2 Chronicles 26:21 kjv
And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.
2 Chronicles 26:21 nkjv
King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He dwelt in an isolated house, because he was a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD. Then Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.
2 Chronicles 26:21 niv
King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house?leprous, and banned from the temple of the LORD. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
2 Chronicles 26:21 esv
And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son was over the king's household, governing the people of the land.
2 Chronicles 26:21 nlt
So King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in isolation in a separate house, for he was excluded from the Temple of the LORD. His son Jotham was put in charge of the royal palace, and he governed the people of the land.
2 Chronicles 26 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 13:46 | He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease... dwell alone; outside the camp he shall live. | Law of leprosy: isolation and uncleanness. |
| Num 5:2-4 | Command the people of Israel that they put out of the camp every leper... | Israel's practice of removing defiled individuals. |
| Num 12:10-15 | ...Miriam was leprous, like snow... shut out from the camp seven days... | Miriam's leprosy for challenging divine authority. |
| Lev 21:10-12 | The priest who is chief among his brothers... shall not let his hair hang loose or tear his clothes. He shall not go near any dead body... he shall not go out of the sanctuary. | Priestly holiness: strict separation from defilement and specific places. |
| Num 3:38 | Those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east... Moses and Aaron and his sons... strangers who came near were to be put to death. | Protection of the sanctuary and priestly roles. |
| Num 16:35 | And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who offered incense. | Judgment for unauthorized priestly functions. |
| 1 Sam 13:13-14 | Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly... for now your kingdom would not have continued...” | King Saul's similar usurpation of priestly duties. |
| 2 Kgs 5:27 | The leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever... And Gehazi went out from his presence a leper, white as snow. | Gehazi's permanent leprosy for greed. |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Uzziah's pride leading to his downfall. |
| Isa 6:1 | In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne... | Isaiah's vision contrasting God's holiness with Uzziah's death. |
| Ps 73:27-28 | For behold, those who are far from you shall perish... But for me it is good to be near God. | Danger of being "cut off" from God's presence. |
| Ps 24:3-4 | Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart... | Purity required for approach to God's presence. |
| Heb 9:6-7 | These arrangements were made, the priests regularly enter the outer tent... But into the second only the high priest goes... | Emphasizes strict entry to the sacred inner areas. |
| Heb 10:19-22 | Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus... | New Covenant offers direct access to God, contrasting Old Covenant limitations. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation... | Believers in Christ are now a "royal priesthood" with access. |
| Exod 28:1 | You shall bring near to yourself Aaron your brother... that he may serve me as priest. | God specifically appointed the Levitical priesthood. |
| Zech 14:21 | ...and there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts on that day. | Future holiness and purity of God's house. |
| Ezek 44:7 | In that you brought in foreigners... to be in my sanctuary, to profane it... | Warning against allowing unqualified access to the sanctuary. |
| Rom 1:18 | For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men... | God's judgment against human disobedience and impiety. |
| Jer 13:17-18 | ...your heart will weep in secret for your pride... humbles them to sit in the dust. | Warning to kings about the consequences of pride. |
| Ps 119:21 | You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments. | God's rebuke for those who disobey. |
| Deut 17:18-20 | ...he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law... that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers... | King's duty to humility and adherence to God's law. |
2 Chronicles 26 verses
2 Chronicles 26 21 Meaning
Second Chronicles 26:21 describes the permanent consequence of King Uzziah's transgression: he was afflicted with leprosy until his death. As a result of this ritual impurity and divine judgment, he was compelled to live in a segregated dwelling, set apart from his people and, critically, from the sacred precincts of the Temple of the Lord. This physical and spiritual isolation signified his forfeiture of royal and religious participation.
2 Chronicles 26 21 Context
The verse 2 Chronicles 26:21 details the permanent state of King Uzziah following his hubristic act of entering the Temple to burn incense, an action reserved solely for the Levitical priests (2 Chr 26:16-19). This event occurred late in his long and otherwise prosperous 52-year reign, which began when he was sixteen. The preceding verses in chapter 26 highlight Uzziah's initial faithfulness, seeking God, and the resulting divine blessing evident in his military strength, innovative defenses, agricultural success, and fame. His pride grew with his strength, leading him to transgress God's established order. The historical context emphasizes the clear delineation between the royal and priestly offices in ancient Israel, a crucial aspect of Mosaic law designed to preserve the holiness of God and His worship. Uzziah's action was a direct challenge to this divine boundary, invoking immediate and irreversible divine judgment.
