What does 2 Chronicles 5:13 mean?
"It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;" - 2 Chronicles 5:13

2 Chronicles 5:13 in the KJV version reads: "It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord;"
This verse comes from the Old Testament, specifically from 2 Chronicles, which is the second part of a two-volume work that provides a history of the kings of Judah. The passage describes the dedication of Solomon's Temple, a momentous event in the history of Israel. The temple was a central place of worship for the Israelites, and the dedication ceremony was a significant event marked by solemnity and joy.
One of the key themes in this verse is the power of unity in worship. The verse describes how the trumpeters and singers were "as one" in making a sound to praise and thank the Lord. This unity of purpose and action is a powerful symbol of the collective praise and gratitude of the people of Israel. It emphasizes the importance of coming together in worship, setting aside differences and individual concerns in order to focus on the one true God.
The use of music and instruments in worship is also highlighted in this verse. The lifting up of voices with trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments of music adds a dynamic and vibrant element to the worship experience. Music has always been an integral part of religious worship, serving to uplift and inspire worshippers and create a sense of reverence and awe. In this context, the use of music and instruments is a powerful symbol of the creativity and beauty that can be expressed in worship.
The verse goes on to describe how the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud as a result of the collective praise and thanksgiving of the people. This cloud is often interpreted as a visible sign of God's presence and favor. In the Old Testament, a cloud often symbolizes the presence of God, as seen in the story of the Exodus when God led the Israelites through the wilderness in a pillar of cloud. In this verse, the cloud filling the temple signifies the tangible presence of God in response to the unified worship of the people.
The phrase "For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever" is a declaration of praise and thanksgiving that is repeated throughout the Bible. It is a reminder of God's enduring goodness and mercy, emphasizing his faithfulness and unfailing love for his people. This statement serves as a foundation for the worship of the Israelites and is a powerful declaration of their trust and confidence in God.
Overall, 2 Chronicles 5:13 is a rich and multi-layered verse that captures the essence of worship and the power of collective praise and thanksgiving. It conveys a sense of unity, creativity, and the tangible presence of God in the midst of worship. It also serves as a powerful reminder of God's enduring goodness and mercy, inspiring worshippers to come together in celebration and gratitude.
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2 Chronicles 5:13 - "It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;"
"It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;" - 2 Chronicles 5:13
2 Chronicles 13:5 - "Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?"
1 Chronicles 5:13 - "And their brethren of the house of their fathers were, Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jachan, and Zia, and Heber, seven."
2 Chronicles 6:13
2 chronicles 13:12
1 Chronicles 2:5 - "The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul."
2 Chronicles 2:13 - "And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's,"
2 Chronicles 13:13 - "¶ But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them."
2 Chronicles 5:4 - "And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark."
2 Chronicles 2:5 - "And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods."
2 Chronicles 29:13 - "And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah:"
2 Chronicles 11:5 - "¶ And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah."
2 Chronicles 20:13 - "And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children."
2 Chronicles 13:16 - "And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand."
1 Chronicles 2:13 - "¶ And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third,"
2 Chronicles 5:5 - "And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up."
2 Chronicles 13:1 - "Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah."
2 Chronicles 10:13 - "And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,"
2 Chronicles 16:13 - "¶ And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign."
2 Chronicles 11:13 - "¶ And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts."
2 Chronicles 34:5 - "And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem."
2 Chronicles 18:13 - "And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak."
2 Chronicles 13:22 - "And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo."
2 Chronicles 13:2 - "He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam."
1 Chronicles 13:5 - "So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath-jearim."
2 Chronicles 20:5 - "¶ And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,"
2 Chronicles 33:5 - "And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD."
2 Chronicles 13:21 - "¶ But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters."
2 Chronicles 3:13 - "The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward."