2 Chronicles 31:8 kjv
And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.
2 Chronicles 31:8 nkjv
And when Hezekiah and the leaders came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD and His people Israel.
2 Chronicles 31:8 niv
When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the LORD and blessed his people Israel.
2 Chronicles 31:8 esv
When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD and his people Israel.
2 Chronicles 31:8 nlt
When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw these huge piles, they thanked the LORD and his people Israel!
2 Chronicles 31 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 28:1-2 | If you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God... all these blessings shall come upon you... | Obedience brings blessings |
| Mal 3:10 | Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. And thereby put Me to the test... if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more room to receive it. | Tithing leads to overflowing blessing |
| Prov 3:9-10 | Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty... | Honoring God with firstfruits leads to abundance |
| 2 Cor 9:6 | The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. | Generosity results in abundance |
| 2 Cor 9:8 | And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in everything at all times, having all that you need, you may abound in every good work. | God's enabling grace for all needs |
| Phil 4:19 | My God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. | God supplies all needs |
| Gen 22:14 | So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.” | God as "The LORD will provide" |
| Ps 145:15 | The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due season. | God provides sustenance |
| Neh 9:5 | Bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting! Blessed be Your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise! | Praising God's glorious name |
| 1 Chron 29:10-13 | David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly... for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours... | Recognition of God's sovereignty and praise |
| 2 Chron 29:36 | And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly. | Joy over God's provision for the people |
| Deut 12:7 | And there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the LORD your God has blessed you. | Rejoicing in God's blessings |
| Hag 2:19 | From this day on I will bless you.” | God promises to bless |
| Ez 44:30 | The first of all the firstfruits of all kinds, and every contribution of all kinds, from all your contributions, shall belong to the priests. | Requirement of priestly sustenance |
| Num 18:21 | “To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they perform, the service of the tent of meeting. | Tithes as provision for Levites |
| 1 Cor 9:13 | Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? | Provision for those serving the temple |
| Ex 36:5-7 | The people are bringing much more than enough for completing the work... so the people were restrained from bringing more. | Over-abundance of offerings in Exodus |
| Rom 11:36 | For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. | All blessings originate from God |
| James 1:17 | Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights... | All good gifts from God |
| Ps 67:6-7 | The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us... | God blessing His people and the land |
| Lev 25:21 | I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, so that it will produce enough for three years. | God commanding extraordinary blessing |
| Matt 6:33 | But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. | Prioritizing God leads to provision |
2 Chronicles 31 verses
2 Chronicles 31 8 Meaning
2 Chronicles 31:8 describes the response of King Hezekiah and his princes upon witnessing the massive accumulation of tithes and offerings brought by the people of Israel to the temple storehouses. Overwhelmed by the immense quantity, which surpassed expectations, they responded by blessing and praising the LORD God for His faithful provision and by acknowledging the spiritual and material abundance He had bestowed upon His people. It signifies the divine affirmation of their renewed obedience and dedication to God's commands regarding support for the Levitical service.
2 Chronicles 31 8 Context
2 Chronicles 31 describes King Hezekiah's continued efforts in religious reform following the extensive cleansing and rededication of the Temple in chapters 29 and 30. Having restored proper worship, Hezekiah then focused on reinstituting the support system for the Levites and priests, as mandated by the Law of Moses. He commanded the people to bring the prescribed offerings, tithes, and firstfruits (2 Chron 31:4). The people responded with overwhelming enthusiasm and generosity, bringing "in abundance the firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field. And they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything" (2 Chron 31:5). This immense influx of provisions resulted in great "heaps" piled high at the temple gates (2 Chron 31:6-7), leading directly to the scene described in verse 8. The verse is a powerful affirmation of God's blessing on a nation that returned to Him in obedience and sincere worship.
2 Chronicles 31 8 Word analysis
- And when Hezekiah: King of Judah, a righteous king who initiated a profound religious reformation after years of apostasy under his father Ahaz (2 Chron 29:1-3). His coming and seeing signifies leadership observation and acknowledgment.
- and the princes: High-ranking officials or nobles, reflecting collective leadership and a unified witness to God's blessing, beyond just the king.
- came and saw: An act of deliberate observation. They did not just hear reports, but personally witnessed the immense results of the people's giving, which was a clear sign of divine favor. This firsthand witness leads to a direct response of praise.
- the heaps: Hebrew: aramah (ערמה). This refers to great piles, stacks, or heaps of grain, wine, oil, and other produce mentioned in verse 5 and 6. The term implies abundance, overflowing quantity, beyond ordinary storage. This word emphasizes the tangible, physical evidence of God's blessings. Its visual impact underscores the extraordinary nature of the provision.
- they blessed: Hebrew: barakh (ברך). To praise, acknowledge, or give thanks to God. It means to speak well of, to worship, to show gratitude. In this context, it is an act of adoration and reverence towards the Giver of such bounty.
- the LORD: Hebrew: YHWH, the covenant name of God. This specifies that their blessing was directed not to chance or human effort alone, but to the sovereign, covenant-keeping God of Israel, acknowledging Him as the source of all good.
- and His people Israel: The people themselves are also "blessed" or affirmed by the leadership's recognition. It is an acknowledgment that the abundance is not merely material but also a sign of God's favor and presence among His chosen nation. It affirms both God's blessing of His people and His people as blessed.
2 Chronicles 31 8 Bonus section
The concept of "heaps" (aramah) indicates an outpouring far beyond normal expectations, hinting at God’s characteristic super-abundance when people obey His commands regarding stewardship. This extraordinary overflow directly counters any notion that keeping God's commands, especially giving, would lead to scarcity; instead, it promises overwhelming prosperity (Mal 3:10). The event highlighted in 2 Chronicles 31:8 profoundly impacted the nation, validating Hezekiah's reforms and encouraging the people's ongoing commitment to righteous living and proper worship. This blessing extended beyond physical provisions to spiritual joy and a deepened relationship with God, illustrating holistic divine favor.
2 Chronicles 31 8 Commentary
2 Chronicles 31:8 captures a profound moment of divine affirmation following a remarkable period of spiritual renewal in Judah under King Hezekiah. The overflowing "heaps" were a tangible, visual testimony to God's faithfulness, fulfilling promises found in His Law (e.g., Deut 28:1-14; Mal 3:10) concerning provision when His people obey Him in tithing and giving. This wasn't just a collection of provisions; it was a miraculous abundance, so vast that special storage rooms and dedicated officials were required (2 Chron 31:11-15).
Hezekiah and his princes, as the spiritual and civic leaders, recognized this bounty not as merely a result of human industry, but as direct evidence of God's supernatural blessing on His obedient people. Their response was immediate and appropriate: "they blessed the LORD." This act of praising God acknowledged Him as the ultimate provider and Sustainer, underscoring that all good things flow from Him (James 1:17). By also "blessing His people Israel," the leaders affirmed the spiritual health of the nation, celebrating the people's willingness to give generously and acknowledging their place in God's covenant blessings. The scene serves as a powerful biblical principle: sincere obedience and honoring God with our substance leads to His abundant and overflowing provision. It exemplifies how leadership can effectively direct attention and gratitude towards God when His hand is clearly visible in the lives of His people.