2 Chronicles 25 8

2 Chronicles 25:8 kjv

But if thou wilt go, do it; be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.

2 Chronicles 25:8 nkjv

But if you go, be gone! Be strong in battle! Even so, God shall make you fall before the enemy; for God has power to help and to overthrow."

2 Chronicles 25:8 niv

Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow."

2 Chronicles 25:8 esv

But go, act, be strong for the battle. Why should you suppose that God will cast you down before the enemy? For God has power to help or to cast down."

2 Chronicles 25:8 nlt

If you let them go with your troops into battle, you will be defeated by the enemy no matter how well you fight. God will overthrow you, for he has the power to help you or to trip you up."

2 Chronicles 25 verses

2 Chronicles 25 8 Meaning

2 Chronicles 25:8 communicates a solemn warning from a man of God to King Amaziah. It asserts that if Amaziah chooses to proceed into battle relying on his foreign, disfavored Israelite mercenaries—even if he does so with perceived strength and courage—the Lord will directly cause his defeat before the enemy. The core message underscores God's absolute sovereignty over all outcomes, emphasizing His singular power to either grant victory and assistance or inflict devastating overthrow and destruction, regardless of human effort or strategic alliances.

2 Chronicles 25 8 Context

King Amaziah of Judah, having mustered his own army, sought to enhance his military strength by hiring one hundred thousand mighty warriors from Israel for one hundred talents of silver (2 Chron 25:5-6). A man of God then came to him, warning him sternly that the Lord was not with Israel, particularly with the northern kingdom of Ephraim, which had strayed into idolatry (v. 7). The immediate context of verse 8 is Amaziah's financial concern: if he dismisses the Israelite mercenaries as commanded, he will lose the hundred talents already paid to them. The man of God directly addresses this doubt, declaring that "The Lord is able to give you much more than this" (v. 9), emphasizing that God's power and provision far exceed any earthly cost. Verse 8 serves as the dire warning against disobedience, setting the divine stakes before Amaziah decides whether to prioritize money or God's command. Historically, this period saw Judah and Israel often at odds or forming uneasy alliances, highlighting the Chronicler's recurring theme of divine favor being conditional on covenant faithfulness, not political expediency or military might.

2 Chronicles 25 8 Word analysis

• But if you go, (וְאִם־בָּא) - The conjunction "But" (וְאִם, v'im) signals a direct consequence, implying a strong contrast to the implied proper course of action (not going with them). "If you go" establishes a clear conditional clause, highlighting Amaziah's volitional choice to proceed against God's explicit warning. This is not about passive acceptance but an active defiance of divine instruction.

• be strong and courageous for the war, (חֲזַק וַעֲשֵׂה הַמִּלְחָמָה) - "Be strong" (חֲזַק, chazaq) and "courageous" (עֲשֵׂה, aseh – from עָשָׂה asah, usually "do" or "make," here meaning "do war," i.e., fight bravely) are phrases commonly used as exhortations for God's people to obey His commands and trust in His presence (e.g., Deut 31:6, 7, Jos 1:6-7, 9). Here, however, it's used with an ironic or challenging tone. It suggests: "Even if you attempt to summon all your human strength and bravery for this war, in defiance of God..." It's a statement about human self-reliance that operates outside God's will. True strength and courage come from God when in obedience, not in opposition to Him.

• God will throw you down before the enemy, (יַמְכֶם אֱלֹהִים לִפְנֵי אוֹיֵב) - "God" (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim) asserts the divine agency in the impending defeat. "Throw you down" (from יָמַם, yamam, or possibly חָמַם, hamam in some interpretations, which means "to confound," "throw into confusion," "rout," "put to flight") emphasizes that defeat is not random chance or solely due to the enemy's strength, but a direct divine action. God Himself will bring about their downfall, routing them effectively. It's a precise word for divine judgment in battle.

• for God has power (כִּי־יֵשׁ כֹּחַ לֵאלֹהִים) - "For" (כִּי, ki) introduces the theological justification for the warning. "God has power" (כֹּחַ, koach) declares God's inherent might and capability. This power is absolute and inherent in His very being, contrasting sharply with human or national might, which is conditional and limited. It grounds the warning in God's nature.

