2 Kings 15 3

2 Kings 15:3 kjv

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;

2 Kings 15:3 nkjv

And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done,

2 Kings 15:3 niv

He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done.

2 Kings 15:3 esv

And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.

2 Kings 15:3 nlt

He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done.

2 Kings 15 verses

2 Kings 15 3 Meaning

Second Kings 15:3 states that Azariah (also known as Uzziah) "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done." This signifies a general adherence to God's law and the Davidic covenant from the perspective of the Chronicler. While commendable in its overall trajectory of righteous rule, this statement inherently carries a limitation, as the subsequent verse in the narrative often qualifies this righteousness, highlighting a persistent failure to fully eradicate illicit worship practices from the "high places," a shortcoming also found in his father Amaziah's reign. Thus, Azariah's obedience, while largely positive, mirrors the incomplete devotion characteristic of many Southern Kingdom kings before Hezekiah and Josiah.

2 Kings 15 3 Context

This verse introduces the reign of Azariah (Uzziah) over Judah. It immediately follows a brief account of the tumultuous interregnum after Amaziah's death, highlighting stability under Azariah. Within the larger narrative of the books of Kings, the opening assessment of a king's reign ("did what was right/evil in the eyes of the LORD") serves as a formulaic summary of their fidelity to the Mosaic Covenant. For Judean kings, their righteousness is often benchmarked against "David his father," who represents the ideal. The specific qualification that his rule was "according to all that his father Amaziah had done" sets a distinct tone, acknowledging positive conduct but subtly foreshadowing limitations, particularly concerning the removal of pagan "high places"—a recurring covenantal failure common among many kings. This recurrent failure implicitly critiques Judah's persistent syncretism, a polemic against the continued tolerance of practices God had explicitly forbidden for His people.

2 Kings 15 3 Word analysis

• He: Refers to Azariah (עֲזַרְיָה - ʻAzaryah), also extensively known as Uzziah (עֻזִּיָּה - ʻUzziyyah), particularly in 2 Chronicles. The name Azariah means "Yahweh has helped," and Uzziah means "My strength is Yahweh" or "Yahweh is my strength." Both names beautifully affirm God's support for the king. The use of both names for the same king is common in the ancient Near East and reflects slight textual variations or perhaps an honorific shift.
• did what was right: Hebrew: וַיַּעַשׂ הַיָּשָׁר (wa-yaʻas ha-yashar), literally "and he did the upright." This is a recurring, formulaic phrase in Kings, used to evaluate kings based on their obedience to God's covenant laws, primarily as presented in Deuteronomy. It signifies a general adherence to God's will and moral uprightness from the divine perspective.
  • Right (יָשָׁר - yashar): Implies moral and spiritual straightness, integrity, and conformity to a standard. For the king of Judah, the standard was God's Law (Torah).
• in the eyes of the LORD: Hebrew: בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה (bəʻēynēy YHVH). This emphasizes that the judgment of the king's reign comes from God's divine perspective, not human opinion. It is God who sees and evaluates. This phrase is a powerful reminder that all actions, especially those of rulers, are subject to divine scrutiny.
  • LORD (יְהוָה - YHVH): The sacred, personal name of God, revealing His covenantal relationship with Israel.
• according to all that: Hebrew: כְּכֹל (kəkol), "according to all." This indicates the extent and manner of his actions, suggesting a conformity or parallelism with what preceded. It's a statement of continuity.
• his father Amaziah: Amaziah (אֲמַצְיָה - Amatsyah), meaning "Yahweh is mighty" or "Strength of Yahweh." Azariah's father had a mixed reign. 2 Kings 14:3 states Amaziah "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not like David his father; he did according to all that Joash his father had done." Crucially, 2 Kings 14:4 then immediately notes, "However, the high places were not removed."
  • This phrase subtly embeds a critical qualification. It signals that Azariah's righteousness, while genuine, would share the specific deficiency of his father concerning the removal of illegal places of worship (high places). This phrase, therefore, is not a full commendation of perfection but rather a description of a qualified righteousness that mirrors his predecessor's partial obedience.
  • It points to a generational pattern in Judah of failing to fully eliminate idolatrous practices that had blended with Yahweh worship.

2 Kings 15 3 Bonus section

The seemingly concise judgment in 2 Kings often leaves the impression of a straightforward reign. However, when juxtaposed with the parallel account in 2 Chronicles 26, the picture of Uzziah's reign becomes far more detailed and complex. While Kings primarily focuses on his partial failure regarding the high places and his ultimate illness, Chronicles expands on his extensive military and architectural achievements, agricultural innovations, and prosperity "as long as he sought the LORD." This demonstrates that a king could be largely effective and blessed by God despite certain persistent spiritual failures, but it also highlights the grave consequences of pride. Uzziah's success led to his spiritual arrogance, causing him to usurp the priestly function by burning incense in the temple, resulting in him being struck with leprosy. This provides a fuller context to 2 Kings 15:3's "qualified righteousness" - not only did he not remove the high places, but his reign concluded with a personal spiritual downfall, underscoring that partial obedience, even with great success, can lead to devastating personal judgment.

2 Kings 15 3 Commentary

2 Kings 15:3 offers the Deuteronomistic historian's standard initial evaluation of Azariah (Uzziah)'s long reign. To be "right in the eyes of the LORD" meant adhering to the Mosaic covenant's fundamental principles of worship and justice, reflecting general fidelity to Yahweh as the one true God of Israel. However, the seemingly innocuous phrase "according to all that his father Amaziah had done" serves as a literary marker carrying a profound limitation. As 2 Kings 14:4 explicitly notes, Amaziah failed to remove the high places. Therefore, this verse, especially when read in conjunction with 2 Kings 15:4 ("However, the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places"), clearly implies that Azariah also perpetuated this critical covenant violation. The persistence of "high places" was a deep-seated spiritual compromise, an act of syncretism where God's people attempted to worship Him on sites originally dedicated to pagan deities, or in unauthorized manners. This illustrates the tragic spiritual lukewarmness common to many Judean kings—good in many ways, yet compromising on issues central to exclusive devotion to God. Their general righteousness did not lead to complete purification of worship. This verse sets the stage for a reign marked by both significant accomplishments (as chronicled more extensively in 2 Chronicles 26) and persistent spiritual flaws, ultimately leading to Azariah's personal judgment with leprosy, as revealed in later verses (2 Kgs 15:5).

• Practical Usage Example: We can be commendable in many areas of our lives, "doing what is right," but still harbor subtle "high places" – areas of compromise or incomplete obedience where we allow a mixture of truth and ungodliness to persist. This verse calls believers to examine all aspects of their lives for complete devotion.