2 Chronicles 24:13 kjv
So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.
2 Chronicles 24:13 nkjv
So the workmen labored, and the work was completed by them; they restored the house of God to its original condition and reinforced it.
2 Chronicles 24:13 niv
The men in charge of the work were diligent, and the repairs progressed under them. They rebuilt the temple of God according to its original design and reinforced it.
2 Chronicles 24:13 esv
So those who were engaged in the work labored, and the repairing went forward in their hands, and they restored the house of God to its proper condition and strengthened it.
2 Chronicles 24:13 nlt
The men in charge of the renovation worked hard and made steady progress. They restored the Temple of God according to its original design and strengthened it.
2 Chronicles 24 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 36:5-7 | "The people are bringing much more than enough for the service... For the work was sufficient..." | God's people freely gave to build His house. |
| 1 Ki 6:7 | "The house, while it was being built, was built of stone...so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool..." | Precision and care in Solomon's original temple construction. |
| 1 Chr 29:1 | "David... Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the work is great; for the temple..." | Great work requires great effort and resources. |
| Neh 4:6 | "So we built the wall, and all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work." | Diligence and unified effort in reconstruction. |
| Ezra 6:14-15 | "And the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai... So they finished the building..." | Success in rebuilding God's house due to divine aid. |
| Hag 1:7-8 | "Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified..." | Call to prioritize God's house for His pleasure. |
| Isa 58:12 | "Those from among you shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach..." | Spiritual restoration through rebuilding and repair. |
| Psa 102:16 | "For the Lord shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory." | God Himself builds and restores His spiritual dwelling. |
| Zech 8:9 | "Thus says the Lord of hosts: Let your hands be strong, you who hear in these days these words... that the temple might be built." | Encouragement for hands to be strong in building God's house. |
| John 2:19-21 | "Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” But He was speaking of the temple of His body." | Christ as the ultimate temple, undergoing destruction and restoration. |
| 1 Cor 3:9-10 | "For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building... But let each one take heed how he builds on it." | Believers as builders in God's spiritual temple. |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" | Individual believers as the temple of the Holy Spirit, needing "upkeep". |
| Eph 2:20-22 | "having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord..." | The church as a growing, holy temple in the Lord. |
| Phil 1:6 | "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ..." | God completes His good work, paralleling the completion of human work for God. |
| Tit 3:14 | "And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful." | Call to diligent and fruitful work for practical needs. |
| 2 Cor 9:6-7 | "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart..." | Principles of giving supporting work like temple repair. |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house..." | God’s command for generous giving to sustain His house. |
| Neh 2:18 | "...and they said, ‘Let us rise up and build.’ So they strengthened their hands for the good work." | The spirit of willingness and dedication to rebuild. |
| Ps 93:5 | "Your testimonies are very sure; Holiness adorns Your house, O Lord, forever." | The permanence and holiness of God's house. |
| Psa 127:1 | "Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it..." | Human effort requires divine blessing and presence for true success. |
| Jer 33:6 | "Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth." | God's ultimate work of healing and restoration for His people and land. |
| Eze 36:33-34 | "Thus says the Lord God: 'On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the waste places shall be rebuilt...'" | God's restoration involving rebuilding desolate places. |
2 Chronicles 24 verses
2 Chronicles 24 13 Meaning
2 Chronicles 24:13 details the successful and diligent efforts of the workers commissioned to repair and restore the temple of the Lord during King Joash's reign. The verse emphasizes the completeness and quality of their work, signifying that the temple was not merely patched but meticulously returned to its original integrity and reinforced for future strength, reflecting a faithful commitment to God's house.
2 Chronicles 24 13 Context
This verse is situated during the reign of King Joash of Judah (also known as Jehoash), son of Ahaziah. His early years were marked by faithfulness, largely due to the guidance of the high priest Jehoiada, who had saved him from Athaliah's purge. The temple, however, had fallen into disrepair and defilement during the idolatrous reigns of Athaliah and even earlier kings, with precious items being used for Baals (2 Chr 24:7). Joash, stirred by Jehoiada, initiated a major project to repair and restore the house of the LORD. Chapter 24 details the process of collecting money for this purpose, overcoming initial delays and devising an effective system (2 Chr 24:5-11). Verse 13 specifically describes the outcome and quality of the construction and repair work following the successful collection of funds, highlighting the completion of this significant restoration. This period contrasts sharply with Joash's later apostasy after Jehoiada's death.
2 Chronicles 24 13 Word analysis
- And the workers: (וְעֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה, vᵉ‘ōśē hammᵉlā’ḵâ) Refers to the craftsmen, laborers, and those directly involved in the manual labor of repair. The term "workers of the work" (literal Hebrew) emphasizes their direct involvement and dedicated effort.
