Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version No one is to enter the temple of the LORD except the priests and Levites on duty; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the others are to observe the LORD’s command not to enter. New Living Translation Remember, only the priests and Levites on duty may enter the Temple of the LORD, for they are set apart as holy. The rest of the people must obey the LORD’s instructions and stay outside. English Standard Version Let no one enter the house of the LORD except the priests and ministering Levites. They may enter, for they are holy, but all the people shall keep the charge of the LORD. Berean Standard Bible No one is to enter the house of the LORD except the priests and those Levites who serve; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the people are to obey the requirement of the LORD. King James Bible But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD. New King James Version But let no one come into the house of the LORD except the priests and those of the Levites who serve. They may go in, for they are holy; but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD. New American Standard Bible But no one is to enter the house of the LORD except the priests and the ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy. And all the people are to keep the command of the LORD. NASB 1995 “But let no one enter the house of the LORD except the priests and the ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy. And let all the people keep the charge of the LORD. NASB 1977 “But let no one enter the house of the LORD except the priests and the ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy. And let all the people keep the charge of the LORD. Legacy Standard Bible But let no one enter the house of Yahweh except the priests and the ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy. And let all the people keep the charge of Yahweh. Amplified Bible But let no one enter the house (temple) of the LORD except the priests and the Levites who minister; they may enter, for they are holy. And let all the people carefully observe the law of the LORD. Christian Standard Bible No one is to enter the LORD’s temple but the priests and those Levites who serve; they may enter because they are holy, but all the people are to obey the requirement of the LORD. Holman Christian Standard Bible No one is to enter the LORD’s temple but the priests and those Levites who serve; they may enter because they are holy, but all the people are to obey the requirement of the LORD. American Standard Version But let none come into the house of Jehovah, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall come in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the charge of Jehovah. Contemporary English Version Only the priests and Levites who are on duty will be able to enter the temple, because they will be the only ones who have gone through the ceremony to make themselves clean and acceptable. The others must stay outside in the courtyards, just as the LORD has commanded. English Revised Version But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall come in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD. GOD'S WORD® Translation No one should come into the LORD's temple except the priests and the Levites who are on duty with them. They may enter because they are holy, but all other people should follow the LORD's regulations. Good News Translation No one is to enter the Temple buildings except the priests and the Levites who are on duty. They may enter, because they are consecrated, but the rest of the people must obey the LORD's instructions and stay outside. International Standard Version Nobody is to enter the LORD's Temple except for the priests and descendants of Levi who are on duty. They may enter because they are ceremonially holy, but all the rest of the people must observe the LORD's instructions. Majority Standard Bible No one is to enter the house of the LORD except the priests and those Levites who serve; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the people are to obey the requirement of the LORD. NET Bible No one must enter the LORD's temple except the priests and Levites who are on duty. They may enter because they are ceremonially pure. All the others should carry out their assigned service to the LORD. New Heart English Bible But let no one come into the house of the LORD, except the priests, and those who minister of the Levites. They shall come in, for they are holy, but all the people shall follow the LORD's instructions. Webster's Bible Translation But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD. World English Bible But let no one come into Yahweh’s house except the priests and those who minister of the Levites. They shall come in, for they are holy, but all the people shall follow Yahweh’s instructions. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd none enter the house of YHWH except the priests, and those ministering of the Levites (they go in for they [are] holy), and all the people keep the watch of YHWH; Young's Literal Translation And none doth enter the house of Jehovah except the priests, and those ministering of the Levites (they go in for they are holy), and all the people keep the watch of Jehovah: Smith's Literal Translation And they shall not come into the house of Jehovah except the priests and those serving to the Levites; they shall come in for they are holy: and all the people shall watch the watches of Jehovah. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd let no one come into the house of the Lord, but the priests, and they that minister of the Levites: let them only come in, because they are sanctified : and let all the rest of the people keep the watches of the Lord. Catholic Public Domain Version Let no one else enter into the house of the Lord, except the priests, and those from the Levites who are ministering. These alone may enter, for they have been sanctified. And let all the remainder of the common people observe the watches of the Lord. New American Bible Let no one enter the LORD’s house except the priests and those Levites who are ministering. They may enter because they are holy; but all the other people must observe the prescriptions of the LORD. New Revised Standard Version Do not let anyone enter the house of the LORD except the priests and ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy, but all the other people shall observe the instructions of the LORD. