2 Chronicles 12 14

2 Chronicles 12:14 kjv

And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

2 Chronicles 12:14 nkjv

And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD.

2 Chronicles 12:14 niv

He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the LORD.

2 Chronicles 12:14 esv

And he did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.

2 Chronicles 12:14 nlt

But he was an evil king, for he did not seek the LORD with all his heart.

2 Chronicles 12 verses

2 Chronicles 12 14 Meaning

This verse summarily evaluates King Rehoboam's reign, stating that he continually did what was evil. The reason for this pervasive evil was his fundamental failure to prepare or direct his heart with unwavering resolve to genuinely seek the LORD, indicating a lack of consistent, internal spiritual commitment.

2 Chronicles 12 14 Context

2 Chronicles Chapter 12 details the final years of King Rehoboam's reign after the division of the kingdom. Initially, Rehoboam strengthens his position in Judah by building fortified cities (11:5-12). However, his period of relative stability gives way to spiritual decline; "he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him" (12:1). As a result, God sends Pharaoh Shishak of Egypt to invade Judah. This invasion serves as divine discipline (12:2-5). Faced with imminent destruction, Rehoboam and the leaders humble themselves (12:6), and God, seeing their temporary repentance, withdraws His full wrath, preventing Jerusalem's total destruction, but allows them to be Shishak's servants as a lesson (12:7-8). The Temple treasures are plundered. Verse 12:14 serves as a summary evaluation of Rehoboam's reign, appearing right after his years of rule are mentioned (v.13) and before his death. Despite moments of humility, his overall spiritual posture was deemed evil by the chronicler, rooted in a lack of sincere and persistent dedication to God. This evaluation highlights the chronicler's emphasis on a king's spiritual walk as the key measure of his rule.

2 Chronicles 12 14 Word analysis

• And he did evil (וַיַּעַשׂ הָרָע - va'ya'as ha'ra):

  • Va'ya'as (וַיַּעַשׂ) means "and he did/made."
  • Ha'ra (הָרָע) means "the evil." The definite article ha ("the") indicates a specific and well-known category of wicked actions, implying a consistent pattern of evil, not just an isolated incident. It suggests a settled course of conduct contrary to God's will throughout his reign.

• because (כִּי - ki):

  • This conjunction means "for" or "because." It introduces the precise underlying reason or fundamental cause for Rehoboam's continuous evil. It links his external behavior directly to his internal spiritual condition.

• he prepared not his heart (לֹא הֵכִין לִבּוֹ - lo hekhin libo):

  • Lo (לֹא) is the negation "not."
  • Hekhin (הֵכִין) is from the verb kun in the Hiphil stem, meaning "to make ready," "to establish firmly," "to direct," or "to set one's course." It denotes a deliberate, resolute, and unwavering commitment.
  • Libo (לִבּוֹ) means "his heart." In biblical thought, the heart is the core of the human being—the seat of intellect, will, emotions, and moral character.
  • Thus, "he prepared not his heart" signifies a profound failure to make a firm, conscious decision and sustained internal commitment towards God. His inner self was unfocused, wavering, and lacked consistent devotion.

• to seek the LORD (לִדְרוֹשׁ יְהוָה - lidrosh Adonai):

  • Lidrosh (לִדְרוֹשׁ) is from the verb darash (דָּרַשׁ), meaning "to seek diligently," "to inquire of," "to earnestly pursue." It implies active, dedicated effort in searching for God's will, guidance, and presence.
  • Adonai (יְהוָה) is the covenant name of God, the LORD, signifying His personal relationship with His people and His authority.
  • "To seek the LORD" represents the entire spiritual life of faith, obedience, and dependence upon God, rather than relying on oneself or worldly powers. Rehoboam lacked this persistent, earnest seeking as his primary motivation.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "he did evil, because he prepared not his heart": This highlights a direct correlation between inner disposition and outward behavior. The chronicler attributes Rehoboam's consistent evil to a deficiency in his inner spiritual resolve. External actions are seen as a natural overflow of the heart's true condition and focus.
  • "prepared not his heart to seek the LORD": This full phrase profoundly summarizes Rehoboam's spiritual failing. It indicates that any religious actions he performed were not rooted in a settled, determined commitment to pursuing God. His "seeking" was not wholehearted, possibly opportunistic or a response to crisis, but never became the steadfast purpose of his inner being, thus leading to a verdict of overall evil.

2 Chronicles 12 14 Bonus section

The theological importance of the "heart" in Chronicles is critical, especially regarding kingship. The chronicler frequently assesses kings based on whether their hearts were fully committed or "prepared" to God (e.g., Asa's heart was blameless, 2 Chron 15:17, while Joash did not set his heart to seek God fully, 2 Chron 24:2). Rehoboam's failure here contrasts with David's passionate instruction to Solomon to "seek the LORD with all your heart and with all your soul" (1 Chron 28:9) and with Ezra's diligent "preparing his heart to study the Law" (Ezra 7:10). This emphasis on the inner disposition over mere outward compliance is a central theological thread, highlighting that true faithfulness is an internal state of resolve that directs one's entire life and actions towards God's will.

2 Chronicles 12 14 Commentary

2 Chronicles 12:14 serves as a concise yet powerful epigram summarizing King Rehoboam's reign from the chronicler's perspective. It states unequivocally that he "did evil," providing the direct spiritual reason: he "prepared not his heart to seek the LORD." This means his spiritual actions were not consistent nor motivated by deep internal conviction and devotion. While Rehoboam momentarily humbled himself under God's judgment (12:6), this verse suggests that his repentance was superficial or short-lived, failing to transform into a steadfast commitment. True godly living, according to the chronicler, stems from a deliberate, firm resolve to earnestly pursue God's will and presence. Rehoboam lacked this essential inward disposition, leading to an overall characterization of his kingship as evil despite any temporary positive actions. The verse stands as a profound reminder that mere external performance or crisis-driven religion is insufficient; a truly "prepared heart" focused on "seeking the LORD" is paramount for living righteously and honoring God.