2 Chronicles 34 21

2 Chronicles 34:21 kjv

Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.

2 Chronicles 34:21 nkjv

"Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for those who are left in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book."

2 Chronicles 34:21 niv

"Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD's anger that is poured out on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the LORD; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book."

2 Chronicles 34:21 esv

"Go, inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book."

2 Chronicles 34:21 nlt

"Go to the Temple and speak to the LORD for me and for all the remnant of Israel and Judah. Inquire about the words written in the scroll that has been found. For the LORD's great anger has been poured out on us because our ancestors have not obeyed the word of the LORD. We have not been doing everything this scroll says we must do."

2 Chronicles 34 verses

2 Chronicles 34 21 Meaning

King Josiah, filled with deep spiritual distress and humility upon hearing the words of the newly discovered Book of the Law, commands his officials to seek divine counsel. He recognizes the severe disobedience of previous generations and himself, understanding that the impending wrath of the Lord is a direct consequence of their collective failure to uphold God's covenant and commandments as revealed in the Book. His inquiry extends not only to himself but also to the remaining people of both Israel and Judah, demonstrating his profound concern for the entire nation and their desperate need for divine guidance and intercession in light of their ancestral sins and the dire pronouncements of judgment.

2 Chronicles 34 21 Context

2 Chronicles 34 opens with King Josiah's righteous reign in Judah, starting at age eight. Unlike his apostate grandfather Manasseh and father Amon, Josiah "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD" (v. 2) and actively sought God. In his twelfth year, he began purging Judah and Jerusalem of idolatry, including high places, Asherim, and carved images. By his eighteenth year, he embarked on renovating the Temple of the LORD. It was during these repairs that Hilkiah the high priest discovered "the Book of the Law of the LORD given through Moses" (v. 14). Upon hearing its contents read by Shaphan the scribe, Josiah tore his clothes, deeply distressed by the nation's profound and prolonged disobedience and the consequent wrath prophesied within the book. Verse 21 immediately follows this impactful moment, capturing Josiah's urgent, penitent, and humble reaction to the revelation of God's holy and demanding Word, demonstrating his leadership in initiating a spiritual revival based on scriptural authority.

2 Chronicles 34 21 Word analysis

• Go: This is a direct command, emphasizing the immediate and urgent nature of Josiah's concern. There is no delay or hesitation in his response to the discovered Law.
• inquire: (Hebrew: דרשׁ - darash) This word means to "seek, search for, consult, ask, inquire." It implies a diligent and earnest pursuit of divine will or guidance. It's more than a casual question; it suggests an active seeking of God's face and specific instruction, often through a recognized spiritual authority like a prophet. Josiah doesn't seek mere information, but an oracle to address the gravity of their situation.
• of the LORD: Specifies the authoritative source for the inquiry. Josiah understands that only God can fully reveal the implications of the Law and indicate what response is now appropriate, or what judgments are coming.
• for me: Reveals Josiah's personal humility and accountability. Despite being king, he sees himself equally culpable and in need of God's mercy and direction. His repentance is not just official but personal.
• and for those who are left in Israel and Judah: This indicates a corporate concern, extending Josiah's intercession beyond his own person to encompass the entire remnant of the twelve tribes. It points to the hope for restoration and the recognition that the Law applies to all of God's people, wherever they may be found, encompassing survivors from both Northern (Israel) and Southern (Judah) Kingdoms, uniting them under a single spiritual burden and a single God.
• concerning the words: Highlights that it's the specific content and pronouncements within the book that have gripped Josiah. It’s not simply the presence of an ancient artifact, but the meaning and demands of its text.
• of the book that has been found: This refers to "the Book of the Law," widely understood by scholars to be (at least part of) Deuteronomy. Its discovery highlights its neglect and underscores its re-establishment as the foundational document of their covenant relationship with God. Its "finding" signifies a profound spiritual rediscovery, bringing long-dormant truths to light with devastating clarity.
• for great is the wrath: (Hebrew: חרה - charah, "to burn," often used for anger or indignation) Josiah recognizes the extreme nature of God's impending judgment. It's not a slight displeasure but an intense, consuming anger. This is a clear theological statement: sin against a holy God results in serious consequences, proportional to the offense against His divine standard.
• of the LORD that is poured out on us: The imagery of wrath being "poured out" signifies a comprehensive, unavoidable, and complete judgment, like water from a vessel. "On us" implies a corporate and unavoidable accountability for the nation's actions, encompassing both the present generation and previous ones.
• because our fathers have not kept: (Hebrew: שׁמר - shamar, "to keep, watch, guard, observe, obey") This establishes the causal link between disobedience and divine wrath. The term "fathers" indicates the long history of covenant unfaithfulness by preceding generations, revealing a pattern of departure from God's commands. Their failure to "keep" the word means they did not guard it, obey it, or uphold its statutes.
• the word of the LORD: This is synonymous with "this book." It emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the commands found within the discovered scroll.
• to do according to all that is written in this book: Stresses the demand for complete and comprehensive obedience. God's covenant requires total adherence, not partial compliance. The discovery revealed the vast gap between what God commanded and what the nation had practiced, fueling Josiah's profound conviction.

2 Chronicles 34 21 Bonus section

The "Book of the Law" discovered in this account (parallel in 2 Kgs 22) is overwhelmingly identified by scholars as some portion of the Pentateuch, with a strong consensus leaning towards Deuteronomy, or a core part of it. The language and themes of covenant curses, central to Deuteronomy, perfectly align with Josiah's immediate and fearful reaction regarding the "wrath of the LORD poured out." This discovery marked a pivotal moment in Judah's spiritual history, representing a national return to foundational covenant principles after generations of neglect and apostasy. The emphasis on corporate responsibility—"our fathers have not kept"—highlights a biblical understanding that sin and its consequences often affect communities across generations, even while individual accountability remains. Josiah's response thus serves as a model of leadership that acknowledges ancestral failings, humbly accepts shared consequences, and actively seeks God's face on behalf of the people, aiming for national spiritual restoration guided by divine revelation. It speaks to the enduring power of God's Word, even when "lost" for a time, to bring conviction and spark revival upon its rediscovery and attentive reception.

2 Chronicles 34 21 Commentary

2 Chronicles 34:21 powerfully conveys the transformative impact of God's rediscovered Word on a truly humble heart. King Josiah's immediate and dramatic response—tearing his clothes—signifies genuine contrition, a profound and immediate understanding of his and the nation's spiritual bankruptcy in the face of God's holiness. This verse underscores that ignorance of the law does not negate accountability. The rediscovery of the Book of the Law awakened in Josiah a terrifying realization of the long-standing corporate sin of Israel and Judah. He understood that divine wrath was not arbitrary, but a righteous consequence of generational disobedience to the covenant commands explicitly written within that very book. His urgent call to "inquire of the LORD" demonstrates a vital leadership quality: turning to God as the ultimate authority for truth, judgment, and guidance when confronted with overwhelming spiritual crisis. It also exemplifies the critical importance of an authoritative, accessible, and obeyed Scripture as the standard for national and individual life. Josiah's humility and fervent seeking for God's word foreshadow the eventual, albeit temporary, revival that would follow in Judah.Example: This verse illustrates how the reading and application of Scripture can expose personal and communal sin, leading to heartfelt repentance and an urgent desire to seek God's specific will for rectification.