2 Chronicles 26:4 kjv
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.
2 Chronicles 26:4 nkjv
And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
2 Chronicles 26:4 niv
He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done.
2 Chronicles 26:4 esv
And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
2 Chronicles 26:4 nlt
He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done.
2 Chronicles 26 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dt 6:18 | "And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD..." | Command to do what is right |
| Dt 12:28 | "...do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God." | Follow God's decrees |
| Dt 13:18 | "...do what is right in the eyes of the LORD your God." | Emphasizes obedience |
| Jg 2:11 | "...the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD..." | Contrast: doing evil |
| 1 Sm 12:23 | "...only fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart..." | Righteous service to God |
| 1 Kgs 11:38 | "...if you will walk in My ways, doing what is right in My eyes..." | David's obedience as a model |
| 1 Kgs 15:11 | "Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as David his father had done." | Asa's righteous reign |
| 1 Kgs 15:26 | "...and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way..." | Contrast: Jeroboam's wickedness |
| 2 Kgs 18:3 | "And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that..." | Hezekiah's righteousness like David's |
| 2 Kgs 22:2 | "And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the way..." | Josiah's righteous reign |
| 2 Chron 14:2 | "And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God." | Asa's early faithfulness |
| 2 Chron 20:32 | "He walked in the way of Asa his father and did not turn aside from it..." | Jehoshaphat following righteous father's way |
| 2 Chron 24:2 | "And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days..." | Joash's early obedience |
| 2 Chron 25:2 | "And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not with a whole heart." | Amaziah's mixed record, partial obedience |
| 2 Chron 25:14 | "But after Amaziah came from striking down the Edomites, he brought..." | Amaziah's later apostasy (contrast to 26:4 implication) |
| Neh 9:33 | "...for You have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly." | Acknowledgment of Israel's disobedience |
| Ps 119:106 | "I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep Your righteous ordinances." | Commitment to God's statutes |
| Ps 147:19 | "He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and rules to Israel." | God reveals His standard for righteousness |
| Prov 16:2 | "All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits." | God's standard transcends human judgment |
| Jn 3:20-21 | "For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come... but whoever does what is true comes to the light..." | Deeds reveal one's relationship with truth/God |
| Heb 11:6 | "And without faith it is impossible to please Him..." | Righteousness linked to faith |
| Jam 2:17-18 | "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." | Deeds as evidence of faith and righteousness |
2 Chronicles 26 verses
2 Chronicles 26 4 Meaning
2 Chronicles 26:4 introduces King Uzziah's reign by declaring his initial adherence to God's will. It states that Uzziah acted righteously in the sight of the Lord, consistently following the general pattern of what his father, Amaziah, had done, particularly in Amaziah's earlier period of faithfulness. This sets a positive spiritual trajectory for Uzziah's reign, emphasizing his obedience to the divine standard as the foundation for his kingship.
2 Chronicles 26 4 Context
2 Chronicles 26:4 introduces Uzziah, also known as Azariah in the book of Kings, as the new king of Judah. His reign followed the tumultuous end of his father Amaziah's rule, who was assassinated after turning away from the Lord. Uzziah was proclaimed king by all the people of Judah at the young age of sixteen. This verse immediately sets the tone for his early reign, emphasizing his spiritual standing before God, a consistent theme in the Chronicler's evaluation of kings. While it notes Uzziah followed the general trend of Amaziah, it implicitly references Amaziah's initial period of seeking the Lord, rather than his later apostasy and judgment, as highlighted in 2 Chronicles 25:14-27. This positive beginning is crucial as it lays the foundation for Uzziah's initial success and prosperity detailed in the subsequent verses.
2 Chronicles 26 4 Word analysis
- And he did: The Hebrew verb is vayya'as (וַיַּעַשׂ), from the root ‘asah (עָשָׂה), meaning "to do, make, accomplish." This opening phrase is a common literary device in Kings and Chronicles to introduce the actions and character of a new monarch. It sets the narrative in motion by focusing on the king's performance.
- what was right: The Hebrew phrase is hayyashar (הַיָּשָׁר), meaning "the straight," "the upright," "the righteous." In a spiritual and moral sense, it refers to actions that conform to God's standards and commandments as revealed in the Law (Torah). This is not merely ethical conduct but conduct aligned with divine truth. This phrase indicates faithfulness to the covenant with Yahweh and rejection of idolatry or pagan practices.
- in the eyes of the Lord: The Hebrew is b'einei Adonai (בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה), a standard idiom emphasizing divine scrutiny and judgment. It means "according to the Lord's perspective" or "as pleasing to the Lord." The ultimate standard of good and evil, right and wrong, resides with God, not human opinion or cultural norms. Kings were thus evaluated by God's decree, not political success alone.
- according to all that: The Hebrew is k'kol asher (כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר), meaning "according to all that," "like all that." This phrase suggests a consistent pattern or imitation. It implies that Uzziah adhered to the principles and actions that characterized his father.
- his father Amaziah had done: This part ‘asah Amatsyah ‘aviv (עָשָׂה אֲמַצְיָה אָבִיו) connects Uzziah's early righteousness to Amaziah's actions. This specific comparison is vital because Amaziah's reign (2 Chron 25:1-28) had a distinctly mixed record: he started well (v.2, doing right but not with a whole heart), but then turned to idolatry and apostasy after his victory over Edom (v.14-16), leading to his downfall. Therefore, "all that his father Amaziah had done" in this context refers to the good parts of Amaziah's initial rule, serving as a precedent for Uzziah's virtuous beginning. It does not endorse Amaziah's later apostasy but focuses on the commendable aspects Uzziah imitated or exceeded.
2 Chronicles 26 4 Bonus section
The Chronicler often emphasizes a king's initial heart posture toward God as a predictor of their reign's success or failure, independent of external circumstances. This phrase about "doing right in the eyes of the Lord" sets a theme of divine approval being paramount, placing the Chronicler's historical account firmly within a theological framework. While Uzziah's later fall due to pride is a stark contrast to this positive beginning, it underscores that even an initial righteous walk does not guarantee lifelong faithfulness. This verse also serves as a subtle lesson that one can choose to emulate the good aspects of another's example without being bound to their failures. It suggests a selective imitation that aims for greater spiritual depth.
2 Chronicles 26 4 Commentary
2 Chronicles 26:4 concisely establishes King Uzziah's spiritual disposition at the commencement of his fifty-two-year reign. The formula "he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" is the Chronicler's consistent criterion for evaluating Israelite and Judean monarchs. It signifies adherence to God's covenant, rejection of idolatry, and leadership in alignment with divine Law. This is the bedrock for divine favor and prosperity. The crucial qualification, "according to all that his father Amaziah had done," invites a nuanced understanding. Amaziah, despite starting by doing right, eventually faltered and embraced idolatry, leading to divine judgment and his violent end. Therefore, Uzziah's emulation is interpreted not as an endorsement of Amaziah's entire reign but specifically of his early, righteous period. Indeed, the subsequent verse (v.5) reveals Uzziah’s distinct, deeper piety, explicitly stating he "set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God." This highlights that Uzziah not only replicated the good but potentially surpassed it in his sincere seeking of God, thus avoiding Amaziah's pitfalls during his early years. This verse encapsulates the foundational principle that a king's moral and spiritual conduct before God directly impacts the nation's welfare, laying the groundwork for Uzziah's impressive, albeit eventually pride-stricken, accomplishments.