2 Chronicles 26:5 kjv
And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.
2 Chronicles 26:5 nkjv
He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.
2 Chronicles 26:5 niv
He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.
2 Chronicles 26:5 esv
He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.
2 Chronicles 26:5 nlt
Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the LORD, God gave him success.
2 Chronicles 26 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dt 4:29 | But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find Him, if you search for Him with all your heart... | Seeking God with whole heart leads to finding. |
| 1 Chr 28:9 | ...If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. | Divine presence conditional on seeking. |
| Psa 1:3 | He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and whose leaf does not fade... | Prosperity of the righteous, linked to God's law. |
| Psa 14:2 | The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. | God observes those who genuinely seek Him. |
| Psa 34:10 | The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. | Those seeking God are supplied. |
| Prov 2:6 | For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. | Wisdom's source is God. |
| Prov 4:7 | The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. | Imperative to seek wisdom and understanding. |
| Prov 8:17 | I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me. | Reciprocity: God blesses those who seek Him. |
| Prov 10:22 | The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. | Divine blessing brings true wealth. |
| Jer 29:13 | You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. | Reiterates seeking God with all heart. |
| Dan 1:17 | To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom... | God grants wisdom to those who honor Him. |
| Jas 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault... | Call to ask God for wisdom in the NT. |
| Mt 6:33 | But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. | Prioritizing God's kingdom leads to provision. |
| 1 Kin 2:3 | Keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes... that you may prosper... | Prosperity linked to obedience to God's commands. |
| 2 Chr 17:3-5 | The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David, and did not seek the Baals... | Another king prospered for seeking the Lord. |
| 2 Chr 20:4 | Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; they came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord. | Nation seeking God collectively for help. |
| 2 Chr 24:2 | Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. | Good influence of a spiritual mentor. |
| Isa 48:17 | Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit... | God's instruction leads to benefit and success. |
| Ps 25:4-5 | Make me know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. | Plea for divine guidance. |
| Prv 3:6 | In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. | Trusting God in all actions leads to straight paths. |
| Gen 39:2-3 | The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man... his master saw that the Lord was with him... | Divine presence brings success to an individual. |
| 2 Chr 26:16-20 | But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction... He was a leper to the day of his death. | The inverse: Pride leads to downfall, limits the prosperity. |
| 2 Chr 33:12-13 | When he was in distress, he entreated the Lord his God... And when he prayed to Him, God was moved by his entreaty... | Even Manasseh's late repentance led to restoration. |
| Neh 9:18-21 | ...You did not forsake them...You gave them manna... You brought water... and their clothes did not wear out... | God's unfailing provision and leading. |
2 Chronicles 26 verses
2 Chronicles 26 5 Meaning
2 Chronicles 26:5 states that King Uzziah diligently sought God during the lifetime of Zechariah, who possessed divine understanding and insight. As long as Uzziah maintained this seeking of the Lord, God granted him success and made him prosper in all his endeavors. The verse highlights a direct correlation between seeking divine wisdom and guidance, and receiving God's blessing of prosperity and flourishing.
2 Chronicles 26 5 Context
Uzziah (also known as Azariah) became king of Judah at the young age of sixteen. His reign, detailed primarily in 2 Chronicles 26, began on a highly promising note. The overall chapter records a period of significant military, economic, and architectural prosperity for Judah under his rule. However, it concludes with his tragic downfall due to pride, leading to his contracting leprosy and living in isolation until his death. Verse 5 sets the foundational principle for Uzziah's initial success, emphasizing the direct link between his spiritual dedication and his kingdom's flourishing. This context highlights the conditional nature of divine blessing, tied not only to initial faithfulness but also to continued humility and obedience throughout one's life. Historically, this period reflects the fluctuating fortunes of the Judean monarchy, often determined by the kings' spiritual posture and their adherence to the covenant with God. The presence of a righteous figure like Zechariah highlights the ongoing role of wise, divinely-guided counselors in influencing kings towards spiritual and practical success.
2 Chronicles 26 5 Word analysis
- As long as: (Hebrew: bîmêy) - Literally, "in the days of," or "during the time that." This phrase clearly indicates a temporal condition. Uzziah's favorable situation was tied directly to a specific period or pattern of behavior.
- he sought God: (Hebrew: dārash ʾelōhîm, דָּרַשׁ אֱלֹהִים) - The verb dārash means "to seek, search for, inquire of, consult, diligently ask." It implies not just a casual desire but an active, earnest pursuit for guidance, understanding, and fellowship with God. This includes seeking His will through revelation, counsel, or prayer. This is in contrast to seeking counsel from other nations or false gods.
- in the days of Zechariah: This Zechariah is not the post-exilic prophet. He is a distinct individual, described here as a man of profound spiritual understanding. His presence suggests a critical spiritual mentorship for the young king, guiding him in righteous ways. This highlights the importance of godly counsel, particularly for those in positions of power.
- who had understanding: (Hebrew: habîynô from bîn, בִּין) - Signifies deep discernment, insight, wisdom, and the ability to distinguish truth. It denotes an inner spiritual perception rather than mere intellectual knowledge.
- in the visions of God: (Hebrew: bireʾōṯ hāʾelōhîm, בִּרְאוֹת הָאֱלֹהִים) - This suggests Zechariah possessed special revelation or prophetic insight directly from God. It indicates he was privy to divine counsel, which he likely imparted to Uzziah, ensuring the king's decisions aligned with God's will. This isn't just human wisdom but divinely inspired direction.
- as long as he sought the LORD: This phrase emphasizes the enduring conditionality of the blessing. It wasn't a one-time act but a continued spiritual discipline that guaranteed God's favor and success. This anticipates the later turn in Uzziah's life when he ceased this diligent seeking.
- God made him prosper: (Hebrew: haʾelōhîm hiśkîlōh, הָאֱלֹהִים הִשְׂכִּילֹה) - The verb śāḵal (שׂכל) means "to act prudently, to succeed, to prosper." The Hiphil conjugation "made him prosper" attributes Uzziah's success directly to divine intervention. God actively engineered and ensured his flourishing in all areas. This success encompassed military victories, building projects, agricultural development, and strong fortifications as detailed later in the chapter, signifying comprehensive well-being. This implicitly argues against the idea that a king's success came solely from his own strength or military prowess, attributing it instead to God's hand.
2 Chronicles 26 5 Bonus section
The account of Uzziah beautifully illustrates the "Chiasm of Chronistic Blessing and Downfall": if a king seeks God, he prospers, but if he deviates, judgment follows. This recurring motif is foundational to the Chronicler's theology, reinforcing the Deuteronomic principle of blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience. Zechariah's role, though brief, highlights a pattern where young kings like Joash (under Jehoiada) and Uzziah benefit immensely from the wisdom of older, godly figures early in their reign. The "visions of God" are not explicitly defined but signify genuine, divine revelation that goes beyond mere human counsel, acting as a direct conduit for God's will. This implicitly contrasts with pagan divination or relying on human omens. The eventual pride of Uzziah, documented in 2 Chronicles 26:16-20, stands as a stark antithesis to this verse, proving that past devotion does not guarantee continued favor if humility and obedience cease. This serves as a cautionary tale: God-given prosperity requires ongoing humble dependence, or it can become a catalyst for pride and ultimate ruin.
2 Chronicles 26 5 Commentary
2 Chronicles 26:5 serves as the key to understanding Uzziah's initial twenty-year period of success. It establishes the spiritual principle that diligent pursuit of God, especially when guided by divine wisdom from a godly mentor, is the prerequisite for divine prosperity. Uzziah's prosperity, which manifested in significant military, economic, and construction achievements, was not a result of human strategy alone but a direct consequence of God's enabling hand. This verse sets a crucial precedent: a ruler's or individual's external success is intrinsically linked to their internal, spiritual posture of seeking God. The presence of Zechariah, "who had understanding in the visions of God," underscores the vital role of wise, spiritually-discerning counsel in guiding leaders. The repeated phrase "as long as he sought the LORD" serves as both a powerful testament to the reward for faithfulness and a subtle prophetic warning of the conditionality of Uzziah's blessing, anticipating his later downfall when his heart turned from full devotion. The verse implies that seeking God involves humility, a reliance on divine guidance rather than self-reliance, and active obedience to God's revealed will.