• to help or to overthrow. (לַעְזֹר וּלְהַכְשִׁיל) - "To help" (לַעְזֹר, la'azor, from עָזַר, azar, "to aid, support") and "to overthrow" (וּלְהַכְשִׁיל, ul'hakshil, from כָּשַׁל, kashal, "to stumble, falter," here in Hiphil means "to cause to stumble/fall") represent the two diametrically opposed outcomes God's power can effect. This clearly delineates God's total sovereignty over fortune in battle: He is the ultimate arbiter of victory or defeat. This duality highlights His unilateral control, not just general power, but specific, outcome-determining power over all situations. It addresses Amaziah's core dilemma, reminding him that human efforts are meaningless if God is not on their side.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• But if you go, be strong and courageous for the war: This opening clause is a dramatic warning. It directly challenges any human presumption of strength or self-sufficiency if it runs counter to God's stated will. The irony suggests that no amount of human bravery can counteract divine opposition.
• God will throw you down before the enemy: This clearly assigns the agency for defeat directly to God, removing any doubt that the battle outcome is a matter of His will. It's a declaration of divine judgment for disobedience.
• for God has power to help or to overthrow: This conclusive statement is the theological anchor of the verse. It summarizes God's omnipotence and absolute control over military success and failure, economic outcomes, and national destiny. It functions as a warning, an affirmation of His sovereign might, and a reminder that true power and deliverance come only from Him.

2 Chronicles 25 8 Bonus section

The phrase "God has power to help or to overthrow" is a succinct articulation of YHWH's nature as the sovereign over all history, specifically contrasting with any polytheistic notions or a reliance on national gods. The Chronicler frequently emphasizes this direct divine intervention in military outcomes, as seen in the victories of Asa (2 Chron 14) and Jehoshaphat (2 Chron 20). Amaziah's ultimate obedience to the prophet (he sent the Israelites back in v. 10) temporarily preserved him and led to initial victory against Edom (v. 11-13), demonstrating the immediate truth of the "to help" aspect. However, his subsequent turning to Edomite idols later in the chapter (v. 14) tragically proves the "to overthrow" aspect of God's power when Amaziah disobeys. This verse, therefore, sets up the fundamental test of Amaziah's reign: will he trust God's word above perceived financial loss and strategic advantage, or will he act in human strength to his own destruction? The power of Elohim is decisive and unchallengeable.

2 Chronicles 25 8 Commentary

2 Chronicles 25:8 stands as a pivotal statement regarding divine sovereignty in the face of human ambition and fear. King Amaziah, having hired Israelite mercenaries against a direct prophetic warning, is faced with a profound spiritual dilemma. The man of God's warning, "But if you go, be strong and courageous for the war, God will throw you down before the enemy, for God has power to help or to overthrow," directly addresses Amaziah's primary concern: the financial loss of dismissing the Israelite troops.

The verse is a stark reminder that true victory in battle, or indeed in any undertaking, is not determined by the size or strength of armies, alliances, or resources, but solely by God's favor. The implied irony in "be strong and courageous for the war" highlights the futility of relying on one's own perceived strength when God opposes the endeavor. Such human strength, apart from God, will not bring success; instead, it invites divine judgment.

The theological bedrock of this verse is God's absolute power. He is the ultimate arbiter of human destiny and the controller of all outcomes. He holds the authority and capacity to either grant success ("to help") or inflict utter defeat ("to overthrow"). This truth calls for complete dependence on Him and underscores the futility of human striving that is divorced from His will. The Lord’s judgment upon Israel (who were rejected) is here directly applicable to Judah’s fate if they ally with those whom God has forsaken. This teaches that even in our modern context, spiritual alliances (company, affiliations) can have spiritual ramifications on our well-being.

Examples:

• A believer pursuing a venture based solely on potential profit or human connections, ignoring clear biblical principles or promptings from the Spirit. The verse warns that even if one exerts great effort, without God's blessing, it may lead to failure.
• A Christian ministry relying heavily on worldly strategies and fundraising techniques without sufficient prayer and submission to God's leading, only to find itself struggling despite massive effort. This verse calls them to recall that God's power, not human ingenuity, secures spiritual success.