2 Chronicles 34:26 kjv
And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the LORD, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard;
2 Chronicles 34:26 nkjv
But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, in this manner you shall speak to him, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "Concerning the words which you have heard?
2 Chronicles 34:26 niv
Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard:
2 Chronicles 34:26 esv
But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard,
2 Chronicles 34:26 nlt
"But go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the LORD and tell him: 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard:
2 Chronicles 34 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Kgs 22:15-16 | "Go, tell the man who sent you to me, ‘Thus says the Lord..." | Huldah's message introduction in Kings |
| 2 Kgs 22:19 | "...because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself..." | God's response to Josiah's humility |
| Isa 55:6 | "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near..." | Exhortation to seek the Lord earnestly |
| Jer 29:13 | "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." | Promise to those who genuinely seek God |
| Deu 4:29 | "But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him..." | God is found by sincere seekers |
| Psa 119:2 | "Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart;" | Blessedness of wholeheartedly seeking God |
| Heb 11:6 | "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would approach God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." | God rewards earnest seeking |
| Prov 2:3-5 | "...if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding...then you will understand the fear of the Lord..." | Seeking wisdom and understanding God's word |
| Jam 4:8 | "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you..." | Reciprocal drawing near to God |
| Psa 51:17 | "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." | God's acceptance of contrite hearts |
| Isa 57:15 | "...but also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite." | God dwells with the humble |
| Joel 2:12 | "Yet even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart..." | Call to wholehearted repentance |
| Exo 20:2 | "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt..." | Declaration of Yahweh as Israel's God |
| Deu 6:4 | "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." | Fundamental declaration of God's uniqueness |
| Hos 12:6 | "So you, by the help of your God, return; hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God." | Returning to God's ways |
| Rom 10:17 | "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." | The role of hearing God's word |
| Isa 30:21 | "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way...'" | God's guidance through His word |
| Jer 23:28 | "...He who has my word, let him speak my word faithfully." | Prophets are to speak God's word faithfully |
| Mt 7:7 | "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." | Universal promise for earnest seeking |
| Lk 11:10 | "For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds..." | Assurance of finding when one seeks |
| Zep 2:3 | "Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth, who do his just commands..." | Encouragement for the humble to seek God |
| Acts 17:27 | "...that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him..." | Mankind's innate inclination to seek God |
| Neh 8:3 | "...And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law." | Attentiveness to the Law leads to understanding |
2 Chronicles 34 verses
2 Chronicles 34 26 Meaning
2 Chronicles 34:26 initiates Huldah the prophetess's specific divine message directed to King Josiah, through the delegation he sent to inquire of the Lord. It acknowledges Josiah's personal and sincere quest for God's guidance following his discovery of the Book of the Law and the subsequent understanding of the nation's severe transgression. This verse sets the stage for God's gracious and distinct response to Josiah's profound humility and repentance.
2 Chronicles 34 26 Context
Chapter 34 of 2 Chronicles details the significant reign of King Josiah of Judah. Josiah, beginning his reign at a young age, actively sought the Lord and initiated widespread reforms, purging idolatry from Judah and Israel. During these reforms, the Book of the Law (likely the Pentateuch, specifically Deuteronomy) was rediscovered in the Temple by Hilkiah the high priest. Upon hearing the words of the Law, Josiah was greatly distressed by Judah's centuries of disobedience and the impending judgment described therein. In response to this, Josiah tore his clothes, expressing deep grief and repentance, and immediately sent a delegation including Hilkiah the high priest and Shaphan the scribe to inquire of the Lord. They were sent to Huldah the prophetess, who was a respected divine oracle. Verse 26 begins Huldah's divine response, distinguishing God's message for Josiah personally from the broader judgment upon Judah. This individual message reflects God's specific grace shown to a genuinely humble and repentant heart, contrasting with the inevitable corporate consequences of national sin.
2 Chronicles 34 26 Word analysis
- But to the king of Judah, who sent you: This opening phrase signals a distinct message from what was implied for the nation generally. It emphasizes God's personal address to Josiah, setting his individual destiny apart from the nation's. This highlights God's justice and grace applied both corporately and individually.
