2 Chronicles 21 14

2 Chronicles 21:14 kjv

Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:

2 Chronicles 21:14 nkjv

behold, the LORD will strike your people with a serious affliction?your children, your wives, and all your possessions;

2 Chronicles 21:14 niv

So now the LORD is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives and everything that is yours, with a heavy blow.

2 Chronicles 21:14 esv

behold, the LORD will bring a great plague on your people, your children, your wives, and all your possessions,

2 Chronicles 21:14 nlt

So now the LORD is about to strike you, your people, your children, your wives, and all that is yours with a heavy blow.

2 Chronicles 21 verses

2 Chronicles 21 14 Meaning

2 Chronicles 21:14 presents a severe divine pronouncement against King Jehoram of Judah, delivered through the prophet Elijah. It declares that as a consequence of his grievous sins—particularly his departure from God's ways and the murder of his own brothers—the LORD will inflict a catastrophic "great plague" upon his people. This judgment will comprehensively affect his household, specifically targeting his sons, his wives, and all his material wealth and possessions, signifying a complete dismantling of his family and legacy.

2 Chronicles 21 14 Context

Chapter 21 of 2 Chronicles details the wicked reign of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, over Judah. Despite his father's godly example, Jehoram turned fully to idolatry and apostasy, establishing practices of the wicked kings of Israel (Ahab's lineage, through his wife Athaliah). His reign began with the heinous act of murdering his own brothers to solidify his power (v. 4). This verse (v. 14) is part of a prophetic letter sent to Jehoram by the prophet Elijah (v. 12). This is noteworthy as Elijah's ministry was primarily to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and this letter comes after his ascension, perhaps reflecting a posthumous spiritual pronouncement or an indication that the Spirit of the LORD still uses His departed prophets. The letter lays out the direct consequences for Jehoram's unfaithfulness and bloodguilt, warning of national judgment affecting not just him but also his household and the broader population due to his corrupting influence as king. This divine judgment through plague and destruction would contrast with the blessings of the Davidic covenant which his righteous predecessors enjoyed.

2 Chronicles 21 14 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh): An interjection used to draw immediate and serious attention to the coming announcement. It indicates the certainty and importance of the prophetic message, emphasizing it as a direct divine pronouncement rather than a mere prediction.
• the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, indicating His personal, active, and sovereign involvement in this judgment. It signifies that this is not an arbitrary misfortune but a deliberate act by the holy God of Israel who is faithful to His word and covenant principles, including those pertaining to judgment on sin.
• will strike (נֹגֵף - nogeph from נָגַף - nagaph): Meaning "to smite," "to strike down," "to plague." This verb conveys a forceful, direct, and intentional act of divine visitation. It implies a swift and decisive blow, often used in contexts of military defeat or the sending of an epidemic by God.
• your people (עַמְּךָ - ‘ammĕḵā): Refers to the citizens of Judah over whom Jehoram rules. The judgment extends beyond the king himself to the broader populace, highlighting the ripple effect of a leader's sin and the concept of corporate consequence. It also signifies that the land and its inhabitants, by association with their king's rebellion, share in the impending calamity.
• great plague (מַגֵּפָה גְּדוֹלָה - maggephah gedolah):
  • Plague (מַגֵּפָה - maggephah): Literally "a stroke" or "blow," it denotes a calamity, usually a divinely sent pestilence, epidemic, or devastating affliction leading to death.
  • Great (גְּדוֹלָה - gedolah): Emphasizes the severe, widespread, and devastating nature of the coming affliction. It suggests an extraordinary and comprehensive calamity, beyond common misfortune.
• your sons (בָּנֶיךָ - bāneḵā): Refers to Jehoram's male descendants, crucial for maintaining his dynastic line. Their inclusion in the judgment targets the very future and legacy he hoped to secure, especially after killing his brothers.
• your wives (וְנָשֶׁיךָ - wĕnāsheyḵā): His wives, indicating that the judgment would encompass the entire immediate royal family unit, destroying his marital household and perhaps indicating shame and disgrace.
• and all your possessions (וְכָל רְכוּשְׁךָ - wĕḵol rĕḵushḵā): Refers to his property, wealth, and material belongings, symbolizing the complete stripping away of his security, earthly treasures, and the resources that typically signified royal power and prosperity.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Behold, the LORD will strike": This phrase emphasizes divine initiative and irresistible power. It's a declaration of God's active involvement, assuring Jehoram that this punishment is a direct consequence from the sovereign ruler of the universe.
• "your people... your sons, your wives, and all your possessions": This group specifies the comprehensive and multi-faceted nature of the judgment. It's not limited to Jehoram's person, but devastates everything he valued: his kingdom, his lineage, his intimate relations, and his wealth. This highlights that divine judgment can be sweeping, affecting all aspects of a disobedient person or king's life.

2 Chronicles 21 14 Bonus section

• The fact that Elijah, traditionally associated with the Northern Kingdom, sent a letter to a king in the Southern Kingdom, Judah, underscores the unified moral standard and sovereign reach of YHWH over all Israel, North and South. It demonstrates God's prophetic word transcends political and geographical divides.
• The nature of the "plague" (מַגֵּפָה) here is open to a wider interpretation than just epidemic disease. As history later confirms (2 Chr 21:16-17), this "strike" materialized partly through foreign incursions (Arabs and Philistines) who raided Jerusalem, plundered the palace, and indeed carried away all Jehoram's wives and all his sons save the youngest. This demonstrates how God's judgment can manifest in varied, often unexpected, yet equally devastating ways, through natural disaster, disease, or human agents.
• The judgment on Jehoram's house reflects a recurring theme in the Old Testament, where God decisively cuts off or severely limits the line of wicked kings, illustrating that human attempts to secure dynasties through sin are futile before God's decree. This happened to the houses of Jeroboam, Baasha, Zimri, and Ahab in Israel (1 Kgs 14:10-11, 1 Kgs 15:29-30, 1 Kgs 16:3-4, 1 Kgs 21:21-24).

2 Chronicles 21 14 Commentary

2 Chronicles 21:14 stands as a solemn testament to God's uncompromising justice in the face of flagrant disobedience, particularly from a leader whose actions affect an entire nation. The divine pronouncement, delivered by Elijah, underlines the principle that despite God's covenant loyalty (to David's line, v. 7), individual kings who deviate from divine standards face dire, personal consequences. Jehoram's deliberate descent into idolatry and fratricide merited a "great plague" — not merely a natural disaster, but a divinely orchestrated strike. The prophecy’s focus on his "people," "sons," "wives," and "possessions" reveals the extensive and total nature of God's wrath, leaving him devoid of lineage, companionship, and earthly security. This judgment serves as a stark warning to all who occupy positions of influence: accountability before God is inescapable, and one's unfaithfulness can lead to comprehensive devastation affecting all that they hold dear. Ultimately, this fulfilled prophecy reminds us of God’s active reign, His perfect justice, and the serious consequences of spiritual rebellion.