2 Chronicles 27:2 kjv
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly.
2 Chronicles 27:2 nkjv
And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done (although he did not enter the temple of the LORD). But still the people acted corruptly.
2 Chronicles 27:2 niv
He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done, but unlike him he did not enter the temple of the LORD. The people, however, continued their corrupt practices.
2 Chronicles 27:2 esv
And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD according to all that his father Uzziah had done, except he did not enter the temple of the LORD. But the people still followed corrupt practices.
2 Chronicles 27:2 nlt
Jotham did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah, had done, except that Jotham did not sin by entering the Temple of the LORD. But the people continued in their corrupt ways.
2 Chronicles 27 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Kgs 12:2 | Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all his days... | King Jehoash's righteousness |
| 2 Kgs 14:3 | He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not like David... | Amaziah's mixed righteousness |
| 2 Kgs 18:3 | He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. | Hezekiah's righteousness like David |
| 2 Kgs 22:2 | He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the way of David his father... | Josiah's perfect righteousness |
| 2 Chron 14:2 | Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. | Asa's righteous reign |
| 2 Chron 17:3 | The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David... | Jehoshaphat's adherence to God |
| 2 Chron 26:4 | He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. | Uzziah's early righteousness (prior to sin) |
| 2 Chron 26:16 | But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple... | Uzziah's sacrilege (direct contrast) |
| Lev 10:1-2 | Nadab and Abihu... offered unauthorized fire before the LORD... | Priestly regulations for sacred space |
| Num 3:10 | And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood... | Exclusive nature of the priesthood |
| Deut 5:32-33 | You shall be careful therefore to do as the LORD your God has commanded you... | Command to obey God's laws fully |
| 1 Cor 10:6 | Now these things happened as examples for us... | Learning from Israel's history |
| Rom 15:4 | For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction... | OT for learning and endurance |
| Prov 22:3 | The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. | Wisdom in avoiding known pitfalls |
| Jer 7:23-24 | ...but they did not listen or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart... | People's persistent disobedience |
| Isa 1:4 | Ah, sinful nation... they have rejected the Holy One of Israel; they are utterly estranged. | Nation's widespread sin despite God's presence |
| Eze 36:26-27 | And I will give you a new heart... and cause you to walk in my statutes... | Need for internal change by God's Spirit |
| Ps 78:8 | ...and not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation... | Intergenerational sin |
| Ps 106:29 | They provoked him to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them. | Consequences of collective sin |
| Mt 23:37 | O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... How often would I have gathered your children... but you would not! | Resistance to divine desire |
| Lk 13:34 | O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... you would not have it. | The people's refusal to heed |
| Acts 7:51 | You stiff-necked people... you always resist the Holy Spirit... | Continual resistance to God |
| Heb 4:14 | ...we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God... | Christ as the ultimate High Priest |
| Heb 5:4 | And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. | Divine appointment for priesthood |
2 Chronicles 27 verses
2 Chronicles 27 2 Meaning
Jotham, king of Judah, was recognized by God as righteous, diligently adhering to divine law, largely following the positive aspects of his father Uzziah's reign. A critical distinction was his wise avoidance of Uzziah's grave sin of unlawfully entering the Temple. Despite Jotham's personal integrity and devotion, the broader populace remained spiritually corrupt and continued in wicked practices, indicating that royal piety alone did not guarantee national reformation.
2 Chronicles 27 2 Context
2 Chronicles 27 initiates the account of Jotham's twenty-fifth year. He ascends the throne following his father Uzziah's leprosy, which confined Uzziah until his death. The verse highlights Jotham's general righteousness in stark contrast to his father's grave transgression of entering the temple to offer incense, an act reserved for the priesthood. This immediate backdrop frames Jotham's decision not to emulate Uzziah's sin as a critical mark of his wisdom and piety. The mention of the people's ongoing wickedness hints at the spiritual decline despite a good king, setting the stage for future judgment on Judah. Historically, kings were seen as instrumental in the nation's spiritual standing, yet here, a separation is drawn, emphasizing individual accountability and the challenges of national reformation without genuine internal change among the populace.
2 Chronicles 27 2 Word analysis
- He did what was right: (Hebrew: vayyʿas hayyashar - "and he did the upright/straight") This phrase is a common biblical formula used to assess the reign of a king in Judah from a divine perspective. It signifies adherence to the Mosaic Law and the covenant relationship with Yahweh. Jotham's actions aligned with God's commands.
- in the eyes of the LORD: (Hebrew: b'einei YHWH) This emphasizes divine approval. It is not merely human perception but God's righteous judgment.
- according to all that his father Uzziah had done: Jotham's reign largely paralleled the righteous aspects of Uzziah's initial period before his prideful downfall. This implies that Jotham learned from both Uzziah's successes and, crucially, his failures.
- only he did not enter the temple of the LORD: (Hebrew: raq lo-ba beHeikal YHWH)
- only he did not enter: This strong contrasting clause highlights Jotham's key distinguishing action from his father. It implies a conscious, wise decision to avoid repeating Uzziah's error.
- the temple of the LORD: (Hebrew: Heikal YHWH) Refers specifically to the inner sanctuary, the Holy Place, where priests alone were authorized to serve. Uzziah's entry into this sacred, restricted area for a priestly function was a direct violation of divine order and led to his leprosy (2 Chron 26:16-21). Jotham understood the sacred boundaries and the gravity of Uzziah's transgression, demonstrating profound respect for God's designated authority and sacred spaces.
- But the people still committed evil deeds: (Hebrew: wehaʿam ʿod mishḥitiym)
- But the people: This introduces a contrasting element. Despite Jotham's personal integrity and a good example from the king, the nation itself remained steeped in sin.
- still committed evil deeds: (Hebrew: mishḥitiym - "were corrupting/acting corruptly") This signifies a pervasive, ongoing moral corruption and wickedness among the populace. It highlights that the king's righteousness did not automatically translate into the people's reformation, a theme prevalent in Chronicles and the prophetic books where a king might be righteous, yet the people resist change, ultimately leading to judgment.
2 Chronicles 27 2 Bonus section
- Jotham's avoidance of Uzziah's sin demonstrates a profound theological understanding and respect for the separation of sacred offices – that the role of king and priest, though both divinely ordained, were distinct and not to be trespassed upon by one another. This principle foreshadows the singular, unified kingship and high priesthood in Jesus Christ (as a priest in the order of Melchizedek, not Aaron, and King), who alone could rightly hold both.
- The fact that Jotham prospered and "grew mighty" (2 Chron 27:6) is directly attributed to him "ordering his ways before the LORD his God." This connection between righteous conduct and divine favor is a consistent theme in Chronicles, providing a counter-narrative to the people's continued evil. His personal success stands in contrast to the broader national failure.
2 Chronicles 27 2 Commentary
2 Chronicles 27:2 offers a concise yet potent summary of Jotham's reign. It first establishes his righteousness, mirroring the commendable aspects of Uzziah's rule, particularly his initial godliness. The crucial distinction lies in Jotham's deliberate choice not to repeat his father's specific transgression—the unlawful entry into the Temple. This highlights Jotham's wisdom, his reverence for God's established order, and his learning from Uzziah's calamitous example, showcasing humility where Uzziah demonstrated pride. However, the verse abruptly shifts focus, revealing a disheartening truth: despite having a righteous king who honored divine boundaries, the nation as a whole remained morally depraved. This underscores that true spiritual revival must be embraced by the populace and cannot solely rely on the piety of its leaders. The enduring wickedness of the people served as a prelude to Judah's increasing spiritual decline and eventual judgment.