2 Chronicles 27:6 kjv
So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.
2 Chronicles 27:6 nkjv
So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.
2 Chronicles 27:6 niv
Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God.
2 Chronicles 27:6 esv
So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.
2 Chronicles 27:6 nlt
King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the LORD his God.
2 Chronicles 27 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dt 28:1-2 | "If you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God... all these blessings shall come..." | Obedience brings blessings and exaltation. |
| Jos 1:8 | "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth... then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success." | Meditation on God's Word brings prosperity. |
| Ps 1:1-3 | "Blessed is the man... who meditates on His law... whatever he does prospers." | Righteous living ensures flourishing. |
| Ps 37:23 | "The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in His way." | God directs and stabilizes the righteous. |
| Ps 119:9 | "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word." | Purity and right conduct through God's Word. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | "Trust in the Lord with all your heart... In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." | Trust and acknowledgement lead to clear paths. |
| Jer 10:23 | "I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself... It is not in man who walks to direct his steps." | Human inability to direct own steps without God. |
| Is 3:10 | "Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds." | Prosperity promised to the righteous. |
| Lk 6:47-48 | "Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and does them... is like a man building a house on the rock..." | Obedience to Christ's words builds firm foundation. |
| Ja 4:10 | "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you." | Humility before God brings exaltation. |
| 1 Pet 5:6 | "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you..." | Humility under God's hand leads to timely exaltation. |
| Prov 16:9 | "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." | God establishes the plans of the righteous. |
| Ps 145:18 | "The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth." | God's closeness to the sincere in calling. |
| 2 Chr 14:7 | Asa: "Because we have sought the Lord our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side." | Seeking God brings peace and rest. |
| 2 Chr 17:3-5 | Jehoshaphat: "The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David..." | God's presence and prosperity for righteous walk. |
| 2 Chr 26:5 | Uzziah: "He sought God in the days of Zechariah... as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper." | Uzziah's prosperity while seeking God (until pride). |
| Ps 23:3 | "He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake." | God guides into righteous and safe paths. |
| Phil 4:13 | "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." | Strength for deeds comes from Christ. |
| Dt 5:32-33 | "You shall be careful to do therefore as the Lord your God has commanded you... that you may live, and that it may go well with you..." | Careful obedience ensures life and well-being. |
| Mi 6:8 | "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" | Requirements for a righteous walk with God. |
| Eph 6:10 | "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." | Strength comes from God's own power. |
| Zech 10:12 | "I will make them strong in the Lord, and they shall walk in His name." | Divine strength enabling walking in His name. |
2 Chronicles 27 verses
2 Chronicles 27 6 Meaning
This verse states that Jotham, King of Judah, became exceedingly powerful and prosperous. This remarkable might was a direct consequence of his consistent and intentional effort to align his conduct and decisions with the will of the Lord his God, living righteously in God's sight. His steadfast obedience and dedication were the source of his strength and success.
2 Chronicles 27 6 Context
2 Chronicles 27 recounts the reign of King Jotham of Judah. He was the son of Uzziah, a king who began well, prospered greatly through seeking God, but later became proud and usurped priestly duties, resulting in him being struck with leprosy. Jotham learned from his father's tragic example. The chapter details Jotham's accomplishments: he continued construction projects like the gate of the Lord's temple and fortifications, successfully defeated the Ammonites, imposing tribute on them. Verse 6 serves as the theological explanation for Jotham's strength and successful reign, distinguishing him from kings who did not wholeheartedly follow God or who allowed pride to corrupt them. His "ordering his ways" is contrasted with Uzziah's later arrogance.
2 Chronicles 27 6 Word analysis
- So Jotham became mighty, (ויתחזק יותם, vayitchazeq Yotham)
- Jotham (יותם, Yotham): Son of King Uzziah. His name means "Yahweh is perfect" or "Yahweh is complete". He ruled Judah from around 750-735 BC. He served as co-regent for a period during his father Uzziah's leprosy.
