2 Kings 23:25 kjv
And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.
2 Kings 23:25 nkjv
Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him.
2 Kings 23:25 niv
Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did?with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.
2 Kings 23:25 esv
Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.
2 Kings 23:25 nlt
Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.
2 Kings 23 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 6:5 | "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." | The foundation for Josiah's devotion. |
| Matt 22:37-38 | "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." | Jesus' Great Commandment, echoing Deut 6:5. |
| Mk 12:30 | "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." | Echo of the Great Commandment. |
| Lk 10:27 | "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind..." | Affirmation of comprehensive love for God. |
| Josh 1:7 | "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law..." | Emphasizes diligent and full obedience. |
| Psa 119:10 | "With my whole heart I seek You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments." | A prayer for sincere and complete obedience. |
| Jer 29:13 | "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." | The call for wholehearted seeking of God. |
| Joel 2:12-13 | "Yet even now," declares the Lord, "Return to Me with all your heart... Rend your heart..." | Call to genuine, internal repentance. |
| 1 Sam 7:3 | "...return to the Lord with all your heart and serve Him only..." | Example of call for wholehearted repentance. |
| 1 Kgs 3:3 | "Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David..." | Describes other kings' piety (for comparison). |
| 1 Kgs 11:4 | "For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away... his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord..." | Contrast of a king with divided heart. |
| 1 Kgs 15:3 | "And Asa’s heart was wholly true to the Lord all his days." | Another king praised for heart devotion. |
| 2 Kgs 18:5-6 | "Hezekiah trusted in the Lord... He kept His commandments..." | Praise for Hezekiah, yet Josiah unique in depth. |
| 2 Chr 17:3-4 | "The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his father David... did not seek the Baals." | Other kings who sought God. |
| Psa 78:37 | "For their heart was not steadfast with Him, nor were they faithful to His covenant." | Description of disobedient hearts. |
| Prov 23:26 | "My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways." | Invitation to full surrender and obedience. |
| Isa 1:19 | "If you are willing and obedient, You will eat the good of the land." | Condition for blessings rooted in obedience. |
| Eze 36:26 | "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you..." | God's promise for enabling true obedience. |
| Rom 2:13 | "For it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified." | Emphasizes active obedience to the Law. |
| Phil 2:12 | "...work out your salvation with fear and trembling..." | Calls for diligent, earnest obedience. |
| Jer 22:15-16 | Describes ideal royal conduct that "judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well." | Connects righteous reign to knowing God. |
| Zech 1:3 | "Return to Me,” declares the Lord of armies, “that I may return to you,” says the Lord of armies." | God's reciprocal response to genuine return. |
| 2 Kgs 23:3 | "Then the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord... to keep His commandments... with all his heart and all his soul..." | Josiah's personal commitment immediately before his reforms. |
| Deut 30:2 | "and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and with all your soul..." | A description of covenant repentance and return. |
2 Kings 23 verses
2 Kings 23 25 Meaning
2 Kings 23:25 asserts that Josiah was an unparalleled king in the history of Judah regarding his profound and comprehensive devotion to the Lord. His commitment to God was total, involving his mind, desires, and strength, and was expressed through diligent and complete obedience to the entire Law of Moses. Neither before nor after his reign did any other monarch exhibit such exceptional faithfulness.
2 Kings 23 25 Context
Josiah inherited a kingdom deeply entrenched in idolatry due to his grandfather Manasseh’s extensive pagan practices. Upon discovering the "Book of the Law" (likely the Book of Deuteronomy) during temple repairs in his eighteenth year of reign, Josiah tore his clothes in contrition, realizing the extent of Judah’s disobedience. This profound personal conviction catalyzed a sweeping and rigorous religious reform throughout Judah and the former Northern Kingdom territory. He purged the land of every pagan altar, cultic practice, and idolatrous symbol, systematically dismantling Manasseh’s evil legacies and re-establishing the pure worship of YHWH as prescribed by the rediscovered Law. 2 Kings 23:25 acts as the Deuteronomistic historian's climactic assessment of Josiah, an ultimate testament to his singular faithfulness in comparison to all other kings of Judah. Despite Josiah's unparalleled devotion and thorough reform, the nation’s spiritual decay, deepened over generations, ultimately led to God’s unwavering judgment, culminating in the Babylonian exile shortly after Josiah’s untimely death.
