2 Kings 23 3

2 Kings 23:3 kjv

And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.

2 Kings 23:3 nkjv

Then the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant.

2 Kings 23:3 niv

The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD?to follow the LORD and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

2 Kings 23:3 esv

And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.

2 Kings 23:3 nlt

The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the LORD's presence. He pledged to obey the LORD by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. In this way, he confirmed all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll, and all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

2 Kings 23 verses

2 Kings 23 3 Meaning

2 Kings 23:3 describes King Josiah's public act of renewing the covenant with the Lord in Jerusalem. He stands before the people at the Temple, committing himself and leading the nation to full obedience to God's commandments, testimonies, and statutes, as written in the Book of the Covenant that had been rediscovered. This was a solemn vow to follow God with complete heart and soul, and the people collectively affirmed this commitment.

2 Kings 23 3 Context

King Josiah ascended the throne of Judah at the young age of eight. Unlike his wicked father Amon and grandfather Manasseh, Josiah sought the Lord early in his reign. By his eighteenth year, the Temple was being repaired. During these repairs, Hilkiah the high priest discovered "the Book of the Law" (likely a significant portion of Deuteronomy). When read to Josiah, the king was overwhelmed by the extent of Israel's disobedience and the impending judgment from the Lord, causing him to tear his robes in repentance (2 Ki 22:11). He consulted the prophetess Huldah, who confirmed the divine judgment but also promised Josiah peace in his lifetime because of his contrite heart. Verse 3 is Josiah's public response to this discovery and prophecy. He gathers all the people, reads the Law, and then initiates a formal covenant renewal ceremony, establishing the recovered Law as the binding rule for the nation, just before initiating extensive reforms to abolish idolatry throughout the land (2 Ki 23:4ff). This act signifies a last, great effort for national repentance before the final collapse of the Southern Kingdom and the Babylonian exile.

2 Kings 23 3 Word analysis

• The king stood: Hebrew amad (עָמַד). Implies an authoritative, fixed, and resolute position. It was a formal posture for significant pronouncements. It demonstrates Josiah's resolve and his taking initiative as leader.
• by the pillar: Refers to a prominent location within the Temple court, often associated with kingship or public announcements. King Joash was crowned "by the pillar" (2 Ki 11:14). It made the act highly visible to all gathered. This place also likely symbolized stability and the presence of God.
• and made a covenant: Hebrew karat berit (כָּרַת בְּרִית), literally "cut a covenant." This phrase refers to the ancient practice of formalizing an agreement, sometimes by cutting animals as a symbolic act. It signifies a solemn, binding agreement. The covenant was not merely spoken but formally established.
• before the Lord: This phrase underscores the sacred nature of the commitment. God Himself was the witness and the ultimate party to the covenant. It invoked divine authority and implied accountability before God. It elevates the national agreement to a divine obligation.
• to walk after the Lord: Hebrew halakh aharei YHWH (הָלַךְ אַחֲרֵי יְהוָה). This denotes a complete lifestyle oriented toward following God's leading. It's an active, ongoing pursuit of His ways, rather than a one-time decision. It includes obedience, trust, and alignment with God's character.
• to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes:
  • commandments (mitzvot - מִצְוֹת): General instructions and moral imperatives.
  • testimonies (edut - עֵדוּת): Direct declarations of God's will, often referring to ethical injunctions and covenant obligations that bear witness to God's character.
  • statutes (chuqqim - חֻקִּים): Established rules, often involving rituals, social laws, and ceremonial purity.
  • This comprehensive listing emphasizes a full and unreserved commitment to all aspects of the Mosaic Law. It covers moral, social, and cultic obedience.
• with all their heart and all their soul: Hebrew bechol levavam uveshol nafsham (בְּכָל לִבָּם וּבְכָל נַפְשָׁם). This echoes the Shema (Deut 6:5) and highlights an internal, total devotion, not just outward compliance. "Heart" denotes intellect, will, and affections; "soul" signifies the inner self, life force, and essence. This commitment demanded true spiritual engagement.
• to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book: Specifically points to the rediscovered Book of the Law. It makes the physical text the definitive basis for their commitment, giving it tangible authority and validating its origin. "Perform" means to actively do, implying execution of the prescribed actions.
• And all the people joined in the covenant: Hebrew vayyaam haam (וַיַּעַם הָעָם), meaning "the people entered into" or "stood with" the covenant. This shows the collective agreement and participation of the nation, making it a communal reaffirmation. It wasn't just the king's promise but a national oath.

2 Kings 23 3 Bonus section

• The "Book of the Covenant": While the text only says "Book of the Law" (Torah), many scholars suggest it was primarily Deuteronomy, or at least a significant part of it. Deuteronomy frequently presents the covenant in terms of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, which greatly impacted Josiah's response. Its rediscovery implies its neglect during the reigns of Manasseh and Amon.
• Covenant Renewal Tradition: This event echoes earlier covenant renewals in Israel's history, such as those led by Moses (Exo 24), Joshua (Josh 24), and subsequent kings like Asa (2 Chr 15) and Hezekiah (2 Chr 29). This pattern demonstrates a recurring need for the people to reaffirm their commitment to God's law.
• Prophetic Fulfillment: Although Judah eventually went into exile, Josiah's faithfulness in this verse demonstrates the partial and conditional nature of the curses, allowing for a delay of judgment (2 Ki 22:18-20). It also highlights God's grace in giving a wicked generation a final, clear call to repentance.
• Personal Application: The "all their heart and all their soul" aspect in 2 Kings 23:3 directly correlates with the ultimate commandment cited by Jesus in the New Testament (Matt 22:37), underscoring that genuine covenant relationship requires internal devotion first. It challenges believers to assess the depth of their commitment to God's word, beyond mere outward compliance.

2 Kings 23 3 Commentary

2 Kings 23:3 stands as a pivotal moment in Judah's history, highlighting King Josiah's profound faith and his role as a righteous leader. Following the shocking discovery of the Book of the Law, Josiah's response was immediate and holistic: he first humbled himself (2 Ki 22:11) and then proactively led his people in a national renewal of their foundational covenant with God. The scene depicts a dramatic and solemn public act of repentance and rededication. Josiah's posture "by the pillar" underscores his public and authoritative declaration, setting the tone for the entire nation.

The heart of the verse is the karat berit—the making of a covenant. This was no casual agreement but a binding oath invoking the Lord as witness, emphasizing accountability. The specific terms—"to walk after the Lord, to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes"—demonstrate a commitment to the entirety of God's revealed will, not just selective obedience. Crucially, this obedience was to be "with all their heart and all their soul," echoing the fundamental call of the Shema (Deut 6:5), signifying genuine internal transformation driving outward action. The reference to "this book" validates the divine authority of the recently discovered text as the precise guide for their conduct.

This verse exemplifies true biblical leadership: a leader humbled by God's word, publicly commits himself, and actively rallies his people towards collective obedience to God's will. It served as a final, desperate attempt to avert God's announced judgment, even though ultimately, due to generations of ingrained idolatry, the people's repentance was not deep or lasting enough after Josiah's death. Nonetheless, Josiah's action in this verse represents the pinnacle of Israel's national obedience prior to the exile, illustrating the power of God's Word to instigate profound reform when met with a willing heart, both individually and corporately.