2 Kings 22:8 kjv
And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
2 Kings 22:8 nkjv
Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
2 Kings 22:8 niv
Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD." He gave it to Shaphan, who read it.
2 Kings 22:8 esv
And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
2 Kings 22:8 nlt
Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the court secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the LORD's Temple!" Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it.
2 Kings 22 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 31:26 | "Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark... it may be there as a witness against you." | Command to store the Law; its witness function. |
| 2 Chron 34:14 | While bringing out the money... Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses. | Parallel account, confirming the discovery. |
| Neh 8:1-3 | Ezra the scribe brought the Law before the assembly... and read from it... | Later instance of public reading of the Law. |
| Ps 19:7-8 | The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. | Affirmation of the Law's transformative power. |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | God's word as guide and illumination. |
| Isa 55:10-11 | For as the rain and the snow come down... so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth... | God's word as effective and fulfilling its purpose. |
| Jer 15:16 | Your words were found, and I ate them; your words were to me a joy and the delight of my heart... | Joyful reception of God's word. |
| Hos 4:6 | My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests. | Consequences of rejecting God's instruction. |
| Amos 8:11-12 | "I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread... but of hearing the words of the LORD." | Spiritual famine due to absence of God's word. |
| Mal 2:7 | For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth... | Role of priests in upholding the Law. |
| Matt 4:4 | "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." | Importance of God's word for life. |
| Jn 5:39 | "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness about Me." | Scriptures bear witness to Christ. |
| Jn 17:17 | Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. | God's word as truth and sanctifying agent. |
| Rom 15:4 | For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance... we might have hope. | Old Testament for instruction. |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training... | Sufficiency and profitability of Scripture. |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword... | God's word as powerful and penetrating. |
| Jas 1:22-25 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves... | Call to obey, not just hear, God's word. |
| Acts 2:37 | When they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" | Conviction leading to repentance. |
| Ps 34:18 | The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. | God's response to a humble and contrite heart. |
| Isa 66:2 | This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. | Divine regard for those who honor His word. |
| Ezek 2:7 | "You shall speak My words to them, whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious." | Command to deliver God's words despite resistance. |
| Prov 2:4-5 | if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD. | Value of seeking wisdom/God's instruction. |
| Rev 22:18-19 | If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues... if anyone takes away from the words... | Warnings against altering God's written word. |
2 Kings 22 verses
2 Kings 22 8 Meaning
This verse describes the pivotal discovery of the "Book of the Law" by Hilkiah the high priest in the house of the LORD. This event, during the repair of the Temple under King Josiah, was a watershed moment for Judah, revealing forgotten divine commandments and igniting a profound spiritual reformation. The finding signified God's providence in bringing His neglected word back into the heart of His people's awareness, serving as a catalyst for repentance and covenant renewal after generations of spiritual decline and idolatry.
2 Kings 22 8 Context
The discovery recounted in 2 Kings 22:8 occurs during the reign of King Josiah (640-609 BC), who ascended the throne at the young age of eight. Unlike his wicked predecessors, particularly his father Amon and grandfather Manasseh, Josiah "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD" (2 Kings 22:2). By his eighteenth year, Josiah embarked on a widespread reformation that began with purifying Judah and Jerusalem of idolatry, destroying high places, altars, and idols. This initial religious cleansing led to the project of repairing the defiled and dilapidated Temple in Jerusalem. It was during this restoration work, overseen by Hilkiah the high priest, that the forgotten "Book of the Law" was providentially found. For generations, likely since the time of Manasseh's egregious apostasy, God's written word had been lost or hidden, leading to widespread ignorance of the covenant requirements and contributing to the spiritual decay Josiah sought to reverse. This discovery was the divine intervention necessary to move beyond mere reform of idolatry to a true covenant renewal based on God's revealed will.
2 Kings 22 8 Word analysis
- Hilkiah the high priest: Chilqiyah HaKohen HaGadol (Heb. חִלְקִיָּה הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל). Hilkiah was the leading priestly authority during Josiah's reign. The role of the high priest traditionally involved overseeing the Temple, its sacred contents, and its worship. His discovery implies a place within the Temple where it had been hidden or simply forgotten, underscoring the spiritual neglect of previous generations who likely hid or lost it due to pervasive idolatry.
