Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026
the Third Week after Easter
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

King James Version (1611 Edition)

2 Chronicles 23:6

But let none come into the house of the Lord, saue the Priests, & they that minister of the Leuites, they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keepe the watch of the Lord.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Israel, Prophecies Concerning;   Zeal, Religious;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Kings;   Levites, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Athaliah;   Joash or Jehoash;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Athaliah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jehoiada;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Adaiah;   Chronicles, I;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jehoiada ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Joash;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Anoint;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Criticism (the Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis);   Jehoiada;   Priests and Levites;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Athaliah;  

Parallel Translations

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.
Hebrew Names Version
But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the Kohanim, and those who minister of the Levites; they shall come in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the charge of the LORD.
King James Version
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 .
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 .
New Century Version
Don't let anyone come into the Temple of the Lord except the priests and Levites who serve. They may come because they have been made ready to serve the Lord , but all the others must do the job the Lord has given them.
New English Translation
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 .
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.
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.
World English Bible
But let none come into the house of Yahweh, save the priests, and those who minister of the Levites; they shall come in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the charge of Yahweh.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But let none come into the house of the Lord, saue the Priests, & the Leuites that minister: they shal go in, for they are holy: but all the people shal keepe the watch 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.
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.
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.
Complete Jewish Bible
No one is to enter the house of Adonai except the cohanim and those L'vi'im who are actually performing the service. These may enter, because they are holy; but all the people are to observe Adonai 's order.
Darby Translation
But let none come into the house of Jehovah except the priests and those of the Levites that do the service; they shall go in, for they are holy; but all the people shall keep the watch of Jehovah.
Easy-to-Read Version
Only the priests and Levites who serve in the Lord 's Temple are permitted to enter it. They are the only ones who have been made holy. Don't let anyone else enter. All the others must do only the work the Lord has given them.
George Lamsa Translation
But 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.
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.
Lexham English Bible
Let no one enter into the house of Yahweh except the priests and the ministering Levites. They themselves may enter, for they are holy, but all the people shall keep the requirements of Yahweh.
Literal Translation
And no one shall enter the house of Jehovah except the priests and those ministering of the Levites; they may go in, for they are holy; and all the people shall keep the watch of Jehovah.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and that no man go in to the house of the LORDE, excepte the prestes and Leuites that mynister there, they shal go in: for they are halowed. And let all ye people wayte vpon the LORDE.
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.
Bible in Basic English
But let no one come into the house of the Lord but only the priests and those of the Levites who have work to do there; they may go in for they are holy; but the rest of the people are to keep the orders of the Lord.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But there shal none come into the house of the Lorde, saue the priestes and they that minister vnto the Leuites, they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shal kepe the watch of the Lord.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
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 charge of the LORD.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
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.
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.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and noon other man entre in to the hows of the Lord, no but preestis, and thei that mynystren of the dekenes; oneli entre thei, that ben halewid, and al the tother comyn puple kepe the kepyngis of the Lord.
Update Bible Version
But let none come into the house of Yahweh, save the priests, and those that minister of the Levites; they shall come in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the charge of Yahweh.
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.
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 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.
New Life Bible
But let no one come into the house of the Lord except the religious leaders and the Levite helpers. They may come in, for they are holy. But let all the other people obey the law against going into the holy place of the Lord.
New Revised Standard
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 .
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
then let no one enter the house of Yahweh, save only the priests, and they who are in attendance of the Levites, they, may enter, for, holy, they are,-but, all the people, shall keep the watch of Yahweh.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And 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.
Revised 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.
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:
THE MESSAGE
In the seventh year the priest Jehoiada decided to make his move and worked out a strategy with certain influential officers in the army. He picked Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri as his associates. They dispersed throughout Judah and called in the Levites from all the towns in Judah along with the heads of families. They met in Jerusalem. The gathering met in The Temple of God. They made a covenant there in The Temple. The priest Jehoiada showed them the young prince and addressed them: "Here he is—the son of the king. He is going to rule just as God promised regarding the sons of David. Now this is what you must do: A third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath are to be posted as security guards at the gates; another third will guard the palace; and the other third will guard the foundation gate. All the people will gather in the courtyards of The Temple of God . No one may enter The Temple of God except the priests and designated Levites—they are permitted in because they've been consecrated, but all the people must do the work assigned them. The Levites are to form a ring around the young king, weapons at the ready. Kill anyone who tries to break through your ranks. Your job is to stay with the king at all times and places, coming and going." All the Levites and officers obeyed the orders of Jehoiada the priest. Each took charge of his men, both those who came on duty on the Sabbath and those who went off duty on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest hadn't exempted any of them from duty. Then the priest armed the officers with spears and the large and small shields originally belonging to King David that were stored in The Temple of God. Well-armed, the guards took up their assigned positions for protecting the king, from one end of The Temple to the other, surrounding both Altar and Temple. Then the priest brought the prince into view, crowned him, handed him the scroll of God's covenant, and made him king. As Jehoiada and his sons anointed him they shouted, "Long live the king!" Athaliah, hearing all the commotion, the people running around and praising the king, came to The Temple to see what was going on. Astonished, she saw the young king standing at the entrance flanked by the captains and heralds, with everybody beside themselves with joy, trumpets blaring, the choir and orchestra leading the praise. Athaliah ripped her robes in dismay and shouted, "Treason! Treason!" Jehoiada the priest ordered the military officers, "Drag her outside—and kill anyone who tries to follow her!" (The priest had said, "Don't kill her inside The Temple of God .") So they dragged her out to the palace's horse corral and there they killed her. Jehoiada now made a covenant between himself and the king and the people: they were to be God 's special people. The people poured into the temple of Baal and tore it down, smashing altar and images to smithereens. They killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altar. Jehoiada turned the care of God 's Temple over to the priests and Levites, the way David had directed originally. They were to offer the Whole-Burnt-Offerings of God as set out in The Revelation of Moses, and with praise and song as directed by David. He also assigned security guards at the gates of God 's Temple so that no one who was unprepared could enter. Then he got everyone together—officers, nobles, governors, and the people themselves—and escorted the king down from The Temple of God , through the Upper Gate, and placed him on the royal throne. Everybody celebrated the event. And the city was safe and undisturbed—Athaliah had been killed; no more Athaliah terror.
New American Standard Bible (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.

