house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

הַזֶּ֜ה18 of 28
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

וּבִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֗ם19 of 28

“and in Jerusalem”

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

אֲשֶׁ֤ר20 of 28
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

בָּחַ֙רְתִּי֙21 of 28

“which I have chosen”

H977

properly, to try, i.e., (by implication) select

מִכֹּל֙22 of 28
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

שִׁבְטֵ֣י23 of 28

“before all the tribes”

H7626

a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan

יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל24 of 28

“of Israel”

H3478

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

אָשִׂ֥ים25 of 28

“And he set”

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

אֶת26 of 28
H853

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

שְׁמִ֖י27 of 28

“my name”

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

לְעֵילֽוֹם׃28 of 28

“for ever”

H5865

concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especial

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 33:7 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 33:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Chronicles 33:42 Chronicles 7:161 Kings 11:13Psalms 78:681 Kings 8:441 Kings 8:48

Places in This Verse

JerusalemSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E955 verses across 37 books
View all places in 2 Chronicles 33 →

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