2 Chronicles 34 27

2 Chronicles 34:27 kjv

Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.

2 Chronicles 34:27 nkjv

because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you," says the LORD.

2 Chronicles 34:27 niv

Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD.

2 Chronicles 34:27 esv

because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD.

2 Chronicles 34:27 nlt

You were sorry and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this city and its people. You humbled yourself and tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the LORD.

2 Chronicles 34 verses

2 Chronicles 34 27 Meaning

This verse conveys God's profound response to King Josiah's heartfelt humility and sincere repentance. Upon hearing the strong words of judgment from the rediscovered Book of the Law concerning the land and its people, Josiah responded with deep sorrow, signified by his tearing of clothes and weeping. God, in His mercy, acknowledged this tender-hearted and humbled response, declaring that because of Josiah's personal contrition, the announced calamity and destruction would not occur during his lifetime, but only after he had been gathered to his ancestors in peace.

2 Chronicles 34 27 Context

This verse is a direct divine message given to King Josiah through Huldah the prophetess, in response to Josiah's profound reaction to the discovery of the Book of the Law (likely Deuteronomy or a substantial part of the Pentateuch) during the temple repair. Chapter 34 of 2 Chronicles details Josiah's widespread reforms to purge idolatry from Judah and Israel, beginning even before the Law's discovery. The context reveals Josiah as a righteous king who diligently sought the Lord from a young age (2 Chr 34:3). When the Book of the Law was found, its words, particularly concerning the curses for disobedience, deeply impacted him. He tore his clothes (a common expression of intense grief or distress), recognizing that his ancestors and the present generation had not lived up to its commands. In great humility and concern, he dispatched a delegation to inquire of the Lord. Verse 27 is the Lord's personal answer, highlighting His attention to the state of Josiah's heart, setting him apart from the pervasive apostasy of his time and assuring him that judgment would be delayed due to his personal righteousness.

2 Chronicles 34 27 Word analysis

• Because: Indicates the causal link; Josiah's actions directly led to God's specific response. It highlights divine responsiveness to human disposition and deed.
• your heart was tender: (Heb. rach levavkha - רך לבבך). This denotes a heart that is soft, pliable, sensitive, and open to receiving God's word and truth. It stands in direct contrast to a "hardened heart" often described in scripture as resistant, stubborn, and impervious to God's commands and warnings. Josiah's tender heart implies spiritual responsiveness and deep empathy for God's indignation against sin.
• and you humbled yourself: (Heb. vatikana - ותכנע). This verb signifies to "bow down," "subdue oneself," or "be subdued." Here, it points to a voluntary, active prostration of the self before God, indicating deep submission, humility, and penitence. This is not mere physical posture but an internal disposition made manifest. It's repeated for emphasis, underscoring its significance.
• before God: (Heb. liphnai ha'elohim - לפני האלהים). Emphasizes that Josiah's humility and sorrow were directed authentically toward God, acknowledging His authority and sovereignty, not merely as a public display. It was a recognition of divine accountability.
• when you heard His words: This points to active, attentive listening, not merely casual acquaintance with the text. "His words" refers specifically to the curses and covenant stipulations outlined in the Book of the Law, which revealed the severity of Judah's disobedience. Hearing, in the biblical sense, often implies internalizing and responding.
• against this place and against its inhabitants: Refers to the severe judgments prophesied in the Law (e.g., Deut 28) against the land and people for covenant unfaithfulness, including desolation and exile. Josiah understood these curses applied directly to Judah.
• and tore your clothes: A common ancient Near Eastern custom, practiced from patriarchal times, signifying extreme grief, distress, horror, profound repentance, or even outrage. It was a physical, public expression of deep internal anguish and a shattered spirit in the face of terrible news or tragedy. Josiah's act was one of spiritual devastation.
• and wept before Me: (Heb. vatvekh liphnai - ותבך לפני). This demonstrates overt emotional expression of sorrow, grief, and regret. The "before Me" again highlights the direct, personal nature of his interaction with God; his tears were directed at God in a plea for mercy, not just tears of fear.
• I also have heard you: This is God's direct and personal affirmation. It signifies that God is not a distant deity but One who keenly observes and responds to the sincerity of the human heart, particularly acts of true repentance. It confirms that Josiah's distress and prayers were effectual.
• declares the Lord: (Heb. nĕ'um Yahweh - נאם יהוה). A standard prophetic formula indicating a direct, authoritative, and irrefutable utterance from God Himself. "Yahweh" (the Lord) is the covenant God of Israel, emphasizing His faithfulness to His covenant, even in judgment, and His grace in response to His people's repentance.

• "Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself... and tore your clothes and wept...": This group of phrases highlights the progression from an internal spiritual state (tender heart) to outward manifestations (humility, tearing, weeping), all of which signify true repentance and responsiveness to God's word. God saw both the inner disposition and the outer expression.
• "before God when you heard His words... against this place and against its inhabitants": This section defines the catalyst and content of Josiah's reaction. It was triggered by the direct, confronting truth of God's revealed Word, specifically the impending judgment upon their society for its rampant idolatry and disobedience.
• "I also have heard you," declares the Lord": This phrase encapsulates God's merciful and sovereign response. It underscores God's attentiveness to His people's cries of repentance and confirms the divine origin and certainty of the ensuing promise of deferred judgment.

2 Chronicles 34 27 Bonus section

This verse offers significant theological insight into the nature of divine judgment and mercy. While the broader judgment on Judah was inevitable due to widespread and deeply entrenched national apostasy (as evidenced by subsequent events in Judah's history), God, in His compassion, makes an exception for Josiah based on his personal devotion. This highlights God's justice in upholding His covenant but also His readiness to extend mercy to individuals who genuinely turn to Him. It's a deferment of judgment for an individual, not a complete cancellation of the corporate consequences. Furthermore, Josiah's response, initiated by God's Word, stands as a biblical model for spiritual revival, starting with a tender heart open to conviction and leading to profound change and intercession. The role of Huldah the prophetess delivering this word demonstrates God using both male and female instruments to convey His divine message.

2 Chronicles 34 27 Commentary

2 Chronicles 34:27 provides a poignant example of how genuine repentance moves the heart of God. It's not the external display (tearing clothes, weeping) alone that evokes divine favor, but rather the underlying condition of a "tender heart" – one that is soft, receptive, and malleable to God's word and conviction. This tender heart naturally leads to deep humility and brokenness when confronted with one's sin and the holiness of God. Josiah’s immediate and radical response upon hearing the severity of God's Law and its impending judgments demonstrated true fear of the Lord and contrition, differentiating him from generations of hardened hearts in Judah. God, who hears the desires of the humble, directly affirmed His hearing and would, in His mercy, delay the foretold judgment during Josiah's lifetime. This passage illustrates God’s character: He is just in His decrees but abundant in mercy towards those who humbly seek Him, exemplifying the truth that personal repentance can lead to temporal reprieve, even when broader societal judgment is inevitable.

Practical usage:

• Reflect on your own heart's responsiveness to God's Word. Is it tender or hardened?
• Recognize that genuine repentance involves both inner contrition and outward, observable expressions.
• Trust that God hears the cries of a truly humble and repentant heart.