2 Chronicles 34:23 kjv
And she answered them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me,
2 Chronicles 34:23 nkjv
Then she answered them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'Tell the man who sent you to Me,
2 Chronicles 34:23 niv
She said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me,
2 Chronicles 34:23 esv
And she said to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 'Tell the man who sent you to me,
2 Chronicles 34:23 nlt
She said to them, "The LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken! Go back and tell the man who sent you,
2 Chronicles 34 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Chr 34:21 | "Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for those who are left in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of the book..." | Josiah seeks God |
| 2 Ki 22:14 | "So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess..." | Parallel account, seeking Huldah |
| Exo 4:22 | "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: Israel is My firstborn son..." | "Thus says the Lord" prophetic formula |
| Isa 55:11 | "so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty..." | God's word is powerful and effective |
| Jer 1:9 | "Then the Lord put out His hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth." | God speaks through His chosen messengers |
| Amos 3:7 | "For the Lord God does nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets." | God reveals plans to prophets |
| Heb 1:1-2 | "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us..." | God speaks through prophets throughout history |
| Exo 15:20 | "Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand..." | Female prophet (Miriam) |
| Judg 4:4 | "Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time." | Female prophet (Deborah) |
| 2 Ki 22:15 | "And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me..." | Parallel, Huldah's identical initial response |
| 1 Sam 3:19 | "And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground." | Divine confirmation of prophet's words |
| Deut 18:18 | "I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put My words in His mouth..." | Promise of a future prophet, God's word in mouth |
| Ez 2:7 | "You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house." | Prophets deliver God's word faithfully |
| Mic 3:8 | "But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression..." | Prophetic empowerment |
| Jer 23:28 | "Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has My word speak My word faithfully..." | Importance of speaking God's word faithfully |
| Zeph 1:1 | "The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi..." | Introduction to prophetic books ("Word of the Lord") |
| Gen 33:20 | "There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel." | God of Israel reference |
| 1 Sam 1:17 | "Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.”" | God of Israel in petition |
| Jer 29:13 | "You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart." | Seeking God wholeheartedly |
| Mt 7:7 | "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." | Principle of seeking God and receiving |
| Deut 4:29 | "But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find Him, if you search after Him with all your heart and with all your soul." | Divine promise to those who truly seek |
| 2 Chr 15:4 | "But when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them." | God responds when sought in distress |
| Psa 19:7-8 | "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple..." | Value of God's Word found by Josiah |
2 Chronicles 34 verses
2 Chronicles 34 23 Meaning
This verse marks the precise moment when Huldah, the prophetess, begins to deliver God's message in response to King Josiah's earnest inquiry. It formally introduces the divine source of the pronouncement by stating "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel," affirming that the words are not her own but a direct communication from the Sovereign God to His covenant people. The command "Tell the man who sent you to me" directs the message specifically back to King Josiah, acknowledging his profound seeking after the discovered Book of the Law.
2 Chronicles 34 23 Context
King Josiah ascended to the throne of Judah at the young age of eight. This specific verse occurs during his eighteenth year, following a significant spiritual revival he initiated. Josiah had begun repairing and cleansing the temple of pagan idols. During these renovations, Hilkiah the high priest discovered the "Book of the Law" (likely a significant portion or all of Deuteronomy) in the temple. When the book was read to King Josiah, he was deeply convicted by its pronouncements of judgment against disobedience and tore his clothes in repentance, realizing how far the nation had strayed from God's commands. In his humility and spiritual earnestness, Josiah sent a delegation, including Hilkiah the high priest, Ahikam, Abdon, Shaphan, and Asaiah, to inquire of the Lord about the words of the newly found book. The delegation sought out Huldah, a prophetess residing in Jerusalem, rather than the male prophets of the era, attesting to her recognized divine authority and spiritual discernment. Verse 23 begins her direct prophetic response, initiating God's authoritative reply to Josiah's contrite heart.
2 Chronicles 34 23 Word analysis
- And she answered them: This refers directly to Huldah (Va-tomer 'aleihem). Her active role signifies her accepted authority as a spokesperson for God, even within a patriarchal society. God’s choice of a prophetess underlines that divine election for service is not based on gender but on His sovereign purpose and an individual’s receptiveness and faithfulness. Her response is immediate, showing no hesitation, highlighting the directness of prophetic inspiration.
- “Thus says the Lord”: (Koh 'Amar YHVH) This is the classic prophetic formula, common throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Exod 4:22, Num 23:12, 1 Sam 2:27, Isa 1:2, Jer 2:2, Ez 2:4). It is a powerful declaration signifying that the message is not Huldah's personal opinion, wisdom, or interpretation, but a direct, authoritative utterance from Yahweh, the covenant God. It authenticates the message as divine revelation and demands unreserved obedience and belief from the audience. Its use elevates the severity and certainty of the pronouncement that follows.
- the God of Israel: (Elohei Yisra'el) This specific designation identifies Yahweh as the one true God who has entered into a unique covenant relationship with the nation of Israel. It serves as a reminder of His particular sovereignty, faithfulness, and historical interventions on behalf of His chosen people, distinguishing Him from all pagan deities worshiped in the land. This phrase reinforces the covenant context of the prophecy and highlights God's ongoing watchcare over His people, despite their spiritual lapses. It carries a subtle polemic against the surrounding polytheistic beliefs by affirming the exclusive identity of the divine speaker.
- ‘Tell the man who sent you to me’: This phrase reflects God's direct acknowledgement of King Josiah's personal seeking and sincerity. "The man" refers to Josiah, demonstrating a familiarity in address despite the hierarchical societal structure. It emphasizes that the message is precisely for Josiah's ears, addressing his particular heart condition and the earnest inquiry he initiated after the Book of the Law was found. It highlights God's personal response to those who humbly seek Him. This also demonstrates Huldah's faithfulness in relaying the message exactly as she received it, including the specific instruction of its intended recipient.
2 Chronicles 34 23 Bonus section
Huldah's prominence in this crucial moment highlights that God's choice of messenger is based solely on His sovereign will and the prophet's receptiveness to the Spirit, rather than societal norms or gender. At a time when Jeremiah and Zephaniah were also prophesying in Judah, the fact that Josiah's delegation went to Huldah suggests her recognized spiritual integrity and prophetic accuracy within Jerusalem. Her authority was not questioned by the high priest or royal officials, indicating that spiritual discernment was valued over traditional status. Her oracle authenticated the rediscovered Book of the Law, giving it divine confirmation and inspiring Josiah's subsequent far-reaching reforms, demonstrating the powerful ripple effect of one person's humble response to God's Word.
2 Chronicles 34 23 Commentary
Verse 23 is the pivot point in the account of Josiah's spiritual revival, shifting from the king's sincere inquiry to God's authoritative and direct response. The opening phrase, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel," is a hallmark of authentic prophecy, unmistakably declaring the divine origin and unchallengeable authority of the words that follow. This immediately imbues Huldah's pronouncements with ultimate weight, affirming that she is merely a vessel for the Living God's own voice. The designation "God of Israel" reinforces the covenant fidelity of Yahweh to His chosen people, emphasizing His continued engagement even when their actions have led to impending judgment. The direct instruction to relay the message specifically "to the man who sent you" underscores God's personal attention to Josiah's profound humility and earnest desire to know God's will after the rediscovery of the Law. It highlights the divine principle that God answers those who sincerely seek Him with a repentant heart, providing guidance even when the truth is difficult to bear. This initial verse sets the stage for a message that will both affirm the severity of coming judgment on the nation and offer comfort and mercy to the humble king.