Contextual Overview

1 And in the seuenth yeere Iehoiada strengthened himselfe, and tooke the captaines of hundreds, Azariah the sonne of Ieroham, and Ishmael the sonne of Iehohanan, and Azariah the sonne of Obed, and Maasiah the sonne of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the sonne of Zichri, into couenant with him. 2 And they went about in Iudah, and gathered the Leuites out of all the cities of Iudah, and the chiefe of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Ierusalem. 3 And all the Congregation made a couenant with the king in the house of God: and he said vnto them, Beholde, the kings sonne shall reigne, as the Lord hath said of the sonnes of Dauid. 4 This is the thing that yee shall doe, A third part of you entring on the Sabbath, of the priests and of the Leuites, shalbe porters of the doores. 5 And a thirde part shall bee at the kings house, and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the Courts of the house of the Lord. 6 But let none come into the house of the Lord, saue the Priests, & they that minister of the Leuites, they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keepe the watch of the Lord. 7 And the Leuites shall compasse the king round about, euery man with his weapons in his hand, and whosoeuer else commeth into the house, hee shalbe put to death: but be you with the King when he commeth in, and when he goeth out. 8 So the Leuites and all Iudah did according to all things that Iehoiada the Priest had commanded: and tooke euery man his men that were to come in on the Sabbath, with them that were to goe out on the Sabbath: for Iehoiada the Priest dismissed not the courses. 9 Moreouer, Iehoiada the Priest deliuered to the captaines of hundreds, speares and bucklers, and shields, that had bene King Dauids, which were in the house of God. 10 And hee set all the people (euery man hauing his weapon in his hand) from the right side of the Temple, to the left side of the Temple, along by the Altar and the Temple, by the King, round about.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

they that minister: 2 Kings 11:6, 2 Kings 11:7, 1 Chronicles 23:28-32

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 33:8 - with thy Nehemiah 12:45 - the ward

Cross-References

Genesis 13:2
And Abram was very rich in cattell, in siluer, and in gold.
Genesis 14:14
And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captiue, he armed his trained seruants borne in his owne house, three hundred and eighteene, and pursued them vnto Dan.
Genesis 18:12
Therefore Sarah laughed within her selfe, saying, After I am waxed old, shall I haue pleasure, my lord being old also?
Genesis 21:22
And it came to passe at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chiefe captaine of his hoste spake vnto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest.
Genesis 23:1
And Sarah was an hundred and seuen and twenty yeeres olde: these were the yeeres of the life of Sarah.
Genesis 23:2
And Sarah died in Kiriath arba, the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: And Abraham came to mourne for Sarah, and to weepe for her.
Genesis 23:4
I am a stranger and a soiourner with you: giue me a possession of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
Genesis 23:5
And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying vnto him,
Genesis 24:18
And she said, Drinke, my lord: and she hasted, and let downe her pitcher vpon her hand, and gaue him drinke.
Genesis 24:35
And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly, and hee is become great: and hee hath giuen him flocks, and heards, and siluer, and gold, and men seruants, and mayd seruants, and camels, and asses.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

:-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Keep the watch of the Lord - i. e. guard against any attempt that might be made by the Baal-worshippers to force their way through the courts into the temple.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile