Meaning, commentary and cross references
2 Chronicles 7:14
“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
NIV · New International Version
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
WEB · World English Bible
if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
What does 2 Chronicles 7:14 mean?
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on 2 Chronicles 7:12–22
God expects that his people who are called by his name, if they have dishonoured his name by their iniquity, should honour it by accepting the punishment of their iniquity. They must be humble themselves under his hand, must pray for the removal of the judgment, must seek the face and favour of God; and yet all this will not do unless they turn from their wicked ways, and return to the God from whom they have revolted. 3. National mercy is then promised, that God will forgive their sin, which brought the judgment upon them, and then heal their land, redress all their grievances. Pardoning mercy makes ways for healing mercy, Psa 103:3; Mat 9:2.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: 2 Chronicles 7:11–17 (WEB)
11Thus Solomon finished the LORD’s house and the king’s house; and he successfully completed all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the LORD’s house and in his own house. 12Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him, “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for myself for a house of sacrifice. 13“If I shut up the sky so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people, 14if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to prayer that is made in this place. 16For now I have chosen and made this house holy, that my name may be there forever; and my eyes and my heart will be there perpetually. 17“As for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep my statutes and my ordinances,
Cross references
- Lamentations 3:40–41
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
- Isaiah 55:6–7
Seek the LORD while he may be found. Call on him while he is near.
- James 4:9–10
Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
- Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
- 2 Chronicles 6:37–39
yet if they come to their senses in the land where they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication to you in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done perversely, and have dealt wickedly;’
- Deuteronomy 4:29–30
But from there you shall seek the LORD your God, and you will find him when you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
- Jeremiah 33:6
behold, I will bring it health and healing, and I will cure them; and I will reveal to them abundance of peace and truth.
- 2 Chronicles 33:12–13
When he was in distress, he begged the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.