2 Chronicles 6:38 Meaning and Explanation
“If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →If captives return to God with whole heart and soul, praying toward the temple and their promised land.
The Context of 2 Chronicles 6:38
Captives in exile, with whole heart and soul, pray toward their land and the temple.
What Does 2 Chronicles 6:38 Mean?
Solomon describes complete return. 'With all their heart and with all their soul' means total devotion—not half-hearted regret but fundamental reorientation. Though physically far from Israel, captives pray toward it: toward the land God gave their fathers, toward Jerusalem, toward the temple. Prayer becomes a bridge across exile, connecting hearts in bondage to the place of their covenant and identity.
The prayer direction—toward land, city, and house—shows that Israel's identity is tied to place. Yet the prayer transcends geography: God can hear prayers offered from captivity as readily as from the temple itself. The act of turning, praying, and remembering covenantal promises becomes the real return, even when physical return is not yet possible.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Chronicles 6:38
What does 2 Chronicles 6:38 mean?
If captives return to God with whole heart and soul, praying toward the temple and their promised land.
What is the context of 2 Chronicles 6:38?
Captives in exile, with whole heart and soul, pray toward their land and the temple.