2 Chronicles 34 19

2 Chronicles 34:19 kjv

And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.

2 Chronicles 34:19 nkjv

Thus it happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes.

2 Chronicles 34:19 niv

When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes.

2 Chronicles 34:19 esv

And when the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes.

2 Chronicles 34:19 nlt

When the king heard what was written in the Law, he tore his clothes in despair.

2 Chronicles 34 verses

2 Chronicles 34 19 Meaning

2 Chronicles 34:19 describes King Josiah's profound reaction upon hearing the "words of the law" read from the rediscovered scroll. His act of tearing his clothes signified deep personal anguish, profound humility, and sincere repentance before God, acknowledging the immense spiritual state of sin and disobedience that both he and the nation of Judah were in, contrasting sharply with God's revealed will.

2 Chronicles 34 19 Context

The discovery of the "Book of the Law" during the temple repair initiated by King Josiah, a young king who "began to seek the God of David his father" (2 Chr 34:3), marks a pivotal moment in Judah's spiritual history. Prior to this, Judah had largely abandoned Yahweh worship for pervasive idolatry under Manasseh and Amon. The temple had fallen into disrepair, indicating widespread spiritual neglect. When Hilkiah the high priest found the scroll and it was read to the king, Josiah's immediate and extreme reaction, as described in 2 Chronicles 34:19, stems from the realization of how far Judah had deviated from God's covenant commands. The "words of the law" likely included sections detailing the blessings for obedience and, more significantly, the severe curses and judgments for disobedience, such as those found in Deuteronomy 28 or Leviticus 26. This stark revelation of Judah's impending doom in light of God's righteous requirements spurred Josiah into fervent action, leading to a nationwide reformation and a renewal of the covenant.

2 Chronicles 34 19 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (וַיְהִי - vay'hi): A common Hebrew narrative opening, indicating that an event transpired. Here, it signifies the immediate and consequential nature of what happened next upon the hearing of the Law. It frames the following action as divinely ordained or highly significant within the story's flow.
• when the king (כְּשָׁמְעַ֣ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ - k'shamoa' hammelekh): Literally "when the hearing of the king." The emphasis is on the king, Josiah, specifically hearing. His identity as king amplifies the significance, as a king's response would determine national policy. This highlights his personal receptivity and humility, which contrasts with the usual pride or apathy of monarchs in the face of spiritual challenge.
• had heard (כְּשָׁמְעַ֣ - k'shamoa'): Implies not just a passive reception of sound but an attentive and comprehensive understanding of the words' meaning and implications. It signifies a hearing that leads to profound internalization.
• the words (אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י - 'eṯ divre): Not just the book or the general concept of "the law," but the specific words within it. This suggests a direct encounter with the detailed requirements, commands, warnings, and promises of God, which penetrated his heart and mind. The directness of the revealed Word caused the dramatic impact.
• of the law (הַתּוֹרָ֑ה - hattōrāh): "The Law," often referring to the Pentateuch, especially Deuteronomy. In this context, it is God's divinely inspired instruction and covenant stipulations given through Moses. This was not human counsel but the authoritative word of God, revealing His character and demands, and laying bare the nation's spiritual poverty and impending judgment due to centuries of apostasy. The power lay in the Torah itself.
• that he rent (וַיִּקְרַ֖ע - vayyiqra'): "And he tore/rent." This is a strong verb indicating a forceful and immediate act. In the ancient Near East, tearing garments was a universally recognized expression of extreme grief, despair, horror, shock, humiliation, and deep distress. It was not a casual act but a profound outward demonstration of intense inner turmoil and anguish.
• his clothes (אֶת־בְּגָדָֽיו׃ - 'eṯ b'ḡādāyw): "His garments/clothes." This specific reference confirms a literal and public display of distress. It was an outward sign visible to those around him, signifying a broken spirit and profound repentance for the nation's and his own sins, in stark contrast to God's holiness as revealed in His Law. This public act underscored the depth of his conviction and sorrow over the accumulated national sin.

• "When the king had heard the words of the law": This phrase encapsulates the pivotal moment of divine revelation. The Law, once forgotten, now confronted the king with God's perfect standard. This act of hearing emphasizes God's active pursuit of His people and the transformative power of His word. For generations, the Law had been ignored; its rediscovery and Josiah's response mark a powerful polemic against the pervasive ignorance and rebellion of the surrounding culture and previous kings who had not heeded God's covenant.
• "that he rent his clothes": This dramatic action is a traditional ancient Israelite gesture for intense sorrow, fear, and lamentation, especially in the face of bad news or overwhelming sin. Unlike King Jehoiakim's burning of Jeremiah's scroll (Jer 36:23), Josiah's reaction demonstrates profound humility, contrition, and an immediate understanding of the gravity of the nation's state before God. It signaled true repentance and acknowledgment of impending judgment for violating God's holy Law.

2 Chronicles 34 19 Bonus section

Josiah's dramatic response to the Book of the Law highlights the forgotten mandate of kings in Deuteronomy 17:18-20, which required them to copy and continually read God's Law. His tearing of clothes wasn't just a reaction to bad news, but to the terrifying realization of divine justice falling on an idolatrous nation. This moment reveals the "fear of the Lord" not as terror but as profound awe and respect for God's holiness and His commitment to His covenant. This spiritual turning point was crucial to Judah's temporary revival and served as a lasting example of true humility before God's Word.

2 Chronicles 34 19 Commentary

2 Chronicles 34:19 stands as a powerful testament to the transformative impact of God's Word when encountered with a receptive heart. King Josiah's violent act of tearing his garments was more than a display of emotional distress; it was a visible and cultural sign of profound spiritual conviction. Upon hearing the "words of the Law"—likely the covenant stipulations and curses for disobedience—Josiah recognized the enormous chasm between God's righteous expectations and the deeply entrenched sin and idolatry of his nation, and indeed, his own unwitting participation. His tearing of clothes represented national lamentation, deep humility, and a turning point, signaling an acknowledgment of national guilt and the gravity of their imminent judgment. This stark contrast between Josiah's contrite spirit and the casual disregard of earlier kings, particularly Jehoiakim (Jer 36), highlights the profound moral power inherent in the Divine Law and the unique responsiveness of Josiah, setting the stage for his sweeping religious reforms and revival across Judah. This reaction also serves as an example of what it means to truly "tremble at God's Word" (Isa 66:2), leading to action, repentance, and obedience.