2 Chronicles 32:8 kjv
With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
2 Chronicles 32:8 nkjv
With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles." And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
2 Chronicles 32:8 niv
With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.
2 Chronicles 32:8 esv
With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles." And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
2 Chronicles 32:8 nlt
He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!" Hezekiah's words greatly encouraged the people.
2 Chronicles 32 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 14:14 | The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. | God fights for His people. |
| Dt 3:22 | You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you. | God as the warrior for His people. |
| Dt 20:4 | For the LORD your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against... | God accompanies to fight. |
| Dt 31:6 | Be strong and courageous... for the LORD your God goes with you... | God's presence as source of strength. |
| Josh 23:10 | One man of you puts to flight a thousand, for it is the LORD your God... | Divine strength empowers few over many. |
| 1 Sam 17:47 | ...that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. | Battle is the Lord's. |
| 2 Chron 14:11 | Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have... | Reliance on God in overwhelming odds. |
| 2 Chron 20:15 | ...The battle is not yours but God's. | Direct statement of God's ownership of battle. |
| Ps 20:7 | Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of... | Trusting God over human instruments. |
| Ps 33:16-17 | No king is saved by the size of his army... A horse is a vain hope... | Vain hope in human military might. |
| Ps 44:6-7 | For I will not trust in my bow, nor shall my sword save me... | Human weaponry is insufficient. |
| Ps 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. | God is immediate help in adversity. |
| Ps 118:8-9 | It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans... | Superiority of trusting God. |
| Prov 21:31 | The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory belongs to... | Victory is from the LORD. |
| Isa 31:1-3 | Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses... | Warning against relying on flesh/allies. |
| Isa 41:10 | Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God... | Assurance of God's constant presence. |
| Isa 59:16 | He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one... | God's own arm brings salvation. |
| Jer 17:5-8 | Cursed is the one who trusts in man... Blessed is the one who trusts in... | Contrast of trusting man vs. God. |
| Zech 4:6 | Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. | Divine spirit, not human might. |
| Rom 8:31 | What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be...? | God's absolute championship for believers. |
| 2 Cor 12:9 | My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. | God's power made perfect in human weakness. |
| Phil 4:13 | I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. | Strength derived from Christ. |
| Eph 6:10 | Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. | Reliance on God's strength in spiritual war. |
| Heb 13:6 | So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear...” | Confident declaration of God's help. |
2 Chronicles 32 verses
2 Chronicles 32 8 Meaning
This verse, spoken by King Hezekiah to the people of Judah facing the Assyrian invasion, boldly declares the ultimate source of power and victory. It contrasts the finite, human strength of Judah's enemy, Assyria (symbolized by "an arm of flesh"), with the infinite, divine presence and power of the Lord God who is with Judah to assist and wage their battles. It serves as a profound statement of faith, reminding the people to rely on God rather than their own perceived weakness or the enemy's strength.
2 Chronicles 32 8 Context
The verse is part of King Hezekiah's address to the people of Jerusalem and Judah as the formidable Assyrian army, led by King Sennacherib, laid siege to the fortified cities and prepared to attack Jerusalem (2 Chron 32:1-7). Prior to this, Hezekiah had implemented extensive religious reforms, restoring true worship of Yahweh after years of idolatry. He also took practical measures to prepare for the siege, strengthening the city's defenses, stopping water sources outside the city, and encouraging his people. This particular verse comes after Hezekiah's practical preparations and directly before Sennacherib's aggressive messages to the people, aimed at undermining their resolve. Hezekiah's words here are a crucial call to faith, providing a spiritual counterpoint to the overwhelming physical threat, shifting their focus from Assyria's might to God's ultimate power.
2 Chronicles 32 8 Word analysis
- With him (`immō עִמּוֹ): Refers to Sennacherib, emphasizing the apparent source of his strength. The phrase sets up an immediate contrast.
