2 Chronicles 6:38
New International Version
and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name;

New Living Translation
If they turn to you with their whole heart and soul in the land of their captivity and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors—toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name—

English Standard Version
if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity to which they were carried captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name,

Berean Standard Bible
and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name,

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been carried captive, and pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and toward the temple which I have built for Your name:

New American Standard Bible
if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward their land which You have given to their fathers and the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your name,

NASB 1995
if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward their land which You have given to their fathers and the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your name,

NASB 1977
if they return to Thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward their land which Thou hast given to their fathers, and the city which Thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Thy name,

Legacy Standard Bible
and if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward their land which You have given to their fathers and the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your name,

Amplified Bible
if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, and pray facing their land which You have given to their fathers and toward the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your Name;

Christian Standard Bible
and when they return to you with all their mind and all their heart in the land of their captivity where they were taken captive, and when they pray in the direction of their land that you gave their ancestors, and the city you have chosen, and toward the temple I have built for your name,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and when they return to You with their whole mind and heart in the land of their captivity where they were taken captive, and when they pray in the direction of their land that You gave their ancestors, and the city You have chosen, and toward the temple I have built for Your name,

American Standard Version
if they return unto thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:

English Revised Version
if they return unto thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
if they change their attitude toward you in the land where they are captives, if they pray to you toward the land that you gave their ancestors, and the city you have chosen, and the temple I have built for your name,

Good News Translation
If in that land they truly and sincerely repent and pray to you as they face toward this land which you gave to our ancestors, this city which you have chosen, and this Temple which I have built for you,

International Standard Version
if they return to you with all of their heart and with all of their soul in the land where they have been taken captive, as they pray in the direction of their land that you have given to their ancestors and to the city that you have chosen, and to the Temple that I have built for your name,

Majority Standard Bible
and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name,

NET Bible
When they return to you with all their heart and being in the land where they are held prisoner and direct their prayers toward the land you gave to their ancestors, your chosen city, and the temple I built for your honor,

New Heart English Bible
if they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, and the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for your name:

Webster's Bible Translation
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 towards their land which thou gavest to their fathers, and towards the city which thou hast chosen, and towards the house which I have built for thy name:

World English Bible
if they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward their land which you gave to their fathers, and the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for your name;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
indeed, they have turned back to You with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their captivity, to where they have taken them captive, and they have prayed [in] the way of their land that You have given to their fathers, and of the city that You have chosen, and of the house that I have built for Your Name—

Young's Literal Translation
yea, they have turned back unto Thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their captivity, whither they have taken them captive, and they have prayed the way of their land that Thou hast given to their fathers, and of the city that Thou hast chosen, and of the house that I have built for Thy name:

Smith's Literal Translation
And they turned back to thee with all their heart and with all their soul into the land of their captivity where they carried them away captive; and they prayed the way of their land which thou gavest to their fathers, and the city which thou The hard copy spelling records the following as: chosestchoosest, and to the house that I built for thy name.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And return to thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their captivity, to which they were led away, and adore thee towards the way of their own land which thou gavest their fathers, and of the city, which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built to thy name:

Catholic Public Domain Version
and if they will have returned to you, with their whole heart and with their whole soul, in the land of their captivity to which they were led away, and if they will adore you in the direction of their own land, which you gave to their fathers, and of the city, which you have chosen, and of the house, which I have built to your name,

New American Bible
if with all their heart and soul they turn back to you in the land of those who took them captive, and pray toward their land which you gave their ancestors, the city you have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name,

New Revised Standard Version
if they repent with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity, to which they were taken captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their ancestors, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity to which they were carried captive, and pray toward their land which thou gavest to their fathers and toward the city which thou hast chosen for thyself and toward the house which I have built for thy name;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they will return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the city of their captivity where they took them captive, and they will pray in the road of the land that you have given to their fathers, the city that you have chosen for yourself and the house that I have built for your name.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
if they return unto Thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which Thou gavest unto their fathers, and the city which Thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Thy name;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and if they shall turn to thee with all their heart and all their soul in the land of them that carried them captives, whither they carried them captives, and shall pray toward their land which thou gavest to their fathers, and the city which thou didst choose, and the house which I built to thy name: -

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon's Prayer of Dedication
37and when they come to their senses in the land to which they were taken, and they repent and plead with You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly,’ 38and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name, 39then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, their prayer and petition, and may You uphold their cause. May You forgive Your people who sinned against You.…

Cross References
1 Kings 8:48
and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray to You in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name,

Daniel 9:4-19
And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments, / we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances. / We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, fathers, and all the people of the land. ...

Nehemiah 1:8-9
Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, / but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’

Deuteronomy 30:1-3
“When all these things come upon you—the blessings and curses I have set before you—and you call them to mind in all the nations to which the LORD your God has banished you, / and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey His voice with all your heart and all your soul according to everything I am giving you today, / then He will restore you from captivity and have compassion on you and gather you from all the nations to which the LORD your God has scattered you.

Jeremiah 29:12-14
Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. / You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. / I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and places to which I have banished you, declares the LORD. I will restore you to the place from which I sent you into exile.”

