2 Chronicles 32 26

2 Chronicles 32:26 kjv

Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

2 Chronicles 32:26 nkjv

Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

2 Chronicles 32:26 niv

Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD's wrath did not come on them during the days of Hezekiah.

2 Chronicles 32:26 esv

But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

2 Chronicles 32:26 nlt

Then Hezekiah humbled himself and repented of his pride, as did the people of Jerusalem. So the LORD's anger did not fall on them during Hezekiah's lifetime.

2 Chronicles 32 verses

2 Chronicles 32 26 Meaning

2 Chronicles 32:26 reveals a pivotal moment in King Hezekiah's reign. After experiencing spiritual pride due to his wealth, influence, and miraculous healing, he genuinely humbled himself before God. This act of humility, which also extended to the people of Jerusalem, was crucial. As a direct consequence of this sincere repentance, God withheld the severe wrath and judgment that would otherwise have come upon them during Hezekiah's lifetime. It highlights the principle that true humility and repentance can avert divine wrath and bring God's mercy.

2 Chronicles 32 26 Context

This verse is nestled within a narrative describing Hezekiah's successful reign, highlighting God's faithfulness and miraculous deliverance from Sennacherib's Assyrian invasion. Following the dramatic victory, Hezekiah also experienced a near-fatal illness, from which God miraculously healed him, adding fifteen years to his life. God even provided a miraculous sign of the sun's shadow moving backward to confirm His promise (2 Chr 32:24, Isa 38). However, verse 25 notes that "Hezekiah did not respond according to the generosity shown him, for his heart was proud." This refers to his lack of gratitude and his arrogant display of treasures to the Babylonian envoys (recorded more fully in 2 Kgs 20 and Isa 39), an act of national pride and an implicit trust in alliances rather than God alone. While the prophecy of future judgment due to this act was pronounced by Isaiah (exile to Babylon), 2 Chronicles 32:26 specifies that Hezekiah then humbled himself for this very pride. This immediate humbling prevented God's wrath from falling during his lifetime, underscoring God's mercy and immediate response to genuine repentance. The chronicler emphasizes how the king's spiritual condition directly impacted the welfare of the nation.

2 Chronicles 32 26 Word analysis

• Then: wa-yik-na (וַיִּכָּנַע) - "And he humbled himself." The immediate sequence signifies that the humbling was a response to divine chastening or warning following his pride (2 Chr 32:25). It highlights a change in disposition.
• Hezekiah: The name means "Yahweh strengthens." This serves as a stark contrast to his pride, as his true strength came from the Lord, not his own might or riches.
• humbled himself: wa-yik-na (וַיִּכָּנַע) - from the root kana'. This Hebrew verb signifies to "bow down," "be brought low," "be subdued," or "submit oneself." It implies a voluntary act of surrender and penitence, often motivated by acknowledging one's sin and God's holiness. It's an internal posture of the heart, made manifest through actions. This specific form (Niphal imperfect) emphasizes the active voice of Hezekiah in initiating this self-abasement.
• for the pride: mi-goh-va' lib-bow (מִגֹּבַהּ לִבּוֹ) - "from the height of his heart." Goh-va' means "height," "loftiness," "arrogance," "haughtiness." It describes a lifted heart, indicative of self-exaltation and independence from God. This pride often arises from prosperity and success, as it did for Hezekiah.
• of his heart: lib-bow (לִבּוֹ) - "his heart." In Hebrew thought, the lev (heart) is the seat of intellect, will, emotions, and moral character. It implies the deepest core of his being, signifying that his pride was not merely external, but a deep-seated spiritual issue. His humility, therefore, was also deeply internal and genuine.
• he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: This highlights the communal aspect of repentance. While Hezekiah's pride was personal, his leadership affected the whole city. Their humbling with him indicates either his instruction for public repentance or their shared understanding of the impending divine judgment. It emphasizes collective responsibility and shared outcomes.
• so the wrath: wə-lō-ḇā hā-za-‘am (וְלֹא־בָא הַזַּעַם) - "and not came the indignation." Za‘am (זַעַם) is a strong term for divine wrath, indignation, or furious anger, often implying judgment due to unrighteousness.
• of the LORD: YHWH (יְהוָה) - God's covenant name, signifying His personal and active involvement, as well as His just nature as the sovereign ruler.
• did not come upon them: An explicit statement of averted judgment. The consequence of humility is the turning away of God's deserved wrath. This underscores God's mercy and willingness to relent when His people humble themselves.
• in the days of Hezekiah: This temporal limitation is crucial. It signifies that God's immediate judgment was stayed during his lifetime. However, it does not nullify the future judgment (Babylonian exile) prophesied by Isaiah, which would come generations later (2 Kgs 20:17-18; Isa 39:6-7), after Hezekiah had died. This demonstrates God's long-suffering and precise timing of judgment based on human response.

2 Chronicles 32 26 Bonus section

The narrative of Hezekiah's pride and subsequent humbling follows a common biblical pattern where individuals, even righteous ones, are tested by prosperity and divine blessing. While the prior verse (32:25) records his ingratitude and pride, verse 26 serves as a redemptive turn, highlighting Hezekiah's growth and capacity for genuine repentance. This immediate humbling prevented a current outpouring of God's wrath on Judah, illustrating the principle that God often delays or mitigates judgment in response to sincere contrition, even if the long-term consequences of broader national sin are yet to manifest. It reveals God's patient discipline: He exposed Hezekiah's hidden sin (pride in prosperity), gave him space for reflection and humility, and then showed mercy. This passage functions as a stark contrast to those leaders who remained unrepentant in their pride, facing severe consequences (e.g., Nebuchadnezzar, Herod Agrippa). It shows that a "good" king, like Hezekiah, still needs God's corrective hand and must constantly guard his heart against self-exaltation, especially after moments of great success or divine intervention.

2 Chronicles 32 26 Commentary

2 Chronicles 32:26 provides a powerful testament to the transformative power of humility and God's responsiveness to genuine repentance. Hezekiah, despite being a righteous king who oversaw a great spiritual revival and experienced miraculous divine intervention, fell into the snare of pride after great prosperity and deliverance. This underscores a perennial human failing: success can easily lead to a "lifted heart" – an arrogance that forgets God's generosity and takes credit for divine blessings. However, unlike some kings who persisted in their pride, Hezekiah's defining quality in this moment was his swift and sincere response. The phrase "humbled himself" signifies a voluntary and deeply personal turning from his self-exaltation. This act of humility extended beyond him, encompassing the "inhabitants of Jerusalem," suggesting either a corporate call to repentance led by the king or a widespread understanding of their collective accountability before God. The profound result was that "the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them." This vividly illustrates God's character as both just, requiring accountability for pride, and merciful, willing to defer or avert judgment when true humility and repentance are offered. It does not negate the ultimate consequence for the nation's later sins, as foreshadowed by Isaiah's prophecy to Hezekiah about the Babylonian exile, but it shows that in Hezekiah's days, the immediate, severe judgment was withheld. This passage serves as a perpetual reminder that humility is the pathway to preserving God's favor and mercy, both individually and corporately, and that God consistently rewards a contrite spirit by restraining His just anger.

• Example 1: Like a child who, after acting defiantly, humbly apologizes, preventing further discipline.
• Example 2: A business leader who, despite success, remains humble, giving credit to God, and thus avoids pitfalls of arrogance that can lead to collapse.