2 Chronicles 26 21 Word analysis
- And Uzziah the king: Introduces the subject, reinforcing his status despite his downfall. His title here contrasts sharply with his future exclusion from kingly duties.
- was leprous (מְצֹרָע, měṣōrā‘): This term refers to the ritual impurity described in the Mosaic Law, often associated with a skin disease but carrying profound spiritual connotations. It was considered a mark of divine displeasure, rendering an individual ritually unclean and requiring isolation from the community and sacred spaces (Lev 13-14).
- until the day of his death: Emphasizes the permanence and irreversibility of the divine judgment. Unlike other afflictions, Uzziah's leprosy was not temporary or subject to a ritual cleansing to restore him.
- and dwelt: Indicates a forced change of residence and status.
- in an isolated house (בֵּית הַחָפְשִׁית, bêṯ haḥāfšîṯ): This Hebrew phrase literally means "house of freedom" or "house of release." However, in context, it denotes a house of quarantine or seclusion for a leper. Paradoxically, Uzziah was "released" from his royal duties and social interaction, signifying a form of forced retirement or a "house of infirmity/confinement." It implies he was cut off from public life and the functions of his office.
- for he was cut off (כִּי נִגְזַר, kî niḡzar): This strong verb means to be "cut off," "severed," or "separated." It conveys a decisive, permanent break, emphasizing the divine decree behind his exclusion. It's an active exclusion, not merely passive withdrawal.
- from the house of the Lord: This signifies Uzziah's complete exclusion from participating in Temple worship and public religious life, which for a king was significant both spiritually and politically. It represented a severing of his connection with the very presence of God in the sanctuary.
Words-group analysis:
- "was leprous until the day of his death": This phrase underlines the finality and enduring nature of God's judgment against Uzziah's presumptuous act. It served as a visible, lifelong sign of his transgression and its irreversible consequences.
- "dwelt in an isolated house, for he was cut off": This conveys the double nature of his isolation – both physical segregation from society and ceremonial separation from public life due to ritual impurity. His former authority and active participation were removed, confining him to a solitary existence.
- "cut off from the house of the Lord": This is the ultimate spiritual and public humiliation. As the king, he was supposed to lead the people in worship. Being excluded from the central place of their faith and the divine presence underscored the absolute sanctity of God's ordinances concerning the priesthood and the Temple.
2 Chronicles 26 21 Bonus section
The unique nature of Uzziah's isolated house (בֵּית הַחָפְשִׁית) further emphasizes the unusual nature of his forced withdrawal. It implies that while he was segregated, he might still have received certain provisions or support due to his royal status, yet he was effectively "free" from his governmental duties. This separation allowed his son Jotham to act as co-regent, maintaining the kingdom's stability despite the king's impurity. The story also starkly contrasts with other instances of leprosy in the Bible; while some were healed through divine intervention (e.g., Naaman), Uzziah's condition was explicitly stated as permanent until his death, highlighting the particular gravity of profaning God's holy sanctuary and authority. This underscores God's unwavering commitment to the sanctity of His presence and the ordained roles of His service.
2 Chronicles 26 21 Commentary
Second Chronicles 26:21 powerfully illustrates the severe consequences of pride and the violation of God's established order, even for a divinely blessed and outwardly successful king like Uzziah. His physical leprosy served as a manifest sign of his spiritual corruption and disrespect for the sacred boundaries God had set. Being "cut off from the house of the Lord" signified not just ritual impurity but a profound breach in his relationship with God and a stripping away of his sacred royal responsibilities concerning worship. This narrative serves as a stark reminder that no individual, regardless of their status or past accomplishments, is above God's holy law. It upholds the absolute distinction between kingship and priesthood in Israel and emphasizes that attempting to usurp divine authority carries swift and lasting divine judgment, leading to isolation from God's presence and blessing.