2 Chronicles 7:20then I will pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have made holy for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
The setting
Jerusalem, Israel, ~959 BC. God speaks of the magnificent temple Solomon just built — gold everywhere, 120,000 sheep sacrificed. Yet God sees its future destruction 400 years away...
The emotion here: divine grief over necessary judgment of beloved people
The original word
māshal (מָשָׁל) — a proverb, cautionary tale, object lesson for other nations
Why it matters
In 586 BC, Babylon destroyed this temple so thoroughly that its exact location is still debated
Read with care
What most readers miss in 2 Chronicles 7:20
God says 'I will make it' — He takes responsibility for the judgment, not just allowing it but actively doing it
Common misconceptionPeople think God is vindictive here, but He's actually protecting His reputation. When His people sin publicly, it makes other nations think God is weak or fake.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 2 Chronicles 7:20
Bible Genome reading
2 Chronicles 7:20 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
2 Chronicles 7:20 comes from the book of 2 Chronicles, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Yahweh. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine judgment, exile, temple destruction. Notable phrases: pluck them up by the roots; this house which I have made holy; cast out. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does 2 Chronicles 7:20 mean to you, today?
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