2 Chronicles 29 8

2 Chronicles 29:8 kjv

Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes.

2 Chronicles 29:8 nkjv

Therefore the wrath of the LORD fell upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has given them up to trouble, to desolation, and to jeering, as you see with your eyes.

2 Chronicles 29:8 niv

Therefore, the anger of the LORD has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem; he has made them an object of dread and horror and scorn, as you can see with your own eyes.

2 Chronicles 29:8 esv

Therefore the wrath of the LORD came on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes.

2 Chronicles 29:8 nlt

"That is why the LORD's anger has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem. He has made them an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes.

2 Chronicles 29 verses

2 Chronicles 29 8 Meaning

2 Chronicles 29:8 conveys King Hezekiah's assertion that the profound suffering and national humiliation experienced by Judah and Jerusalem were a direct consequence of the Lord's holy wrath. This divine indignation, fueled by the nation's spiritual defection, specifically that of previous generations (mentioned in the preceding verses), manifested tangibly in turmoil, ruin, and public disgrace. The afflictions were undeniable, visibly apparent to all the people, serving as clear evidence of God's disciplinary judgment.

2 Chronicles 29 8 Context

2 Chronicles chapter 29 records the righteous reign of King Hezekiah of Judah, a pivotal moment of spiritual revival after the apostasy of his father, King Ahaz. Verses 3-7 detail Hezekiah's immediate actions upon ascending the throne: reopening and cleansing the defiled temple, and charging the Levites to purify themselves and the sanctuary. Verse 6 recounts the specific sins of his father Ahaz and the preceding generations – forsaking the Lord, turning away from His dwelling, and ignoring His presence. Verse 7 describes the resulting divine punishment: shutting temple doors, extinguishing lamps, and ceasing sacrifices. Verse 8, therefore, serves as Hezekiah's concluding summation and solemn explanation for the national calamities—such as Assyrian invasions, reduced power, and public humiliation—that Judah and Jerusalem had endured. Hezekiah emphasizes that these painful realities are not accidental misfortunes but are clear manifestations of the Lord's covenant curses for breaking His commands and defiling His holy place.

2 Chronicles 29 8 Word analysis

• Therefore: Hebrew: לָכֵן (lakhen). Signifies a causal link or a logical conclusion. It introduces the consequence that flows directly from the actions described in the preceding verses (2 Chr 29:6-7), highlighting the principle of divine accountability.
• the wrath: Hebrew: אָף (`aph). Often translates as "anger" or "fury." Literally refers to the "nose" or "nostril," implying hot, violent, or intensely breathed anger. In the context of God, it denotes His holy, righteous indignation against sin, not capricious rage.
• of the LORD: Hebrew: יְהֹוָה (YHWH), the covenant name of God. Emphasizes that this judgment comes from the sovereign God who is bound to His people by covenant and who is faithful to uphold its terms, including the consequences of disobedience.
• was on: Indicates a directed impact, an active presence of judgment poured out upon.
• Judah and Jerusalem: Represents the entire Southern Kingdom and its capital, the political and religious heartland. They are the specific recipients of God's wrath due to their collective sin.
• and he delivered them: Hebrew: נָתַן (nathan), "gave" or "placed." Highlights God's active, intentional hand in bringing judgment. It's not a passive withdrawal but a direct handing over of His people to their adversaries and circumstances of affliction.
• to trouble: Hebrew: לְזַעֲוָה (le'za`avah). Means terror, dismay, agitation, or shuddering. Describes a state of fear and horror, a visceral distress that pervaded the nation.
• to desolation: Hebrew: וּלְשַׁמָּה (u'le'shammah). Signifies utter ruin, waste, astonishment, or horror-stricken waste. This refers to physical and social ruin, making the land or city barren and dreadful. It often includes astonishment, suggesting onlookers would be amazed by the extent of the devastation.
• and to hissing: Hebrew: וּלִשְׁרֵקָה (u'le'shereqah). Implies a sound of contempt, derision, or astonishment, a whistle of scorn. This speaks to the public humiliation and reproach that the people endured, becoming a spectacle of divine judgment to surrounding nations. It is a sign of ultimate disgrace.
• as you see with your own eyes: This phrase powerfully anchors the divine judgment in concrete historical reality. It underscores that the suffering experienced by the people—the decline, foreign dominance, and shame—were not hidden or abstract, but tangible proof of God's holy wrath, visible and undeniable to everyone. This appeal to shared experience emphasizes the truth and justice of the divine decree.
• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • "Therefore the wrath of the LORD was on Judah and Jerusalem": This phrase unequivocally assigns the cause of the national suffering to divine displeasure, not random chance or superior enemy power. It foregrounds God's active role as Judge over His covenant people. This challenges any perception of His passive indifference or weakness.
  • "and he delivered them to trouble, to desolation, and to hissing": This triplet describes the multifaceted nature of God's judgment. "Delivered" emphasizes God's sovereign hand in judgment. "Trouble" refers to internal dismay and terror, "desolation" to the physical and systemic ruin, and "hissing" to the external reproach and scorn, revealing both internal suffering and outward disgrace.
  • "as you see with your own eyes": This concluding phrase provides an irrefutable empirical witness. It's a rhetorical appeal to common experience, transforming an abstract theological principle into a lived, observable reality for Hezekiah's audience. It silences argument and emphasizes the divine authenticity of the judgment.

2 Chronicles 29 8 Bonus section

The acknowledgment in this verse of observable suffering being a result of divine wrath is a recurrent theme throughout the Deuteronomic history and prophetic literature. It served not only as an explanation for past calamities but also as a prophetic warning. The intensity of God's wrath, though fierce against sin, is consistently described as just and purposed toward eventual restoration for those who turn back. This specific confession by Hezekiah also implies a call to repentance and renewal, forming the groundwork for the temple purification and national Passover described in subsequent chapters. It reflects the theological principle that suffering, while painful, can be a crucible for recognition of sin and return to God.

2 Chronicles 29 8 Commentary

2 Chronicles 29:8 succinctly states the direct correlation between Israel's covenant disobedience and God's tangible judgment. Hezekiah, acknowledging the profound national suffering endured, provides a theological explanation: the Lord's holy wrath was not arbitrary but a just response to the generations' profound spiritual neglect, epitomized by the defilement of the Temple. The threefold description of "trouble," "desolation," and "hissing" powerfully encapsulates the internal distress, physical ruin, and public humiliation that served as clear consequences. The inclusion of "as you see with your own eyes" grounded this spiritual reality in their observable historical context, reinforcing the inescapable truth that their past unfaithfulness had dire and undeniable current ramifications. This verse underscores the absolute sovereignty of God over historical events and His righteous adherence to His covenant principles, ensuring that sin against Him carries visible consequences for a people in relationship with Him.