2 Kings 23 25 Word analysis
- Now before him: This phrase establishes a temporal boundary, highlighting Josiah’s supreme righteousness as unmatched by any king who ruled prior to him in the Judean monarchy.
- there was no king like him: An absolute superlative commendation. It signifies his singular, unique standing among all previous rulers in Judah regarding his commitment and fidelity to God.
- who turned to the Lord: The Hebrew word shav (שָׁב) means "to turn," "to return," or "to repent." It implies a decisive, radical reorientation away from idolatry and rebellion back to covenant fidelity with YHWH, reflecting a fundamental shift in his and the kingdom's direction.
- with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might: This triplicate phrase is a direct quotation from Deut 6:5, the cornerstone of the Shema and the core of Israelite covenant faith.
- all his heart (בְּכָל־לְבָב֖וֹ, be-khol-levavoh): Refers to the innermost being, encompassing one's intellect, will, reason, and moral conscience. Josiah's commitment was not merely external but deeply rooted in his mental and volitional faculties.
- all his soul (וּבְכָל־נַפְשׁ֔וֹ, u-ve-khol-nafsho): Denotes the very essence of life, including one's desires, emotions, affections, and individual personhood. His devotion permeated his vitality and passion.
- all his might (וּבְכָל־מְאֹד֑וֹ, u-ve-khol-me'odo): Implies one's full strength, resources, energy, and total capacity. This includes the vigorous implementation of his reforms throughout the kingdom, sparing no effort or resource in executing God's will.
- Significance: Together, these three terms depict a devotion that was holistic, exhaustive, and unwavering, impacting every facet of his personal life and reign, transforming it into active, practical worship.
- according to all the Law of Moses: This specifies the definitive standard for Josiah's devotion. It emphasizes that his reforms and personal commitment were not based on human ingenuity or partial compliance, but on the entirety of God's revealed instruction given through Moses. This underlines the centrality of the written Torah in genuine obedience.
- nor after him did any arise like him: This statement extends Josiah's uniqueness not only retrospectively but also prospectively, solidifying his unparalleled position among all the subsequent kings of Judah until its end. This emphasizes the irreversible spiritual decline of the monarchy after his death, underscoring the finality and extraordinary nature of Josiah’s faithful reign amidst Judah's impending judgment.
2 Kings 23 25 Bonus section
The profound impact of the rediscovered Book of the Law on Josiah cannot be overstated. His immediate, humble, and thorough response (tearing his clothes, seeking divine counsel, initiating comprehensive reform) suggests a heart truly transformed and willing to be governed by divine truth. This verse highlights the consistent theological framework of the Deuteronomistic history: covenant faithfulness brings blessing, and disobedience brings curse. Josiah's exemplary reign, although unable to save a corrupt nation from its predetermined judgment, powerfully exemplifies the potential for deep human responsiveness to divine revelation. His life subtly points to the need for a spiritual renewal beyond human capacity, a "new heart" promised by the prophets, which no king could fully implement or secure.
2 Kings 23 25 Commentary
2 Kings 23:25 serves as the biblical historian's climactic, superlative pronouncement on King Josiah. It elevates him above all other Judean monarchs, even commendable kings like David and Hezekiah, regarding his profound, all-encompassing dedication to the Lord and the Law of Moses. Josiah’s "turning" to God (a word often signifying repentance and radical change) was total, embracing his intellectual conviction, emotional fervour, and vigorous action. His strict adherence "according to all the Law of Moses" signifies that his sweeping reforms were rooted not in personal preference but in a conscientious obedience to the entire, rediscovered divine revelation.
This unparalleled praise for Josiah, however, also casts a somber shadow. That even a king of such zealous piety and comprehensive reform could not avert the impending divine judgment for Judah's centuries of rebellion, implies the depth of the nation's spiritual sickness. Josiah stands as a final, brilliant but insufficient, beacon of righteousness before the night of exile. His life is a powerful testimony to individual faith and obedience, reminding believers that genuine devotion encompasses every aspect of one's being and actively aligns with God's Word. He serves as an enduring example for all leaders, demonstrating that true spiritual reform flows from deep personal conviction and radical adherence to the Lord's commandments.