2 Kings 8 17

2 Kings 8:17 kjv

Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

2 Kings 8:17 nkjv

He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

2 Kings 8:17 niv

He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years.

2 Kings 8:17 esv

He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

2 Kings 8:17 nlt

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years.

2 Kings 8 verses

2 Kings 8 17 Meaning

This verse serves as a concise introduction to the reign of Joram, king of Judah. It provides three essential pieces of information according to the standard biblical regnal formula: his age at accession, the total duration of his rule, and the seat of his authority. Specifically, it records that Joram ascended the throne of Judah when he was thirty-two years old, and he ruled for a period of eight years from Jerusalem, the divinely appointed capital city of the Davidic kingdom.

2 Kings 8 17 Context

2 Kings chapter 8 describes various events primarily concerning the northern kingdom of Israel and its interactions with Aram. However, verses 16-24 provide a detailed interlude focusing on the reign of Joram, or Jehoram, king of Judah, the son of King Jehoshaphat. Verse 17 serves as the opening statement of Joram's personal regnal account, a formulaic summary found for almost every king in the books of Kings and Chronicles. This particular verse precedes the crucial detail of his wickedness in verse 18 and the subsequent narration of his oppressive and idolatrous rule, contrasting sharply with the relatively positive descriptions of his father Jehoshaphat. This short formulaic introduction sets the stage for a period of eight years where Judah was led by a king who notoriously "walked in the way of the kings of Israel," aligning with the idolatrous practices of the northern kingdom, particularly influenced by his marriage to Ahab's daughter.

2 Kings 8 17 Word analysis

• He: Refers to Joram (or Jehoram) king of Judah, son of Jehoshaphat. The shift from Jehoram of Israel (Ahab's son) in previous verses to Joram of Judah can sometimes cause confusion due to similar names but is clarified by his lineage.
• was thirty-two years old: (Hebrew: בן־שלשים ושתים שנה, ben sh'loshim u-shtayim shana - literally "son of thirty and two years"). This indicates his age at the point of accession to the throne. This detail, consistently provided for Judahite kings, often points to a measure of maturity and readiness, though in Joram's case, spiritual maturity was evidently lacking. It’s part of a precise chronological record that anchors the historical narrative.
• when he became king: (Hebrew: במלכו, b'mal'ko - "in his becoming king"). This phrase marks the moment of royal succession. Kingship in ancient Israel was a mix of hereditary right (for the Davidic line) and divine appointment or permission. The formality of this statement underscores the official start of his rule.
• and he reigned: (Hebrew: וימלוך, va-yimloch - "and he ruled/reigned"). This verb establishes the period of his exercise of power. It signifies the commencement of a divinely permitted, though sometimes divinely judged, reign. The length of a king's reign can be an indicator of his overall success or the swiftness of divine judgment.
• eight years: (Hebrew: שמנה שנים, shmoneh shanim). This is a relatively short reign for a Judahite king, especially when compared to the longer reigns of some of his predecessors or successors (e.g., Asa 41 years, Jehoshaphat 25 years). For context, this short duration is strongly linked in parallel biblical accounts (2 Chron 21) to his severe wickedness and God's judgment, including severe affliction and a lamentable death without regret.
• in Jerusalem: (Hebrew: בירושלם, biY'rushalayim). Jerusalem was the established capital of the Kingdom of Judah since the time of David, having deep historical, political, and spiritual significance as the city chosen by God (1 Ki 9:3) and where the Temple stood. All legitimate kings of the Davidic line reigned from Jerusalem, symbolizing the enduring nature of the Davidic Covenant, even amidst the kings' failures. It contrasted with the frequently changing capitals and kings of the Northern Kingdom, highlighting the stability and theological significance of the Judahite monarchy despite individual unfaithfulness.

2 Kings 8 17 Bonus section

The recurring "regnal formula" (age at accession, length of reign, city of reign, name of mother, and a moral assessment) found in Kings and Chronicles is more than just a chronological device. It reflects the theological agenda of the authors, providing a systematic structure for judging each king's rule against divine standards and linking their personal obedience or disobedience to the prosperity or decline of the kingdom. While this verse provides only the age, reign length, and location, it implicitly carries the weight of the absent moral assessment which usually follows and for Joram, it is a negative one. The very brevity of the description, lacking any of the typical positive attributes (e.g., "he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord"), subtly hints at the author's overall negative assessment of Joram's character even before it is explicitly stated in the next verse (2 Ki 8:18).

2 Kings 8 17 Commentary

2 Kings 8:17, while brief and factual, serves a crucial role within the narrative framework of the Books of Kings. It is a standard component of the regnal formula, consistently used by the biblical author to introduce new monarchs in both Israel and Judah. By providing Joram's age at accession, the duration, and location of his reign, this verse grounds the following narrative in historical and chronological reality. The conciseness here, typical for the book's opening kingly summaries, deliberately focuses on the essential markers of his rule. Although it doesn't immediately condemn Joram, the relatively short reign of "eight years," combined with the lack of any positive descriptors (which were common for good kings), implicitly signals a troubled and ultimately failed leadership, setting up the more explicit condemnation found in the subsequent verses and especially in the parallel account in 2 Chronicles, which reveals his severe wickedness. Thus, this factual verse subtly lays the groundwork for the ensuing narrative of Joram's reign as a period of national decline for Judah.