2 Kings 22 19

2 Kings 22:19 kjv

Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.

2 Kings 22:19 nkjv

because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you," says the LORD.

2 Kings 22:19 niv

Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people?that they would become a curse and be laid waste?and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the LORD.

2 Kings 22:19 esv

because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the LORD, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD.

2 Kings 22:19 nlt

You were sorry and humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I said against this city and its people ? that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the LORD.

2 Kings 22 verses

2 Kings 22 19 Meaning

This verse describes the Lord's compassionate response to King Josiah's profound humility and sincere repentance. Upon hearing the strong words of judgment proclaimed against Judah and Jerusalem from the rediscovered Book of the Law, Josiah demonstrated genuine brokenness, signified by his tender heart, outward acts of mourning (rending clothes and weeping), and personal submission before God. As a direct consequence of this heartfelt response, the Lord assured Josiah that the impending catastrophe would be delayed until after his lifetime, affirming God's attentiveness to a humble and contrite spirit.

2 Kings 22 19 Context

Chapter 22 of 2 Kings details the finding of the "Book of the Law" (likely a significant portion of Deuteronomy) in the temple during King Josiah's renovations. When Shaphan, the scribe, reads its contents to Josiah, particularly the curses pronounced against disobedience, Josiah is overwhelmed with distress and sorrow. His tearing of clothes signifies his deep grief and recognition of the nation's profound deviation from God's covenant. This immediate and genuine response of humility leads him to inquire of the Lord. The verse is Huldah the prophetess's divine affirmation to Josiah, declaring God's favor because of Josiah's personal piety and profound heart change, thereby delaying the prophesied judgment that would otherwise fall upon the idolatrous nation and its inhabitants. Historically, this period marked a crucial pivot point, providing a temporary reprieve for Judah before its ultimate destruction due to sustained rebellion after Josiah's reign.

2 Kings 22 19 Word analysis

• Because: This conjunction highlights a direct causal relationship. Josiah's subsequent blessing (the delay of judgment) is directly dependent on his preceding actions and heart attitude.
• thine heart: (Hebrew: לְבָבְךָ - l'vavkha) In biblical thought, the "heart" is not merely the seat of emotions but the center of one's intellect, will, and moral character. It represents the whole inner person. Josiah's reaction stemmed from the core of his being.
• was tender: (Hebrew: רַךְ - rakh) Meaning soft, pliable, sensitive, or impressionable. It implies a receptiveness to divine truth and an absence of spiritual stubbornness or hardness that often characterizes disobedience. It contrasts sharply with the "stiff-necked" people or "hardened hearts" mentioned elsewhere in Scripture.
• and thou hast humbled thyself: (Hebrew: וַתִּכָּנַע - va-tikkana') From the root kana', meaning to bend, subdue, or be submissive. This word signifies a voluntary act of bringing oneself low, both internally in spirit and externally through actions, acknowledging one's unworthiness before a holy God. It is true contrition, not mere external piety.
• before the LORD: (Hebrew: לִפְנֵי יְהוָה - lifnei YHWH) This emphasizes that Josiah's humility and sorrow were not for human observation or political gain but were genuine and directed toward God Himself, acknowledging His ultimate authority and justice.
• when thou heardest what I spake: Not just a superficial hearing, but a profound and impactful listening. Josiah allowed God's words concerning the covenant curses and the nation's spiritual state to pierce his heart deeply and intellectually apprehend the gravity of the divine pronouncement.
• against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof: "This place" refers specifically to Jerusalem and its temple, once chosen by God, but now defiled. "The inhabitants" refers to the people of Judah. The judgment was specific and comprehensive for their pervasive idolatry and sin.
• that they should become a desolation and a curse: These terms echo the warnings and penalties for covenant disobedience found extensively in the Deuteronomic Law (e.g., Deut 28). "Desolation" speaks of ruin and emptiness; "curse" signifies divine disfavor and its devastating consequences. This indicates God's justice in executing promised judgments.
• and hast rent thy clothes: (Hebrew: קָרַעְתָּ אֶת־בְּגָדֶיךָ - kara'ta et-b'gadekha) A universally recognized ancient Near Eastern and Israelite gesture of extreme grief, anguish, despair, or repentance. It signified deep internal pain and moral shock at the magnitude of the discovery. It was not merely performative but a visible outpouring of an overwhelmed heart.
• and wept before me: (Hebrew: וַתֵּבְךְ לְפָנַי - va-tevek l'fanay) Crying is another authentic, physical expression of profound sorrow, often associated with remorse and an earnest plea for mercy. Like rending clothes, it's a raw, emotional, and non-verbal form of repentance, directed toward God's presence.
• I also have heard thee: The "I also" stresses God's reciprocal action. Because Josiah responded, God responded in turn. This phrase confirms divine attentiveness and acceptance of Josiah's actions as true repentance. God sees and hears the sincere cries of His humble servants.
• saith the LORD: A prophetic formula affirming the divine origin and certainty of the message delivered by Huldah. This is God's own voice speaking judgment and mercy.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD": This core phrase identifies Josiah's internal disposition (tender heart) and his volitional spiritual posture (humbled himself). It emphasizes that genuine change originates from within and is directed God-ward, contrasting with outward ritual without inward transformation. This internal humility sets the stage for God's favorable response.
• "when thou heardest what I spake against this place... desolation and a curse": This segment highlights the trigger for Josiah's reaction: the direct revelation of God's holy word concerning severe judgment. It implies a discerning ear that did not dismiss the gravity of the message, acknowledging divine authority over the present and future.
• "and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me": These describe the tangible, visible expressions of Josiah's internal spiritual state. These were not perfunctory acts but the authentic outflow of a broken and contrite spirit, validating the "tender heart" and "humbled self." They serve as powerful demonstrations of a king submitting himself fully to the word of God.
• "I also have heard thee, saith the LORD": This is God's declarative response, affirming His character as a God who hears, sees, and responds to true repentance. It confirms that genuine repentance has tangible, positive consequences, even for an individual facing corporate judgment, demonstrating God's justice mingled with mercy.