- to inquire of the Lord: Hebrew: לִדְרֹשׁ לַיהוָה (lidrosh laYHWH). The verb דָרַשׁ (darash) means "to seek," "to inquire," "to consult earnestly." This is not a casual request but a desperate and earnest searching for God's will and understanding in a critical moment. It indicates Josiah's sincerity and profound distress over the discovered Law, acknowledging his and the nation's profound spiritual state and impending judgment. His proactive seeking signifies genuine faith and a desire for reconciliation with God.
- thus you shall say to him: This is a clear directive, highlighting Huldah's role as God's precise messenger. It emphasizes the direct and authoritative nature of the divine communication. The words are not hers, but God's.
- Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: This is a standard prophetic formula, a declarative statement that authenticates the message as coming directly from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It emphasizes God's supreme authority, His faithfulness to His covenant people even in judgment, and His sovereignty over history. The title "God of Israel" underscores His unique relationship and authority over His chosen nation, even as He addresses their rebellion.
- Regarding the words that you have heard—: This refers specifically to the curses and judgments detailed in the Book of the Law (Deuteronomy 28-29, Leviticus 26), which Hilkiah had read before Josiah. It validates Josiah's interpretation of those words and his understanding of the severity of Israel's transgressions and the dire consequences outlined by the covenant. God affirms that Josiah rightly perceived the message and its gravity.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "But to the king of Judah... Thus says the Lord": This structural separation within Huldah's prophecy emphasizes that while the overall judgment on Judah is severe, there is a special, compassionate word from God specifically for King Josiah due to his genuine repentance. It illustrates God's ability to discern and respond to individual humility even amidst corporate sin. This shows that divine judgment is not a blunt instrument but precise, discerning individual hearts.
- "who sent you to inquire of the Lord... Regarding the words that you have heard": These phrases are intrinsically linked. Josiah's act of "inquiring of the Lord" stemmed directly from the "words that you have heard" – the terrifying pronouncements of judgment in the Law. This highlights the transformative power of God's Word when encountered with a humble and repentant heart, leading to sincere inquiry and seeking. It teaches that understanding scripture's warnings should drive us to God, not away from Him.
2 Chronicles 34 26 Bonus section
The choice of Huldah, a prophetess living in Jerusalem's Second Quarter, to deliver this crucial message, rather than better-known male prophets like Jeremiah or Zephaniah (who were contemporary with Josiah), is significant. It underscores God's sovereignty in choosing His messengers regardless of gender or prominent social standing. Her validation of the Law reinforced its authority in the eyes of Josiah and the people. This act, of an authenticated prophetess affirming rediscovered scripture, was crucial for the widespread acceptance of Josiah's reforms. Furthermore, this verse lays the groundwork for understanding the dual nature of God's judgment and grace – judgment upon corporate sin due to an unrepentant majority, yet grace extended to an individual with a genuinely contrite heart. This theological distinction often reappears in Scripture, affirming God's personal discernment.
2 Chronicles 34 26 Commentary
2 Chronicles 34:26 is a pivotal verse in Josiah's story, revealing God's specific grace towards individual repentance. It distinguishes God's decree for the nation of Judah (which was set for judgment due to prolonged apostasy) from His response to Josiah's profound humility and earnest seeking. By affirming that Josiah had correctly understood "the words that you have heard" (the Law and its curses), God validates Josiah's alarm and sorrow. This acknowledgment is key: Josiah didn't rationalize or diminish the severity of God's Word but genuinely internalized its truth, leading to a "tender heart" and self-abasement before God. This passage beautifully illustrates that while communal sin invites communal judgment, a sincere, contrite individual heart can still find favor and receive a unique measure of peace and grace from God. It teaches us that God notices and responds to true brokenness and turning to Him.
- Example: Just as a deeply concerned individual, after reading warnings about sin, seeks fervent prayer and counsel, Josiah's actions embody such earnest seeking before God's unveiled truth.