- did the work: (עָשׂוּ אֲרוּכָה, ‘āśû ‘ărûḵâ) Literally "made healing" or "effected a restoration." The verb "did" (עָשׂוּ, ‘āśû) implies an active and effective carrying out of tasks. The use of "healing" (אֲרוּכָה, ‘ărûḵâ) for restoration here signifies not just superficial mending but a deep, thorough restoration to a state of soundness and health, as if healing a wound. This suggests the temple was in a deeply dilapidated state, akin to needing medical healing.
- successfully: This adverb reflects the effectiveness and proficiency with which the work was executed. It means not merely doing the work, but achieving the desired outcome of comprehensive restoration.
- and repaired the house of God: (וַיַּעֲלוּ בֹנִים וּמַרְפֵּא לְבֵית הָאֱלֹהִים, wayya‘ălû bōním ûmarpē’ ləḇêṯ hā’ĕlōhîm) Literally, "they raised up the builders and healing for the house of God." The word מַרְפֵּא (marpē’) here again emphasizes healing or restoration. This signifies that skilled builders (בֹנִים, bōnîm) were brought in, indicating professionalism and not just crude fixes. The action "raised up" points to significant construction and elevating the structure.
- and made it stand up: (וַיַּעֲמִידֻהוּ, wayya‘ămîḏuhû) Implies erecting it, making it firm, stable, and ready for use. It highlights the structural integrity achieved, moving it from a state of collapse or disrepair to standing strong. This is an outcome of proper craftsmanship and effective work.
- in its former state: (עַל מַתְכֻּנְתּוֹ, ‘al maṯkunnṯô) Signifies restoration to its original blueprint, design, or standard of construction as established by Solomon. It implies a high quality benchmark was used, rejecting any shortcuts or compromises on the temple's original glory. This suggests attention to detail and reverence for its original form.
- and reinforced it: (וַיְחַזְּקֻהוּ, wayḥazzəqūhû) This verb (חזק, ḥāzaq) means to make strong, firm, or courageous. Here it denotes structural strengthening, going beyond mere repair to ensure durability and resilience. It emphasizes long-lasting quality and robustness. It acts as an intensifying parallel to "made it stand up," showing the thoroughness of the work.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "the workers did the work successfully": This phrase highlights human agency and effective execution. It indicates that the efforts put forth were not in vain but yielded tangible, positive results, a testament to their dedication and perhaps divine favor on their diligent labor.
- "and repaired the house of God and made it stand up in its former state": This specifies the dual action of restoration: repairing what was damaged and structurally solidifying it. The "former state" implies reverence for the original design and a commitment to undo the effects of neglect and desecration, bringing it back to a standard worthy of God. This counters the polemic of neglect and misuse of the temple during the reigns of wicked kings, establishing order and purity in the sacred space once more.
- "and reinforced it": This final clause stresses the longevity and durability of the restoration. It was not a temporary fix but a permanent improvement, showing foresight and a desire for lasting spiritual and structural soundness. This also reinforces the idea of strength and stability associated with God's dwelling, standing in contrast to the unstable idols worshipped by others.
2 Chronicles 24 13 Bonus section
- The effectiveness of the repair project was heavily reliant on Jehoiada's wisdom in establishing a trustworthy and transparent system for handling the collected funds (2 Chr 24:8-12). This practical organization ensured that resources were rightly appropriated for their intended purpose, leading to the successful outcome described in verse 13. This points to the importance of integrity and good administration in spiritual endeavors.
- The thoroughness of the repairs implies that the workers did not cut corners, but poured skill and devotion into the sacred task. This commitment reflects the understanding that the house was "the house of God" and thus deserved the utmost quality. This stands as a model for how believers should approach service within the "house of God" today, which Scripture identifies as the Church and individual believers (1 Tim 3:15, 1 Cor 3:16).
- The physical restoration of the temple was a visual sign of national repentance and revival during Joash’s early reign. The temple’s condition often paralleled the spiritual condition of Judah’s kings and the people. A rundown temple indicated spiritual decay, while a restored one signified a return to YHWH.
2 Chronicles 24 13 Commentary
2 Chronicles 24:13 serves as a commendation of effective stewardship and dedicated labor in God's service. The careful selection of language, particularly "did the work successfully" (made healing/restoration), underscores a thorough, deep renovation, not merely superficial mending. This restoration "to its former state" signifies a return to purity, original design, and holiness, contrasting with the desecration the temple endured. The repetition and intensification ("made it stand up" and "reinforced it") convey an unyielding commitment to excellence and durability. The temple, being the visible dwelling place of God's presence, reflected the spiritual health of the nation. Its restoration symbolizes a renewed focus on covenant fidelity. The meticulous efforts to restore the physical structure underscore the spiritual principle that diligent work in obedience to God’s commands leads to blessing and a restored relationship, as highlighted in verses like Hag 1:7-8 where attention to God’s house leads to His favor. This verse provides an example of human faithfulness responding to divine instruction, leading to tangible good work.