2 Kings 22 19 Bonus section

• Huldah's Role: The choice of Huldah, a prophetess, to deliver God's message to Josiah, even when prominent male prophets like Jeremiah and Zephaniah were active, underscores God's sovereignty in choosing His messengers regardless of gender or social standing. It highlights that God speaks through whom He chooses and validates the authenticity of His word, ensuring the king receives the truth directly from a divinely appointed source.
• Manasseh's Shadow: Josiah's extraordinary righteousness and heartfelt repentance stand in stark contrast to the wickedness of his grandfather, Manasseh, whose reign had led Judah into deep idolatry and spiritual depravity (2 Kings 21). Though Manasseh later humbled himself (2 Chr 33), his legacy set the stage for inevitable judgment. Josiah's tender heart reflects a reversal of the generational spiritual decline, embodying the very heart God desires from His people.
• Covenant Renewal: Josiah's response extended beyond personal repentance. It instigated a nationwide covenant renewal, the cleansing of the temple, and the removal of idolatrous practices throughout Judah (2 Kings 23). While the people might not have experienced the same depth of personal conversion as Josiah, his humble heart sparked a final significant effort to return the nation to God's ways before the eventual Babylonian exile. This demonstrates how one individual's sincere response to God can catalyze profound societal reform, even if temporary.

2 Kings 22 19 Commentary

2 Kings 22:19 offers a profound glimpse into God's heart: He actively seeks and responds to genuine humility and contrition. Josiah's actions—a tender heart, deliberate humbling, emotional expressions of grief (tearing clothes, weeping)—were not superficial. They sprang from a deep apprehension of God's holy law and the dire consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness. The narrative powerfully demonstrates that while divine judgment for persistent sin is certain, an individual's authentic repentance can bring about personal reprieve and a delay of communal wrath. God did not prevent the judgment entirely, because the nation's spiritual condition was too far gone for a lasting transformation; yet, He extended grace to Josiah personally, ensuring the king would not witness the national catastrophe. This illustrates the principle that God delights in mercy and offers hope even in the face of widespread corruption, valuing sincere internal transformation over external conformity. It serves as a timeless call to personal repentance rooted in a humble and susceptible heart.

Examples for practical usage:

• Responding to God's word: When a believer reads a passage that exposes their sin or warns of judgment, a "tender heart" is quick to confess and repent, rather than rationalizing or ignoring.
• Authentic worship: True worship isn't just outward gestures but arises from a humble, submissive heart, broken over sin and grateful for grace.
• Intercessory prayer: When praying for societal evils, we, like Josiah, should do so with a spirit of humility and brokenness, identifying with the sins that provoke divine judgment.