2 Chronicles 36:12 kjv
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 36:12 nkjv
He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 36:12 niv
He did evil in the eyes of the LORD his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 36:12 esv
He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 36:12 nlt
But Zedekiah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and he refused to humble himself when the prophet Jeremiah spoke to him directly from the LORD.
2 Chronicles 36 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Ki 24:19 | And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord... | Zedekiah's wickedness confirmed |
| Jer 37:19 | Where are your prophets who prophesied... Babylon's king would not come? | Zedekiah's skepticism toward true prophets |
| Jer 38:5-6 | So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern... | Jeremiah's persecution for God's message |
| Jer 34:2 | 'Thus says the Lord, "Behold, I will give this city into the hand... | God's warning to Zedekiah through Jeremiah |
| Jer 39:5-7 | They captured Zedekiah and brought him up to the king of Babylon... | Direct consequence of Zedekiah's disobedience |
| Pr 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | The consequence of not humbling oneself |
| Jas 4:6 | But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud... | Divine opposition to pride |
| 1 Pet 5:5 | Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elders... Humble yourselves... | Exhortation to humility |
| Zec 7:11-12 | But they refused to pay attention... making their hearts like flint... | Rejecting God's law and prophetic words |
| Isa 55:11 | So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return... | God's word is effective and true |
| Jer 7:25-26 | From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt... they did not incline | Israel's long history of rejecting prophets |
| Mt 23:37 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets... | Jesus lamenting rejection of prophets |
| Lk 11:49 | "Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, 'I will send them prophets... | God's continuous sending of prophets |
| Num 15:30 | But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether a native... | Deliberate rebellion vs. unintentional sin |
| Dt 28:15 | "But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God... | Consequences of not obeying God's voice |
| Lev 26:14 | "But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these... | Consequences of disobeying covenant laws |
| 2 Chr 30:8 | Do not now be stiff-necked, as your fathers were... humble yourselves... | Plea for humility, contrasting with Zedekiah |
| 2 Chr 7:14 | if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves... | Divine promise to the humble |
| 2 Chr 33:12 | And when he was in distress, he entreated the Lord his God and humbled... | Manasseh's humility bringing restoration |
| Jer 25:3-4 | For twenty-three years the word of the Lord has come to me... you have not listened. | Long history of rejecting Jeremiah's warnings |
| Hos 4:6 | My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge... you have rejected knowledge. | Rejection of divine truth leading to destruction |
| Isa 30:1-2 | "Woe to the rebellious children," declares the Lord... without consulting Me... | Disobeying God by relying on human schemes |
| Rom 1:28 | And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up... | God giving people over to their own ways |
2 Chronicles 36 verses
2 Chronicles 36 12 Meaning
King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, actively engaged in actions that were considered wicked and offensive in God's eyes. Crucially, he stubbornly refused to humble himself or submit to the authoritative words delivered by Jeremiah, who was speaking directly as a prophet mouthpiece for the Lord. This act of willful disobedience and rejection of divine guidance was a significant contributing factor to Judah's downfall.
2 Chronicles 36 12 Context
2 Chronicles 36:12 focuses on King Zedekiah, the final king of Judah before the Babylonian exile. Appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, Zedekiah's reign marks the absolute nadir of Judah's monarchy. The entire chapter 36 concisely summarizes the reigns of Judah's last four kings: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. Across these reigns, a consistent theme emerges: pervasive wickedness, disobedience to God, and a chronic disregard for the divine warnings delivered through His prophets. Zedekiah's actions in verse 12 are portrayed as the culmination of this stubborn refusal, directly leading to Jerusalem's destruction and the seventy-year exile to Babylon. Historically, this period reflects the end of an era for the Abrahamic covenant community in their promised land, signifying God's covenant curses for persistent apostasy.
2 Chronicles 36 12 Word analysis
- He: Refers to King Zedekiah (`צִדְקִיָּהוּ` - Tzidqiyyahu), Judah's last king. The pronoun highlights his personal culpability.
- did what was evil: Hebrew `עָשָׂה הָרָע` (‘asah hara’). This is a recurring phrase in Kings and Chronicles to describe kings who disobeyed the covenant and the Law of Moses. It denotes deliberate, habitual, and moral wrongdoing against divine standards. It contrasts sharply with "doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord."
