2 Kings 22:10 kjv
And Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
2 Kings 22:10 nkjv
Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it before the king.
2 Kings 22:10 niv
Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
2 Kings 22:10 esv
Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it before the king.
2 Kings 22:10 nlt
Shaphan also told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll." So Shaphan read it to the king.
2 Kings 22 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Kgs 22:8 | Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the Book of the Law..." | Immediate context; the discovery. |
| Dt 31:24-26 | Moses finished writing the words of this law in a book... put it beside the ark... for a witness. | Instructions for the Book of the Law's safekeeping. |
| Josh 1:8 | This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth... meditate on it day and night... | Importance of continual study and obedience to God's law. |
| Ps 19:7 | The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul... | The power and impact of God's Law when understood. |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | God's word as a guide and source of truth. |
| Neh 8:1-8 | Ezra brought the Law before the assembly... read from it clearly, making it understand. | A later post-exilic revival centered on rediscovering and proclaiming the Law. |
| 2 Chr 34:15 | Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord given by Moses. | Parallel account emphasizing the Mosaic origin of the Law. |
| Dt 17:18-20 | A copy of this law, he shall write for himself... read in it all the days of his life... | King's responsibility to possess and obey the Law. |
| Mal 4:4 | Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb... | A prophetic call to remember and adhere to the Mosaic Law. |
| Jer 8:8 | "How can you say, 'We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us'? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie." | Indication that the Law's integrity could be corrupted or neglected prior to this. |
| Hab 1:4 | So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. | State of legal and moral decline when the Law is ignored. |
| Rom 7:7 | Indeed, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law... | Law's function in revealing sin, similar to its effect on Josiah. |
| Rom 3:20 | Through the law comes knowledge of sin. | Reinforces the Law's revelatory power regarding transgression. |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training... | Highlights the enduring purpose and benefit of Scripture, exemplified by the 'Book of the Law.' |
| Jn 5:39 | You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life... | Jesus' affirmation of the importance and authority of the written Word. |
| Lk 24:27 | ...He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. | Jesus' ministry centered on fulfilling the Old Testament Scriptures (Law and Prophets). |
| Acts 7:38 | This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel... and received living oracles... | Stephen's speech referencing Moses receiving the living words of God. |
| Rev 22:18-19 | I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds... or takes away... | Emphasizes the sanctity and completeness of God's written word. |
| Mt 5:17-18 | Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets... not an iota, not a dot, will pass... | Jesus' declaration of the permanence and authority of the Law. |
| Ez 9:3 | Ezra tore his garment... when he heard the word of this matter. | A powerful response to sin, mirroring Josiah's tearing of clothes in 2 Kgs 22:11, triggered by the Word. |
2 Kings 22 verses
2 Kings 22 10 Meaning
Shaphan, the royal scribe, officially informed King Josiah that Hilkiah, the high priest, had given him a profound document—a book, understood to be "the Book of the Law." This seemingly simple statement marks a pivotal moment, signaling the rediscovery of divine revelation and setting the stage for national repentance and reform under King Josiah's reign, emphasizing the supreme authority and foundational nature of God's written word.
2 Kings 22 10 Context
Chapter 22 of 2 Kings introduces the reign of King Josiah, one of Judah's most righteous kings, who began to reign at eight years old (v. 1). Upon reaching his maturity (likely around 18-26 years old), Josiah initiated necessary temple repairs after generations of neglect and idol worship under previous kings like Manasseh and Amon. It is during these repairs that the High Priest Hilkiah discovers the "Book of the Law." Verse 10 specifically describes Shaphan, the scribe, formally reporting this momentous find to King Josiah, triggering the profound reaction and sweeping reforms detailed in the subsequent verses and chapter 23. The historical backdrop is one of widespread religious apostasy and moral decay in Judah, making the rediscovery of the divine blueprint for life a dramatic and transformative event, demonstrating God's providence in revealing His Word precisely when a responsive heart (Josiah's) was on the throne.