- is an arm of flesh (zᵉrōa' bāśār זְרוֹעַ בָּשָׂר):
- Arm (zᵉrōa'): In Hebrew, the arm signifies strength, power, military might, and ability.
- Flesh (bāśār): Refers to human, mortal, temporal, and inherently limited or weak nature. It contrasts directly with the eternal, unlimited, and divine. This phrase forms a polemic against reliance on human strength, armies, or even powerful leaders, presenting them as finite and fallible. It counters the ancient world's common trust in mighty empires and their physical forces.
- but with us (vᵉ`immānū וְעִמָּנוּ): Creates a sharp antithetical parallelism, juxtaposing the enemy's condition with Judah's. It highlights a clear distinction in allegiance and support.
- is the LORD our God (YHWH Eloheinu יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ):
- LORD (YHWH): God's covenant name, signifying His unchanging, eternal, and sovereign nature. It is the name revealing God's active presence with His people.
- Our God (Eloheinu): Emphasizes a personal, covenantal relationship. This is not just a god, but their God, who has demonstrated faithfulness throughout Israel's history. This reinforces the polemic against the numerous local and national gods believed to be behind Assyria's successes, asserting the sole and supreme authority of YHWH.
- to help us (lᵉ`āzrēnū לְעָזְרֵנוּ): Expresses the active, immediate, and assisting role of God. The Hebrew word implies strong, often military, aid.
- and to fight our battles (ûlᵉhillāḥēm milḥªmōtêīnū וּלְהִלָּחֵם מִלְחֲמֹתֵינוּ): Declares God's direct intervention in their warfare. It means God Himself will wage the war for them, emphasizing divine victory rather than human achievement. This serves as a strong encouragement, reassuring the people that their struggle is God's own, and therefore, His victory.
- Phrase analysis: "With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.": This is an exemplary case of antithetical parallelism. Hezekiah confronts the tangible, overwhelming threat with an unseen, infinite reality. The human, finite power of Assyria is contrasted with the divine, infinite power of Yahweh. The focus is on who is ultimately fighting and whose strength truly matters, diverting attention from the intimidating physical presence of the enemy. It encapsulates the core theological truth of dependence on God over human capabilities.
2 Chronicles 32 8 Bonus section
The fulfillment of Hezekiah's confident declaration is recorded later in the very same chapter (2 Chron 32:20-23) when the LORD sent an angel who annihilated the Assyrian army, causing Sennacherib's retreat and eventual death. This divine intervention served as a powerful vindication of Hezekiah's faith-filled words and demonstrated the reality of God fighting for His people, thus providing a living example for generations to come. This also implies that Hezekiah's earlier efforts to prepare for the siege (building walls, cutting off water) were not contradictory to his call for faith, but rather an act of wise stewardship under God, where human responsibility and divine intervention worked in tandem, yet faith ultimately prevailed.
2 Chronicles 32 8 Commentary
King Hezekiah's proclamation in 2 Chronicles 32:8 is a profound lesson in faith and divine sovereignty, especially when facing overwhelming adversaries. In a desperate hour, when the mighty Assyrian army seemed invincible, Hezekiah wisely redirected the people's gaze from the visible might of Sennacherib's "arm of flesh" to the invisible, yet all-powerful, presence of "the LORD our God." The "arm of flesh" represents the limits of human strength, ingenuity, and military power, inherently weak and destined to fail without divine endorsement. In stark contrast, God's very being ("the LORD our God") promises active intervention—He is not merely a helper, but the ultimate Warrior who wages their battles. This statement transforms the immediate military threat into a spiritual challenge, affirming that the true battle is one of allegiance and trust, not just armaments. Hezekiah instilled courage by reminding the people that divine assistance transcends all human and material limitations, emphasizing that their victory would ultimately come from God alone, not their defensive efforts, however necessary. This also served as a direct challenge to the common pagan belief that stronger nations had stronger gods; Hezekiah asserts YHWH's supreme power over all perceived gods and human armies.