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut let no one enter the house of the LORD except the priests and the Levites; they shall enter, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep watch over the house of the LORD. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And there shall not be a man entering the house of LORD JEHOVAH but the Priests and the Levites; those shall enter, because they are hallowed, and all the people keep guard of the house of LORD JEHOVAH. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall come in, for they are holy; but all the people shall keep the charge of the LORD. Brenton Septuagint Translation And let not any one enter into the house of the Lord, except the priests and the Levites, and the servants of the Levites; they shall enter in, because they are holy: and let all the people keep the watch of the Lord. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Joash Anointed King in Judah…5a third shall be at the royal palace, and a third at the Foundation Gate, while all the others are in the courtyards of the house of the LORD. 6No one is to enter the house of the LORD except the priests and those Levites who serve; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the people are to obey the requirement of the LORD. 7The Levites must surround the king with weapons in hand, and anyone who enters the temple must be put to death. You must stay close to the king wherever he goes.”… Cross References 1 Kings 6:12-13 “As for this temple you are building, if you walk in My statutes, carry out My ordinances, and keep all My commandments by walking in them, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father David. / And I will dwell among the Israelites and will not abandon My people Israel.” 1 Kings 8:10-11 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD / so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. 1 Kings 8:29 May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. 1 Kings 8:35-36 When the skies are shut and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and they turn from their sins because You have afflicted them, / then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, so that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk. May You send rain on the land that You gave Your people as an inheritance. 1 Kings 8:41-43 And as for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your name— / for they will hear of Your great name and mighty hand and outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple, / then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You. Then all the peoples of the earth will know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and they will know that this house I have built is called by Your Name. 1 Kings 8:48-49 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, / then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, their prayer and petition, and may You uphold their cause. 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud / so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of God. 2 Chronicles 6:20 May Your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your Name, so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. 2 Chronicles 6:32-33 And as for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your great name and Your mighty hand and outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple, / then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You. Then all the peoples of the earth will know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and they will know that this house I have built is called by Your Name. 2 Chronicles 6:38-39 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, / then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, their prayer and pleas, and may You uphold their cause. May You forgive Your people who sinned against You. 2 Chronicles 7:15-16 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. / For I have now chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will be there for all time. Psalm 24:3-4 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place? / He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully. Psalm 27:4 One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple. Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the one You choose and bring near to dwell in Your courts! We are filled with the goodness of Your house, the holiness of Your temple. Isaiah 56:7 I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” Treasury of Scripture But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD. they that minister 2 Kings 11:6,7 And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down… 1 Chronicles 23:28-32 Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God; … Jump to Previous Charge Consecrated Duty Enter Except Holy House Instruction Levites Minister Ministering Orders Priests Rest Save Temple WatchJump to Next Charge Consecrated Duty Enter Except Holy House Instruction Levites Minister Ministering Orders Priests Rest Save Temple Watch2 Chronicles 23 1. Jehoiada, having set things in order, makes joash king12. Athaliah is slain 16. Jehoiada restores the worship of God No one is to enter the house of the LORD except the priests and those Levites who serve; This phrase emphasizes the sanctity and exclusivity of the temple service. The temple, as the dwelling place of God, was to be approached with reverence and only by those who were consecrated for service. The priests and Levites were set apart for this purpose, highlighting the importance of holiness and order in worship. This restriction underscores the separation between the holy and the common, a theme prevalent throughout the Old Testament. The Levites were descendants of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, specifically chosen for temple duties (Numbers 3:6-10). This separation also foreshadows the New Testament concept of believers as a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), where access to God is granted through Christ, the ultimate High Priest. they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the people are to obey the requirement of the LORD. Persons / Places / Events 1. Jehoiada the PriestA key figure in the restoration of the Davidic line, Jehoiada orchestrated the overthrow of Queen Athaliah and the crowning of Joash as king. His leadership was crucial in re-establishing proper worship practices. 