2 Chronicles 25:2 kjv
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.
2 Chronicles 25:2 nkjv
And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.
2 Chronicles 25:2 niv
He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.
2 Chronicles 25:2 esv
And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart.
2 Chronicles 25:2 nlt
Amaziah did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, but not wholeheartedly.
2 Chronicles 25 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 6:5 | You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart... | Call to love God with whole heart. |
| Deut 10:12 | walk in all his ways and to love him and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart... | Serve God with total commitment. |
| 1 Sam 12:20 | Do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart... | Warning against turning away, serve heartily. |
| 1 Ki 8:61 | Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God... | Solomon's prayer for devoted hearts. |
| 1 Ki 11:4 | his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. | Contrast: Solomon's partial heart. |
| 1 Ki 14:8 | but you have not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments and who followed me with all his heart... | David's wholehearted devotion. |
| 2 Chr 16:9 | For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. | God seeks full commitment. |
| 2 Chr 19:3 | Nevertheless, good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asherahs from the land and have set your heart to seek God. | Jehoshaphat's heart set on God. |
| Ps 119:2 | Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart... | Seeking God with whole heart brings blessing. |
| Ps 119:10 | With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! | Sincere seeking, desire not to stray. |
| Jer 3:10 | Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but in pretense, declares the LORD. | Israel's pretense and insincerity. |
| Jer 24:7 | I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. | Promise of a new, sincere heart. |
| Matt 15:8 | ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me...' | Outward worship vs. inward heart. |
| Matt 22:37 | You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. | Greatest commandment on wholehearted love. |
| Luke 10:27 | And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind..." | Love God with all of one's being. |
| Acts 8:21 | Your heart is not right before God. | Peter to Simon Magus for impure motives. |
| Rom 10:9 | if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead... | Belief with the heart for salvation. |
| Jas 1:8 | He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. | Warning against divided loyalty. |
| Jas 4:8 | Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. | Call for purity of heart. |
| Rev 3:15-16 | I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot... So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. | Warning against spiritual lukewarmness. |
2 Chronicles 25 verses
2 Chronicles 25 2 Meaning
This verse provides a crucial assessment of King Amaziah's reign, stating that while his outward actions appeared righteous in God's sight, his inner heart lacked complete devotion. It reveals a critical distinction between external obedience to divine commands and true, sincere commitment to the Lord. This deficiency in wholeheartedness foreshadows the subsequent events of his reign, explaining why he would eventually falter despite a seemingly good beginning.
2 Chronicles 25 2 Context
2 Chronicles chapter 25 describes the reign of King Amaziah of Judah, the son of King Joash. Amaziah ascended the throne at 25 years old after his father was assassinated. The verse under analysis serves as the Chronicler's immediate theological evaluation of Amaziah's character and rule, setting the stage for the events that follow. Unlike some kings who are wholly condemned or wholly praised, Amaziah is presented with a mixed review. This initial assessment clarifies for the reader that while he may perform 'right' actions according to God's law (such as executing his father's assassins but not their children, a specific adherence to Mosaic Law in v.4), his underlying motivation and commitment were flawed. This lack of a "whole heart" will ultimately lead him to stumble, illustrating a central theme in Chronicles: that the spiritual disposition of the king directly impacts the well-being and destiny of Judah.
2 Chronicles 25 2 Word analysis
- And he did: This phrase introduces the Chronicler's assessment of King Amaziah, directly attributing the following actions and characteristics to him. It indicates the commencement of his official reign and evaluation.
- what was right (Hebrew: hayyashar - הַיָּשָׁר, meaning "the straight," "the upright"): This standard phrase in the historical books of the Old Testament signifies adherence to God's Law and the principles of justice and righteousness revealed in the Mosaic covenant. It primarily refers to outward conduct, religious practices (like upholding temple worship), and administrative policies that aligned with divine expectations. It suggests a surface-level conformity or correctness in his initial actions.
- in the eyes of the Lord (Hebrew: b'eyney Adonai - בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה): This stresses that the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong is God Himself, not human opinion or conventional wisdom. It implies divine scrutiny and a spiritual rather than merely a human judgment. Amaziah's actions were measured against God's perfect standard.
- though not (Hebrew: aval lo - אֲבָל לֹא, "but not"): This conjunction introduces a critical qualification or a contrast. It immediately signals a major reservation or flaw that undermines the positive assessment given prior. This subtle word marks the shift from outward appearance to inner reality.
- with a whole heart (Hebrew: b'lev shalem - בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם):
- lev (לֵב - heart): In the Hebrew Bible, the "heart" is far more than just the organ; it represents the entirety of a person's inner being—their intellect, will, emotions, conscience, and moral character. It is the seat of motivation, thought, and decision-making.
- shalem (שָׁלֵם - whole, complete, perfect, sincere, sound): This word denotes integrity, undivided loyalty, and sincere devotion. To serve with a "whole heart" means to serve with absolute commitment, without reservations, mixed motives, or hypocrisy.
2 Chronicles 25 2 Bonus section
The Chronicler frequently employs the concept of the "whole heart" (or its absence) as a primary theological criterion for evaluating the kings of Judah. Kings like David (1 Ki 14:8) and Asa (1 Ki 15:14) are lauded for having hearts "wholly true" or "wholly devoted," while others like Solomon (1 Ki 11:4) and Joash (Amaziah's father, 2 Chr 24:1-2) are noted for not having a "whole heart" toward the Lord, often explaining their ultimate downfall or inconsistent devotion. This consistent emphasis highlights the biblical understanding that true spiritual vitality and lasting blessing flow from complete, undivided commitment to God, touching every aspect of life and rule. Mere outward conformity, devoid of internal truth, will ultimately lead to failure or judgment.
2 Chronicles 25 2 Commentary
2 Chronicles 25:2 presents a profound theological truth: outward religious observance, while commendable, is insufficient without genuine internal commitment to the Lord. Amaziah’s reign begins with a "right" posture in terms of governance and respect for divine law, reflecting the Chronicler's positive assessment of external righteousness. However, the crucial qualifier "though not with a whole heart" reveals a fatal spiritual flaw. His service was compartmentalized or superficial, driven possibly by duty, political expediency, or partial belief rather than unwavering love and devotion to Yahweh alone. This spiritual tepidity, rather than outright wickedness, would leave him vulnerable to temptations later in his reign, leading him to abandon the Lord, accept idols, and suffer defeat. The verse serves as a timeless warning that God regards not just our deeds, but the motivations and sincerity of our hearts, for true righteousness emanates from an undivided allegiance to Him.