- became mighty (ויתחזק, vayitchazeq): From the root חזק (chazaq), meaning "to be strong, be firm, strengthen, grow firm, be courageous." In the Hithpael stem (as here), it denotes a reflexive or intensive action: "to strengthen oneself, to make oneself strong, to show oneself strong, to stand firm, to be bold." This implies an active, deliberate effort on Jotham's part, empowered by God, to maintain his strength and position, not just a passive reception of might. It speaks of military power, stable rule, and a robust reign.
- because he ordered his ways (כי הכין דרכיו, ki hekin drakav)
- because (כי, ki): A conjunction introducing the cause, reason, or explanation for Jotham's might. It establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
- he ordered (הכין, hekin): From the root כון (kun), meaning "to be firm, fixed, prepared, established, stand erect." In the Hiphil stem (as here), it means "to establish, prepare, fix, direct, arrange, make firm." It indicates that Jotham purposefully and actively directed or fixed his path. It wasn't accidental but a deliberate, disciplined ordering of his entire conduct. This denotes premeditation and unwavering commitment.
- his ways (דרכיו, drakav): From the root דרך (derekh), meaning "way, path, road, journey." Metaphorically, it refers to one's conduct, course of life, behavior, decisions, and overall manner of living. This encompasses all aspects of his kingship and personal life – his administration, justice, defense, personal ethics, and religious devotion.
- before the Lord his God. (לפני יהוה אלהיו, lifney YHVH Elohav)
- before the Lord (לפני יהוה, lifney YHVH): Literally "to the face of Yahweh" or "in the presence of Yahweh." This signifies accountability to God, acting under His gaze and according to His standards. It highlights that his conduct was not for human approval or political gain, but specifically to please and honor the Creator and Covenant God. It implies sincerity and worship.
- his God (אלהיו, Elohav): Refers to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. The possessive suffix "his" emphasizes a personal relationship between Jotham and God, within the context of the national covenant. It underscores Jotham's adherence to the covenant requirements and his reliance on this specific relationship.
2 Chronicles 27 6 Bonus section
The Chronicler frequently uses terms like "sought the Lord" or "walked in the ways of David" to describe righteous kings, linking their prosperity to their fidelity. Jotham's specific act of "ordering his ways" uses the verb kun, which implies establishing or preparing. This highlights Jotham's deliberate construction of a life and reign oriented toward God, in contrast to passive obedience. It's a foundational act of commitment, suggesting that his spiritual discipline was the bedrock upon which his entire reign was built. This specific phrase implies not only the general doing of good but also careful planning and persistent execution of God-honoring practices. It serves as a stark contrast to kings who failed because they "did not seek the Lord with all their heart" or "did evil in the sight of the Lord." His actions demonstrated not merely conformity, but a deep-seated reverence and accountability that marked his entire kingship.
2 Chronicles 27 6 Commentary
2 Chronicles 27:6 provides the spiritual underpinning for Jotham's successful reign, serving as a pivotal statement in the Chronicler's theological narrative. His "might" (military, political, and economic) was not a result of human strategy alone but directly flowed from his spiritual discipline. The phrase "he ordered his ways" signifies a conscious, consistent, and proactive alignment of his entire life—his decisions as a king and his personal conduct—with God's commandments and righteous principles. Unlike his father Uzziah, who became proud and strayed at the peak of his power, Jotham maintained humility and unwavering devotion "before the Lord his God." This highlights a core Chronicler theme: faithfulness to God leads to prosperity and strength, while disobedience invites judgment. Jotham's story emphasizes that true strength comes not from earthly power or wisdom, but from consistently living in right relationship and submission to God. For instance, a leader seeking wisdom must actively pursue divine counsel and integrate it into policy, or an individual wanting spiritual growth must intentionally carve out time for Scripture and prayer, shaping their daily choices according to divine guidance.