Leviticus 26:40-42
But if they will confess their iniquity and that of their fathers in the unfaithfulness that they practiced against Me, by which they have also walked in hostility toward Me— / and I acted with hostility toward them and brought them into the land of their enemies—and if their uncircumcised hearts will be humbled and they will make amends for their iniquity, / then I will remember My covenant with Jacob and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

Psalm 106:6-7
We have sinned like our fathers; we have done wrong and acted wickedly. / Our fathers in Egypt did not grasp Your wonders or remember Your abundant kindness; but they rebelled by the sea, there at the Red Sea.

Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

Joel 2:12-13
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” / So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.

Ezekiel 18:30-32
Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. / Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? / For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!

Matthew 6:9-13
So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. / Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. / Give us this day our daily bread. ...

Luke 15:18-21
I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. / I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ / So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. ...

Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,

James 4:8-10
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. / Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. / Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


Treasury of Scripture

If they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, and toward the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for your name:

return

Deuteronomy 30:2-6
And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; …

Jeremiah 29:12-14
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you…

Hosea 14:1-4
O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity…

pray toward

2 Chronicles 33:11-13
Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon…

Daniel 9:3,4
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: …

the city

2 Chronicles 6:34
If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;

Daniel 6:10
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

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2 Chronicles 6
1. Solomon, having blessed the people, blessed God
12. Solomon's prayer in the consecration of the temple, upon the bronze platform.














and when they return to You
This phrase emphasizes repentance and turning back to God. The Hebrew root for "return" is "שׁוּב" (shuv), which means to turn back or repent. This concept is central to the Hebrew understanding of repentance, which involves a complete change of direction and a heartfelt return to God. Historically, this reflects the Israelites' cyclical pattern of sin, exile, repentance, and restoration, highlighting God's enduring mercy and willingness to forgive.

with all their heart and soul
The phrase underscores the totality of commitment required in repentance. "Heart" (לֵב, lev) and "soul" (נֶפֶשׁ, nephesh) in Hebrew encompass the entirety of one's being—emotions, will, and life force. This comprehensive devotion is a recurring biblical theme, calling believers to love and serve God with every aspect of their existence, as seen in the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:5).

in the land of their captivity
This phrase situates the verse in a historical context of exile, a consequence of Israel's disobedience. The "land of their captivity" refers to foreign lands where Israelites were taken, such as Babylon. Archaeological findings, like the Babylonian Chronicles, corroborate these exilic periods, providing a backdrop for understanding the depth of longing and repentance expressed in this prayer.

where they were taken
This highlights the involuntary nature of the exile, emphasizing the Israelites' powerlessness and the consequences of their actions. It serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the reality of divine judgment, yet also sets the stage for God's redemptive power to restore and bring His people back.

and when they pray toward the land
Praying toward the land signifies a physical and spiritual orientation towards God's promises. The land of Israel, given to the patriarchs, symbolizes God's covenant and faithfulness. This act of facing the land during prayer reflects a deep yearning for restoration and a return to the divine promises.

You gave their fathers
This phrase recalls the Abrahamic covenant, where God promised the land to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 15:18). It underscores God's faithfulness across generations and His unchanging nature. The historical continuity of God's promises provides hope and assurance to the exiled community.

the city You have chosen
Jerusalem, the chosen city, holds a central place in Jewish identity and worship. It is the site of the Temple, the dwelling place of God's presence. This choice by God elevates Jerusalem as a focal point of divine-human interaction and a symbol of God's sovereign election.

and the house I have built for Your Name
Referring to Solomon's Temple, this phrase highlights the Temple as a physical manifestation of God's presence and glory. "For Your Name" indicates that the Temple was dedicated to God's honor and reputation. The Temple's significance is not just architectural but deeply spiritual, serving as a place of worship, sacrifice, and divine encounter.

(38) In the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives.--Kings, "in the land of their enemies who carried them captives." The Syriac has, "in the cities of their captors who carried them captive." Perhaps their captivity is a corruption of their captors; or the relative ('asher), rendered whither, may refer to land, meaning the hostile nation, "in the land of their captivity which carried them captive."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and when they return
וְשָׁ֣בוּ (wə·šā·ḇū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

to You
אֵלֶ֗יךָ (’ê·le·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

with all
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

their heart
לִבָּם֙ (lib·bām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

and
וּבְכָל־ (ū·ḇə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

soul
נַפְשָׁ֔ם (nap̄·šām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

in the land
בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (bə·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of the enemies
שִׁבְיָ֖ם (šiḇ·yām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7633: Captivity, captives

who
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

took them captive,
שָׁב֣וּ (šā·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7617: To transport into captivity

and when they pray
וְהִֽתְפַּֽלְל֗וּ (wə·hiṯ·pal·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6419: To judge, to intercede, pray

in the direction
דֶּ֤רֶךְ (de·reḵ)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

of the land
אַרְצָם֙ (’ar·ṣām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 776: Earth, land

that
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

You gave
נָתַ֣תָּה (nā·ṯat·tāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

to their fathers,
לַאֲבוֹתָ֔ם (la·’ă·ḇō·w·ṯām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

the city
וְהָעִיר֙ (wə·hā·‘îr)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

You have chosen,
בָּחַ֔רְתָּ (bā·ḥar·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 977: To try, select

and the house
וְלַבַּ֖יִת (wə·lab·ba·yiṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

I have built
בָּנִ֥יתִי (bā·nî·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1129: To build

for Your Name,
לִשְׁמֶֽךָ׃ (liš·me·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8034: A name


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 6:38 If they return to you with all (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 6:37
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