Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 6:17

Now therefore is literally “And now.” As in the previous verse, this expression is a logical transition.

O LORD … let thy word be confirmed, which thou hast spoken to … David: The vocative O reflects nothing in the Hebrew and may be omitted in translation. Once again, the archaic pronouns thy and thou do not reflect different forms in Hebrew, so they should be translated as ordinary second person singular pronouns. The Hebrew verb rendered be confirmed expresses the idea of firmness or certainty. This verb may need to be expressed in an active form in some languages; for example, Contemporary English Version renders the whole verse as “Please keep this promise you made to your servant David,” and New Living Translation has “Now, O LORD, God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Chronicles 6:17

6:17a And now, O LORD, God of Israel,

“So now, Yahweh, God of Israel,
-or-
“Now, Yahweh, God of Israel,

6:17b please confirm what You promised to Your servant David.

do what you promised to your servant David.
-or-
please cause what you spoke to King David your servant to happen.

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