2. The House of the LORD Refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, the central place of worship for the Israelites, where God's presence dwelt among His people. 3. Levites Members of the tribe of Levi, set apart for religious duties. They assisted the priests and were responsible for the care and service of the Temple. 4. Priests Descendants of Aaron, tasked with performing sacrifices and maintaining the sanctity of the Temple. They were the only ones allowed to enter the most sacred areas. 5. Athaliah The usurping queen of Judah who was overthrown by Jehoiada's coup, leading to the restoration of rightful worship and leadership. Teaching Points Holiness and ReverenceThe command for only priests and ministering Levites to enter the Temple underscores the importance of holiness and reverence in worship. We are reminded to approach God with respect and purity in our own spiritual practices. Order and Obedience The structure and order established by God for Temple service highlight the need for obedience to His commands. In our lives, adhering to God's instructions brings about His intended order and blessing. Role of Spiritual Leadership Jehoiada's leadership exemplifies the impact of godly leadership in guiding people back to true worship. Spiritual leaders today are called to lead with integrity and faithfulness to God's Word. Community and Worship While only certain individuals could enter the Temple, the entire community was involved in worship. This reflects the collective responsibility of believers to support and participate in the worship and work of the church.(6) But let none come into the house of the Lord.--This verse is not read in Kings. Apparently it is merely an emphatic repetition of the direction of the last verse that all the people were to remain in the courts, and not to break the law by presuming to enter the holy chambers. In 2Kings 11:7 we read instead: "And the two parts among you, all that go out on the Sabbath, they shall keep the watch of the house of the Lord, with regard to the king." The last words of the present verse, "And all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord" repeat a portion of this, but in a different sense: "Let all the people carefully observe the legal rule against entering the sanctuary."Verse 6. - But let none come... save the priests. Through this little chink we get some light confirmatory of the concurrent jurisdiction of the account in the parallel The express caution of this clause shows that there were others about, and others officiating, beside the Levites, who only have been mentioned hitherto in our text, except under the most generic designation (as before, so again in last clause of this verse) of "all the people." The last clause of this verse may cover the contents of ver. 7 in the parallel. The distinction between "the courts of the house of the Lord" (ver. 5), and "the house of the Lord" (ver. 6) is, of course, quite apparent. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Noוְאַל־ (wə·’al-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb Strong's 408: Not one is to enter יָב֣וֹא (yā·ḇō·w) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go the house בֵית־ (ḇêṯ-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1004: A house of the LORD יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel except כִּ֤י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction the priests הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ (hak·kō·hă·nîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 3548: Priest and those Levites לַלְוִיִּ֔ם (lal·wî·yim) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine plural Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi who serve; וְהַמְשָׁרְתִ֣ים (wə·ham·šā·rə·ṯîm) Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 8334: To attend as a, menial, worshipper, to contribute to they הֵ֥מָּה (hêm·māh) Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They may enter יָבֹ֖אוּ (yā·ḇō·’ū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go because כִּי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction they הֵ֑מָּה (hêm·māh) Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They are consecrated, קֹ֣דֶשׁ (qō·ḏeš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity but all וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the people הָעָ֔ם (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock are to obey יִשְׁמְר֖וּ (yiš·mə·rū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to the requirement מִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת (miš·me·reṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 4931: A guard, watch, charge, function of the LORD. יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel Links 2 Chronicles 23:6 NIV2 Chronicles 23:6 NLT 2 Chronicles 23:6 ESV 2 Chronicles 23:6 NASB 2 Chronicles 23:6 KJV 2 Chronicles 23:6 BibleApps.com 2 Chronicles 23:6 Biblia Paralela 2 Chronicles 23:6 Chinese Bible 2 Chronicles 23:6 French Bible 2 Chronicles 23:6 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Chronicles 23:6 But let none come into the house (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr) |
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