2 Kings 18 3

2 Kings 18:3 kjv

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.

2 Kings 18:3 nkjv

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

2 Kings 18:3 niv

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

2 Kings 18:3 esv

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

2 Kings 18:3 nlt

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

2 Kings 18 verses

2 Kings 18 3 Meaning

2 Kings 18:3 introduces King Hezekiah of Judah with a profound commendation: he performed what was upright and pleasing in the sight of the LORD. This declaration signifies his reign as one marked by fidelity to God's covenant, upholding divine standards, particularly in religious practice and obedience to the Mosaic Law. The phrase "just as David his father had done" establishes David as the benchmark for righteous kingship in Judah, highlighting Hezekiah's exceptional adherence to the spiritual legacy of the kingdom's founder, especially in contrast to many of his predecessors, including his own father, Ahaz.

2 Kings 18 3 Context

This verse introduces the reign of King Hezekiah, one of Judah's most significant and righteous kings, amidst a tumultuous period in Israel's history. Chapters 18-20 of 2 Kings detail Hezekiah's remarkable reign. His introduction here contrasts sharply with his immediate predecessor, Ahaz, whose reign was marked by profound idolatry, national apostasy, and alliances with Assyria instead of trusting in the LORD (2 Kgs 16). The narrative framework of the Books of Kings consistently evaluates each king based on their faithfulness to the Mosaic covenant and particularly to the LORD alone, often measuring them against the standard of David. For Hezekiah to be immediately identified as having done "what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as David his father had done" elevates him as a truly exceptional monarch in Judah's later history. This opening verse sets the stage for his subsequent religious reforms, purging of idolatry, and miraculous deliverance from the Assyrian siege, all seen as a direct consequence of his fidelity to God.

2 Kings 18 3 Word analysis

• Hezekiah (חִזְקִיָּהוּ, Ḥizqiyyahû): Meaning "Yahweh strengthens" or "Yahweh is my strength." This name holds deep significance, as his reign was characterized by a reliance on God amidst severe threats, particularly from Assyria. His name prefigures the strength he would find in the LORD during times of immense pressure and faith-testing.
• did what was right (וַיַּעַשׂ הַיָּשָׁר, vayyaʿaś hayyāšār): This is a critical evaluative phrase in the Books of Kings. "הַיָּשָׁר" (hayyāšār) literally means "the straight" or "the upright." It refers to moral and religious rectitude, especially adherence to the Mosaic Law and the worship of Yahweh exclusively. It contrasts sharply with "did what was evil" (הָרַע, harraʿ), a phrase applied to most of his predecessors. This isn't about subjective good but objective divine standard.
• in the eyes of the LORD (בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה, bəʿênê YHWH): This signifies that Hezekiah's actions and character were judged from God's perfect perspective, not according to human opinion or political expediency. It underscores divine sovereignty and evaluation, implying that Hezekiah's heart was pure towards God. This is a common phrase highlighting God's standard as supreme, distinguishing true righteousness from outward conformity. It also subtly polemicizes against the prevalent idolatrous practices that sought favor from other deities; true favor comes only from Yahweh.
• just as David his father had done (כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה דָּוִד אָבִיו, kəḵol ʾăšer ʿāśāh Dāwiḏ ʾāḇîw): This phrase positions David as the quintessential model of righteous kingship. While David was not without personal moral failures (e.g., Bathsheba), his heart remained wholeheartedly devoted to Yahweh and His covenant. He was committed to worshipping God alone and establishing proper worship. This phrase doesn't imply moral perfection but a foundational commitment to covenant fidelity, loyalty to YHWH, and dedication to upholding His law, especially in national worship. It sets Hezekiah apart from many Judean kings, including some who were "good" but fell short of David's standard.

Words-group analysis:

• "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD": This full phrase is the standard judgment by which the authors of Kings evaluate the fidelity of the Judean monarchs. It indicates total conformity to God's revealed will, particularly in leading the nation in true worship and rejecting idolatry. For Hezekiah, it signaled a decisive break from the syncretism of his father Ahaz and a return to exclusive worship of Yahweh, which then paved the way for his bold reforms described immediately in the following verses.
• "just as David his father had done": This specifies the precise quality and nature of Hezekiah's righteousness. It grounds his reign in the exemplary devotion of the kingdom's founder, establishing a clear lineage of faithful obedience in a context where many kings deviated significantly. It points to a conscious emulation of David's dedication to Yahweh, particularly his unwavering stance against idolatry and his promotion of true worship.

2 Kings 18 3 Bonus section

• The stark contrast between Hezekiah and his father, Ahaz (2 Kgs 16), makes 2 Kings 18:3 particularly impactful. Ahaz defiled the temple, offered his son as a burnt offering to foreign gods, and embraced Assyrian cult practices. Hezekiah's righteousness, therefore, represents a radical, God-initiated reversal of generational apostasy. This highlights the possibility of repentance and reform, even in deeply entrenched spiritual decline.
• This verse prefaces specific actions of Hezekiah detailed in the very next verse (2 Kgs 18:4), which include removing high places, breaking sacred pillars, cutting down Asherah poles, and breaking Nehushtan (the bronze serpent of Moses) because the people were burning incense to it. This shows that "doing what was right" was not a passive piety but involved vigorous, often dangerous, spiritual cleansing and reforms in opposition to popular and deeply ingrained religious practices.
• The emphasis on "David his father" (in terms of being a good king) underscores the enduring significance of the Davidic covenant and the ideal of the righteous king who truly fears and obeys the LORD, foreshadowing the ultimate Righteous King from David's lineage, Jesus Christ.

2 Kings 18 3 Commentary

2 Kings 18:3 serves as the foundational theological assessment of Hezekiah's reign. It is not merely an introduction but a divinely inspired judgment that explains the successes and spiritual revival witnessed under his leadership. By doing "what was right in the eyes of the LORD" and following the paradigm of "David his father," Hezekiah actively reversed the spiritual decline that marked the reigns of his predecessors, especially the overtly idolatrous Ahaz. This adherence was costly, demanding political courage to dismantle entrenched syncretistic practices and trust God against overwhelming foreign threats. This initial verdict establishes Hezekiah as an exception among the later Judean kings, a rare beacon of true faithfulness whose actions were intrinsically tied to the blessings and deliverance Judah would experience, illustrating the principle that a nation's prosperity and security are directly linked to its leadership's fidelity to God.