2 Chronicles 32 22

2 Chronicles 32:22 kjv

Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.

2 Chronicles 32:22 nkjv

Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side.

2 Chronicles 32:22 niv

So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others. He took care of them on every side.

2 Chronicles 32:22 esv

So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies, and he provided for them on every side.

2 Chronicles 32:22 nlt

That is how the LORD rescued Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria and from all the others who threatened them. So there was peace throughout the land.

2 Chronicles 32 verses

2 Chronicles 32 22 Meaning

This verse powerfully declares that the LORD alone was the source of deliverance for King Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the overwhelming threat of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, and any other adversaries. Beyond mere salvation from the immediate enemy, it highlights God's comprehensive and continuous guidance and protection, encompassing all aspects of their lives and security.

2 Chronicles 32 22 Context

This verse concludes the narrative of Sennacherib's devastating invasion of Judah during King Hezekiah's righteous reign. The preceding verses (2 Chr 32:1-21) detail Sennacherib's immense army, his relentless siege tactics, his arrogant taunts and blasphemies against the LORD, and Hezekiah's and the prophet Isaiah's fervent, trusting prayer to God in the face of human impossibility. Crucially, 2 Chronicles 32:21 recounts the immediate, supernatural divine intervention: "the LORD sent an angel who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned in shame to his own land." Verse 22 functions as a concise yet powerful theological summary of this dramatic event, emphatically attributing the deliverance and subsequent welfare of Jerusalem solely to God. Historically, this event (around 701 BC) showcased Judah, a small kingdom, standing against the dominant Assyrian Empire, considered virtually invincible. For the original Israelite audience, particularly the post-exilic community whom the Chronicler addressed, this account served as an unequivocal testament to the LORD's absolute sovereignty over all earthly powers and His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant people, even when overwhelmed by despair and immense threats.

2 Chronicles 32 22 Word analysis

• Thus: Signals that what follows is a direct consequence or summary arising from the previous actions and divine intervention (prayer and God's angel).
• the LORD (YHWH - יְהוָה): The sacred, personal, and covenant name of God. This stresses that the deliverance was initiated and completed by the Almighty God of Israel, explicitly asserting His unique power and supremacy over all other gods, particularly those revered by the Assyrians.
• saved (יָשַׁע - yasha): This Hebrew verb means to deliver, rescue, preserve, or bring to a state of security and liberation. It denotes God's powerful intervention to bring someone from danger or oppression into safety and well-being, emphasizing complete liberation and a comprehensive change of circumstance.
• Hezekiah (חִזְקִיָּהוּ - Chizqiyahu): The faithful king of Judah. His personal deliverance is explicitly stated, demonstrating God's direct care for His leaders and intertwined with the salvation of his people.
• and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Broadens the scope of divine salvation from a single individual to encompass the entire population, emphasizing that God's protection extends to His community as a whole.
• from the hand (מִיַּד - miy-yad): The Hebrew word "hand" (yad) metaphorically represents power, control, authority, or dominion. "From the hand of" therefore means "from the power, control, or destructive reach of," signifying a complete and decisive liberation from oppressive rule.
• Sennacherib (סַנְחֵרִיב - Sanhēriv): The historical and notorious king of Assyria, portrayed here as the personification of human pride, military might, and blasphemous defiance against God. His ignominious defeat directly illustrates God's sovereignty over the most formidable earthly rulers.
• the king of Assyria: Clearly identifies the monumental nature of the threat, contextualizing the event within the power dynamics of the ancient Near East, where Assyria was the dominant and terrifying superpower.
• and from the hand of all others: This crucial addition is specific to the Chronicler's account. It broadens God's protective scope beyond the immediate and known enemy (Sennacherib) to include any other potential, unnamed, or future adversaries. This underscores the comprehensive and unassailable nature of God's protection, signifying His ability to deliver from any source of threat whatsoever.
• and guided them (וַיְנַהֲלֵם - vaynaḥalēm, from נָהַל - nahal): This is a profound and richly significant word, meaning more than mere physical leading. It connotes nurturing, sustaining, shepherding, and leading to a place of rest or refreshment. It implies comprehensive, ongoing care and provision. It speaks of a continuous divine oversight that extends beyond the act of salvation, into establishing security and flourishing.
• on every side (מִסָּבִיב - missāvīv): This phrase perfectly complements "guided them," emphasizing the totality and comprehensiveness of God's care. It means from all directions, all aspects, all around—a complete and pervasive safeguarding. It implies protection against every possible danger or influence, whether seen or unseen, and throughout all aspects of their collective life.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem": This phrase asserts God's exclusive agency in the deliverance. It establishes that salvation originated solely from YHWH's power and will, highlighting His direct involvement and discrediting any human claim to the victory. It implies that without divine intervention, their plight would have been hopeless.
• "from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others": This expansion clarifies the completeness of God's victory. It emphasizes not only liberation from the greatest military power of the age but also comprehensive freedom from any other potential or actual oppressors. It communicates an absolute and thorough deliverance, demonstrating that God's protection is total and far-reaching.
• "and guided them on every side": This profound concluding clause describes God's sustained, pervasive, and nurturing care beyond the immediate crisis. "Guided them" (nahal) evokes the tender image of a shepherd who leads, nourishes, and sustains his flock. Coupled with "on every side," it depicts a comprehensive divine providence that not only rescued but also ensured the continuous well-being, peace, and security of the people from every possible direction and in all aspects of life, pointing to enduring safety and prosperity under God's watchful eye.

2 Chronicles 32 22 Bonus section

The chronicler’s inclusion of "and from the hand of all others" alongside "guided them on every side" points to a theological aim beyond mere historical reporting. This added detail likely served as a powerful reassurance for the post-exilic community in Judah (the Chronicler's primary audience), who faced ongoing threats from various surrounding peoples and felt vulnerable without a sovereign king like Hezekiah. It communicates that the God who supernaturally saved Judah from the mighty Assyrians remains ever-capable and willing to protect His people from all future adversaries and continually shepherd them in every aspect of their existence. This elevates the specific historical event to a timeless demonstration of God's enduring and all-encompassing providence for His people, offering hope and stability irrespective of immediate circumstances. The term nahal ("guided") also carries connotations of leading to water or rest, reinforcing a picture of sustained spiritual and physical sustenance provided by a loving Shepherd.

2 Chronicles 32 22 Commentary

2 Chronicles 32:22 offers a potent summary of God's sovereign act of deliverance. The narrative shifts from detailing the immediate crisis and God's powerful, specific intervention in verse 21, to a broad declaration of divine salvation and ongoing care. The centrality of "the LORD" (YHWH) as the sole Actor is paramount, emphasizing that this was a work utterly beyond human strength or strategic prowess. The chronicler specifically extends the scope of salvation beyond just "Sennacherib" to include "all others," assuring the reader of God's comprehensive protection from any form of adversity. However, the most distinctive and theologically rich element of the verse is "and guided them on every side." This isn't merely passive protection; "guided" (nahal) conveys God's active, continuous, and intimate shepherding—leading them into refreshment, nurturing them, and establishing them in a secure existence. "On every side" underscores the holistic and pervasive nature of this divine care, suggesting security and prosperity in all directions and throughout all life's circumstances. Thus, the verse assures believers not only of rescue from danger but also of an ongoing, secure, and well-provided-for life within God's constant, enveloping care, transforming deliverance into sustained thriving.