2 Chronicles 7:22 kjv
And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.
2 Chronicles 7:22 nkjv
Then they will answer, 'Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this calamity on them.' "
2 Chronicles 7:22 niv
People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them?that is why he brought all this disaster on them.'?"
2 Chronicles 7:22 esv
Then they will say, 'Because they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore he has brought all this disaster on them.'"
2 Chronicles 7:22 nlt
"And the answer will be, 'Because his people abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead and bowed down to them. That is why he has brought all these disasters on them.'"
2 Chronicles 7 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 29:24 | All the nations will say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land? What means the heat of this great anger?’ | Other nations ponder Israel's desolation, mirroring 2 Chr 7:22's inquiry. |
| Deut 29:25 | Then people will say, ‘It is because they forsook the covenant of the Lord… and served other gods…’ | Directly echoes the reason for destruction: forsaking God and serving idols. |
| 1 Kgs 9:8 | And this house will become a heap of ruins… and they will say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ | Similar prophetic warning regarding the Temple and land's desolation. |
| 1 Kgs 9:9 | And they will say, ‘Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods…’ | Near identical parallel verse, explaining the cause of the disaster. |
| Josh 24:20 | If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you… | Direct warning about harm from forsaking God for idols. |
| Judg 2:12 | They forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt… and they followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples… | Explains Israel's cyclical failures and their roots in abandoning God. |
| Judg 2:13 | So they forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtaroth. | Specific examples of abandoning God for foreign deities. |
| Jer 2:13 | For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns… | Highlighting the absurdity and offense of abandoning the true God. |
| Jer 19:4 | Because they have forsaken Me and have profaned this place by making offerings in it to other gods… | Link between forsaking God, idolatry, and divine judgment. |
| Jer 22:9 | Then they will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God and have worshiped other gods and served them.’ | Reiteration of the reason for judgment. |
| Lev 26:30 | And I will destroy your high places and cut down your incense altars… | Consequences of idolatry described in the covenant curses. |
| Lev 26:33 | And I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out the sword after you… | Exile as a consequence of unfaithfulness. |
| Deut 4:26 | You will soon utterly perish from the land which you are crossing over… and the Lord will scatter you among the peoples… | Prophetic warning of exile for disobedience. |
| Deut 6:12 | then watch yourself, that you do not forget the Lord who brought you from the land of Egypt… | Exhortation to remember deliverance and avoid forgetting God. |
| Deut 8:19 | It shall come about that if you ever forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish. | Severe consequences of forgetting God and turning to idols. |
| Ps 81:10 | I am the Lord your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. | God reminds Israel of His identity as Deliverer from Egypt. |
| Hos 4:10-13 | They will eat, but not have enough; they will play the harlot, but not increase… For they commit prostitution, and they do not keep the Lord. | Spiritual infidelity (idolatry) leading to unfruitfulness and judgment. |
| Rom 1:21-23 | For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God… but exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image… | Humanity's general inclination to exchange the true God for created things. |
| Heb 3:12 | Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. | Warning against apostasy in the New Testament, applicable to all believers. |
| 2 Tim 3:1-5 | But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money… having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power; avoid such people. | Spiritual decay and abandonment of God's ways in later times. |
| Gal 4:8 | However at that time, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those which by nature are no gods. | Slavery to false gods before knowing the true God, highlighting the contrast. |
| Col 3:5 | Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. | Expanding the definition of "idolatry" beyond physical idols to include covetousness. |
2 Chronicles 7 verses
2 Chronicles 7 22 Meaning
2 Chronicles 7:22 explains why great disaster would befall the nation of Israel: because they abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors who liberated them from Egypt, and instead devoted themselves to and served other false gods. This statement frames national calamity not as random misfortune, but as the direct and just consequence of violating the covenant with their one true God through idolatry.
2 Chronicles 7 22 Context
This verse is part of God’s solemn response to Solomon after the dedication of the Temple (2 Chr 7:12-22). God accepts Solomon’s prayer and fills the Temple with His glory, but then immediately issues a stern warning. God delineates the consequences of Israel’s potential future disobedience, specifically their abandonment of Him and worship of other gods. This warning reflects the Deuteronomic covenant, particularly the curses pronounced upon disobedience (Deut 28-29), which include national calamity, destruction of the land and Temple, and exile.
The immediate historical context is the period of the United Monarchy, but the perspective of Chronicles (likely written post-exile) underscores its profound retrospective relevance. It explains the historical tragedy of the exile by connecting it directly to covenant infidelity, asserting God's justice. The phrase "people will say" suggests that this explanation for Israel’s suffering would be widely understood by surrounding nations and future generations, testifying to the undeniable cause-and-effect relationship between Israel’s spiritual state and their national fortune. It also acts as a polemic, asserting that Israel's suffering was not because YHWH was weak or did not exist, but precisely because Israel rebelled against Him.
2 Chronicles 7 22 Word Analysis
Then people will say: Hebrew וְאָמְר֣וּ אָדָ֗ם (ve'amru adam). The phrase indicates a common, almost proverbial, understanding that will emerge concerning Israel's eventual downfall. "Adam" is used in a generic sense for humanity or men. It points to a clear, observable, and universally understandable consequence that others would recognize.
