2 Chronicles 6:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →From the exodus until now, God had chosen neither a city nor a ruler until appointing Jerusalem and the Davidic line.
The Context of 2 Chronicles 6:5
Solomon explains God's historical selectivity in choosing Jerusalem and the Davidic dynasty.
What Does 2 Chronicles 6:5 Mean?
God's perspective spans Israel's entire history from Egypt to Solomon's day. Throughout the wilderness wandering and the conquest, the Lord had not settled upon one city as the place where His name would dwell. Instead, the tabernacle moved. God's chosen place was deferred, waiting for the right moment in God's redemptive plan.
By withholding choice of both city and ruler until now, God demonstrates sovereignty over timing. Jerusalem and David's house are not accidents of history but deliberate selections in God's long purpose. This builds anticipation: when God finally chooses, it is weighty and irrevocable.
2 Chronicles 6:5 in the Original Language
bachar (בחר), 'chose' — to select or prefer, emphasizing intentional divine decision
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Chronicles 6:5
What does 2 Chronicles 6:5 mean?
From the exodus until now, God had chosen neither a city nor a ruler until appointing Jerusalem and the Davidic line.
What is the context of 2 Chronicles 6:5?
Solomon explains God's historical selectivity in choosing Jerusalem and the Davidic dynasty.