Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 12:7
When the LORD saw that they had humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them, but will soon grant them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God speaks through the prophet Shemaiah to the king and leaders of Israel immediately after they publicly acknowledge His righteousness. This occurs at the moment of crisis when Shishak’s invasion is imminent and the nation has just submitted to judgment.
The words — נִכְנָ֔עוּ (nikh.Na.'u) literally means "they had humbled themselves," indicating a completed action of submission. דְבַר־יְהוָה (de.var-Yah.weh) translates as "the word of Yahweh," marking the prophetic message that follows their posture.
The thread — The pattern of divine communication following national submission runs through 1 Kings 21:28, where God’s word comes to Elijah after Ahab’s tearing of garments. The contrast between withheld wrath and full outpouring of anger is mirrored in 2 Chronicles 34:25 and Isaiah 42:25.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to accept that deliverance follows acknowledged justice rather than earned merit. It demands recognition that temporary foreign subjugation functions as instruction rather than final destruction.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 34:25 because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. My wrath will be poured out upon this place and will not be quenched.’
- 1 Kings 21:28 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying:
- Isaiah 42:25 So He poured out on them His furious anger and the fierceness of battle. It enveloped them in flames, but they did not understand; it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.
- Leviticus 26:41 and I acted with hostility toward them and brought them into the land of their enemies—and if their uncircumcised hearts will be humbled and they will make amends for their iniquity,
- Judges 10:15 “We have sinned,” the Israelites said to the LORD. “Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!”
- 2 Kings 13:4 Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened to him because He saw the oppression that the king of Aram had inflicted on Israel.
- 2 Kings 13:23 But the LORD was gracious to Israel and had compassion on them, and He turned toward them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And to this day, the LORD has been unwilling to destroy them or cast them from His presence.
- 2 Chronicles 34:21 “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah concerning the words in the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that has been poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD by doing all that is written in this book.”
- Psalms 78:38 And yet He was compassionate; He forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often restrained His anger and did not unleash His full wrath.
- Psalms 79:6 Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, on the kingdoms that refuse to call on Your name,