- Shaphan the scribe: Shafan HaSofer (Heb. שָׁפָן הַסֹּפֵר). A royal official responsible for official correspondence and documents. Shaphan's role highlights the administrative and official nature of the discovery's reporting to the king. His literacy and position make him a trusted conveyor of important information.
- "I have found": Matsati (Heb. מָצָאתִי). This active verb suggests not a passive encounter but an intentional searching or discovery, though the context emphasizes a surprise. The verb itself indicates a direct result of their work in the Temple, bringing to light something valuable that was hidden.
- "Book of the Law": Sepher HaTorah (Heb. סֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה). This term specifically refers to the foundational instruction or revelation of God's will given to Moses. While its exact scope is debated, it is widely believed to be the book of Deuteronomy or a significant portion of the Pentateuch, given the detailed laws found in chapter 23 that align with Deuteronomy's content. Its "finding" signifies not a new revelation but the rediscovery of long-established divine standards that had been neglected. This implies the immutable nature of God's word, which stands regardless of human adherence. The neglect of this Sepher HaTorah during previous reigns underscores the profound spiritual degradation in Judah, where the very foundation of their covenant with God had become effectively lost.
- "in the house of the LORD": B’Beit YHVH (Heb. בְּבֵית יְהוָה). The Temple, the most sacred space in Israel, meant to be the repository of God's law (Deut 31:26). Its presence there, despite generations of desecration, points to God's preservation of His word even amidst His people's unfaithfulness. The rediscovery within the very heart of worship indicates God's intent for His law to be central to their national and religious life.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe": This phrase highlights the collaborative nature of this significant event, involving both religious (priestly) and governmental (scribal) authorities. It immediately establishes the credibility and formal transmission of the discovery.
- "I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD": This powerful statement reveals the immediate, tangible nature of the discovery. It emphasizes a physical object representing the divine standard and implies its historical continuity, despite its long absence from public life. Its location in the Temple reinforces its sacred and authoritative origin, having been placed there for preservation. The phrasing "the Book of the Law" points to a distinct, identifiable, and authoritative volume.
- "And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it": This action signifies the official handing over of the sacred text from religious custody to official administration. Shaphan's immediate act of reading demonstrates the inherent value and urgency associated with the recovered text, preparing it for presentation to the highest authority, King Josiah. This transfer implies that God's word is not just for the priests but for all, to be understood and acted upon, starting with the leadership.
2 Kings 22 8 Bonus section
- The timing of the discovery is significant, occurring precisely when Josiah was engaged in a project of restoring the physical structure of the Temple. This parallels how spiritual renewal often accompanies physical or practical devotion to God's house and commands.
- The fact that the book was "found" and not "revealed" points to its existing authority. It was always God's Word, and its power lay dormant, awaiting its rediscovery and application.
- This event serves as a historical polemic against the pagan practices of the surrounding nations, whose religious observances were often capricious or based on human tradition. Here, the rediscovery of an ancient, unchanging written standard from the God of Israel powerfully reaffirmed His unique claim to truth and authority.
- The profound impact of a single written scroll upon an entire nation speaks volumes about the intrinsic power of God's authoritative word, even when generations have ignored it.
2 Kings 22 8 Commentary
2 Kings 22:8 marks a divinely orchestrated moment in Israelite history, signifying a powerful example of God's preserving power over His word despite human negligence. The "Book of the Law" – likely Deuteronomy or a significant part of the Pentateuch – had been lost for perhaps generations, indicating how deeply Judah had strayed from the covenant. Its rediscovery in the Temple, the very place designed to house God's presence and Law, underscores the providential nature of the event. This was not a chance finding but an uncovering meant to ignite a revival under King Josiah, who had already demonstrated a heart for God by initiating Temple repairs. The book served as a stark reminder of God's forgotten commands, His promises, and the curses for disobedience. Its immediate impact on Josiah (as described in the following verses, leading him to tear his robes in conviction) highlights the transformative power of God's written word to convict, to humble, and to drive people toward repentance and obedience. The sequence of events – finding the word, reading it, responding in humility, and initiating widespread reform – serves as a biblical paradigm for revival, illustrating that spiritual renewal flows from a rediscovered commitment to God's revealed will. This pivotal discovery paved the way for Judah's last great period of fidelity to the covenant, demonstrating that spiritual light emerges when God's truth is brought back into the forefront.