- in the sight of the Lord his God: Hebrew `בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהָיו` (b'einei Adonai Elohav). Emphasizes that Zedekiah's actions were evaluated against God's holy character and divine law. The phrase "his God" underscores the special covenant relationship that existed between the God of Israel and the king/nation of Judah, making Zedekiah's rebellion all the more egregious as it was against his own God.
- and did not humble himself: Hebrew `וְלֹא נִכְנַע` (v’lo nikhna’). The verb `כנע` (kana') means "to be humbled, to be subdued, to submit." It signifies a deliberate resistance and an absence of a contrite spirit. Zedekiah's pride was paramount; he would not yield his will to God's. This spiritual posture of resistance prevented repentance and obedience.
- before Jeremiah the prophet: Jeremiah (`יִרְמְיָהוּ` - Yirmeyahu). Jeremiah was God's designated messenger for this critical period, often delivering unpopular and dire messages. To refuse to humble oneself before Jeremiah was not merely rejecting a man, but the divine message and the divine sender. This shows a direct challenge to God's chosen authority.
- who spoke from the mouth of the Lord: Hebrew `מִפִּי יְהוָה` (mippi YHVH). This definitive phrase affirms the divine origin and absolute authority of Jeremiah’s message. It was not Jeremiah's opinion or human wisdom, but a direct utterance from God himself. This critical detail heightens Zedekiah's culpability, as his rebellion was against an unambiguously divine word.
- Words-Group Analysis:
- "He did what was evil... and did not humble himself": This pairing explicitly links outward acts of sin (`did evil`) with the inward spiritual condition of pride and stubbornness (`did not humble himself`). Zedekiah’s persistent rebellion stemmed from an unyielding heart that refused to submit to God’s will, demonstrating that his actions were rooted in spiritual defiance.
- "did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the Lord": This extended phrase underscores the immense gravity of Zedekiah's disobedience. By specifically naming Jeremiah and clarifying that his words originated directly `from the mouth of the Lord`, the text removes any ambiguity regarding the message's source. Zedekiah’s defiance was a direct, conscious rejection of God Himself speaking through His chosen instrument, sealing his and Judah's tragic fate.
2 Chronicles 36 12 Bonus section
- Theological Emphasis in Chronicles: The Chronicler consistently attributes Judah's fortunes directly to the piety or apostasy of its kings. Zedekiah's story serves as a stark example of a king's wickedness leading directly to the covenant curses, culminating in the destruction of the Temple and the end of the Davidic monarchy in Jerusalem for a time.
- Contrast with Manasseh: Earlier in Chronicles (2 Chr 33:12-13), King Manasseh, one of Judah's most wicked kings, did humble himself before God in distress and was restored. This provides a stark contrast, highlighting that even in deep sin, God offers mercy to those who genuinely humble themselves. Zedekiah's refusal was a final act of obdurate will.
- Divine Authority of Prophets: The verse strongly emphasizes the nature of prophetic ministry. Prophets like Jeremiah were not dispensing personal opinions but functioning as the `mouth of the Lord`. To reject the prophet's words was to reject God's words directly, underlining the seriousness of disregarding prophetic warning.
- Chronic Unbelief: This verse, and the whole chapter, is not an isolated incident but the culmination of centuries of Israel and Judah's recurring cycle of idolatry, disobedience, and rejection of God's messengers (cf. Neh 9:26). Zedekiah's reign was the "final stroke" in a long history of national stubbornness.
2 Chronicles 36 12 Commentary
2 Chronicles 36:12 delivers a concise yet profound condemnation of King Zedekiah's leadership, epitomizing Judah's final, unheeded opportunities for repentance. His evil actions were not merely political blunders but spiritual offenses against the Lord his God, who had been intimately involved in Israel's history. The crucial indictment is his failure to humble himself before God’s clear, direct revelation through Jeremiah the prophet. This pride and resistance to divine truth, despite God speaking unambiguously from the mouth of the Lord, served as the final straw, confirming Judah's irreversible path to destruction and exile. It highlights that God’s judgment often comes after persistent and willful rejection of His patient warnings delivered through His messengers. Zedekiah's defiance perfectly illustrates how a proud heart leads to national ruin by spurning divine mercy.