2 Kings 22 10 Word analysis
- Then (וַיַּגֵּד - wa·yag·ged): This initial conjunctive
wawacts as a consecutive prefix, emphasizing the immediate sequence and critical link between Hilkiah's discovery and Shaphan's report to the king. - Shaphan (שָׁפָן - shaphan): A significant name belonging to a high-ranking royal official, likely indicating his trustworthy position as the king's top scribe and communicator.
- the scribe (הַסֹּפֵר - has·so·phēr): Hebrew
sopher, meaning a professional writer, secretary, or royal official. This highlights Shaphan's literacy, administrative role, and direct access to the king, making him the proper conduit for such vital information. - told (וַיַּגֵּד - wa·yag·ged): From the verb
nagad, meaning "to declare, tell, report." This signifies an official, emphatic announcement, reflecting the gravity of the discovered item. - the king (לַמֶּלֶךְ - lam·me·leḵ): Referring to King Josiah. The immediate relay of this news to the supreme national authority underscores its immense importance for national governance and destiny.
- Hilkiah (חִלְקִיָּהוּ - ḥilqiyyāhu): Hilkiah the high priest, whose name means "my portion is Yahweh." His integrity as High Priest is paramount in authenticating the book's discovery and legitimacy.
- the high priest (הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל - hak·kō·hēn hag·gā·ḏōl): The highest religious authority in Israel. His discovery within the Temple, specifically during renovations, suggests the providential hand of God in revealing the Law through the appropriate spiritual office.
- has given me (נָתַן־לִי - na·ṯan-lī): Hebrew
nathan, "to give, deliver." The perfect tense denotes a completed action, emphasizing the definite transfer of the sacred book from Hilkiah to Shaphan. - a book (סֵפֶר - sepher): Hebrew
sepher. While general, in this context (after "the Book of the Law" in v. 8), it specifically denotes "the Book of the Law," universally understood by scholars as part or all of Deuteronomy/Pentateuch. Its singularity emphasizes its unique authority and divine origin.
Words-group analysis
- "Shaphan the scribe told the king": This highlights the formal, bureaucratic process through which critical information about the divine Law reached the monarchy, showcasing the orderly transition of this pivotal discovery into official policy consideration.
- "Hilkiah the high priest has given me a book": This specific phrase underlines the sanctity of the object. The "book" is not merely found but transferred by the highest religious official to a key secular figure for the king. This establishes a chain of custody for a deeply sacred artifact and bridges the sacred discovery to governmental action.
2 Kings 22 10 Bonus section
- The widespread ignorance of "the Book of the Law" by this period in Judah suggests that copies were scarce or lost, possibly due to intentional suppression or simple negligence by past unrighteous kings.
- The providential timing of the book's discovery during the temple repairs under Josiah's reign demonstrates God's strategic intervention, bringing His Word to light precisely when a receptive and righteous leader was prepared to obey it.
- The immediate, intense reaction of Josiah upon hearing the words from the book (described in the subsequent verses) serves as a potent example of how the pure Word of God, unadulterated by human traditions, leads to conviction, humility, and genuine spiritual awakening.
2 Kings 22 10 Commentary
2 Kings 22:10 marks the official introduction of a rediscovered divine truth into the highest echelons of Judah's government. The act of Shaphan, the trusted scribe, informing King Josiah, underscores that this was no mere administrative update but a report of paramount spiritual and national significance. The identity of the bringer (Hilkiah, the High Priest) and the item itself ("a book," specifically "the Book of the Law") imbues the moment with divine authority and gravitas. The fact that such a foundational text was 'found' during temple repairs speaks volumes about generations of spiritual neglect and deviation from God's covenant. This verse serves as the immediate precursor to King Josiah's personal and national repentance, demonstrating the immediate and transformative power inherent in God's revealed Word when it is heard, understood, and humbly embraced by those in authority.