Because they forsook: Hebrew כִּי־עָזְב֗וּ (ki-'azvu). The verb עָזַב ('azav) means "to abandon," "to leave," "to forsake." It denotes a deliberate act of rejection, a turning away from a previously established relationship or commitment. It implies a conscious breach of loyalty rather than passive neglect.
the Lord: Hebrew יְהוָה (YHWH). This is the personal, covenant name of God, emphasizing His unique and special relationship with Israel. To forsake YHWH is to reject their specific covenant identity and relationship.
the God of their fathers: Hebrew אֱלֹהֵ֤י אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם֙ (Elohei avoteihem). This phrase anchors God's identity to Israel’s foundational history and lineage, connecting Him to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It emphasizes the inherited covenant and the historical continuity of God's relationship with His people, underscoring the gravity of their apostasy against such a long-standing faithful God.
who brought them out of the land of Egypt: Hebrew אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֽוֹצִיאָם֮ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַיִם֒ (asher hotzi'am me'eretz Mitzrayim). This refers to the defining redemptive act of the Exodus, which established Israel as a free nation and inaugurated the Mosaic Covenant. To abandon this God is to deny their own history, identity, and the very foundation of their freedom. This phrase serves as a constant reminder of God's power and saving grace.
and embraced other gods: Hebrew וַיַּחֲזִ֙יקוּ֙ בֵּאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים (vayyachaziqu be'Elohim acherim). The verb חזק (chazaq) means "to take hold of," "to strengthen," "to hold firm." This choice of word highlights an active, intentional, and strong commitment to these false deities, not merely a casual dalliance. It represents a deliberate clinging to idols, the antithesis of forsaking the Lord.
and worshiped them and served them: Hebrew וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ֙ לָהֶ֔ם וַיַּעַבְד֖וּם (vayyishtachavu lahem vayya'avdum). These verbs, שׁחה (shachah – to bow down, prostrate) and עבד (avad – to serve, labor), denote comprehensive devotion to idols. "Worshiped" refers to religious veneration and adoration, while "served" implies dedication, obedience, and life-submitting labor. Together, they describe the totality of idolatry, involving physical acts of reverence and a lifestyle dedicated to false deities.
therefore He has brought: Hebrew עַל־כֵּ֚ן הֵבִ֧יא (al-ken hevi). על־כֵּ֚ן ('al-ken) is a strong causal connector, meaning "for this reason" or "therefore." It firmly links the action (abandoning God and serving idols) to the consequence (disaster), asserting direct divine causation.
all this disaster on them: Hebrew אֶת־כָּל־הָרָעָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת (et-kol-hara'ah hazzo't). רָעָה (ra'ah) means evil, calamity, or misfortune. "All this disaster" points to the totality and severity of the judgment that would be visible and unmistakable. It refers specifically to the various forms of national calamity predicted, culminating in exile.
Grouped Analysis: "they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt"This phrase defines God's identity and His supreme claim over Israel based on covenant, heritage, and foundational deliverance. To forsake such a God is a comprehensive act of rebellion, negating Israel's very reason for being. This highlights the unparalleled seriousness of their offense.
Grouped Analysis: "embraced other gods and worshiped them and served them"This sequence describes the comprehensive and active nature of idolatry. "Embraced" (grasping firmly) shows active engagement. "Worshipped" signifies spiritual allegiance and adoration. "Served" indicates practical devotion and life-orientation. It is a full turning of heart, mind, and action to false deities.
2 Chronicles 7 22 Bonus Section
The "people will say" phrase in 2 Chronicles 7:22 implies an almost judicial outcome where even outsiders or future generations would intuitively grasp the reason for Israel’s suffering. It validates God’s justice in the eyes of the world, making the national catastrophe a clear testimony to divine righteousness and the consequences of rebellion against the One True God. This warning reinforces the concept of corporate responsibility, where the actions of a nation's leadership and collective population have far-reaching national consequences. The text implicitly presents a direct theological polemic against pagan beliefs that would attribute such disasters to the anger of various local deities or the weakness of the native gods; instead, it asserts that the true God was intentionally bringing the calamity due to His people's specific and deliberate rebellion against Him alone.
2 Chronicles 7 22 Commentary
2 Chronicles 7:22 presents a clear statement of Deuteronomic theology: national prosperity and distress are direct consequences of the nation’s covenant faithfulness or unfaithfulness. Following the glory of the Temple dedication, God gives Solomon a sober warning about the conditional nature of the covenant. The verse specifically identifies idolatry—forsaking the unique, historical God of Israel for foreign deities—as the supreme offense that would inevitably lead to catastrophic national disaster, specifically the destruction of the Temple and land, and likely exile. This prophetic declaration offers a retrospective theological explanation for why Jerusalem and the Temple were later destroyed and Israel went into exile: not because God was weak, but because His people betrayed Him. It serves as a perennial warning: spiritual allegiance to God is foundational for blessing, and departure from Him inevitably leads to dire consequences.