2 Chronicles 14:11

Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Asa addresses Yahweh while stationed in battle formation at the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah, immediately preceding the Lord’s strike against the advancing Cushite army.

The words — The verb וַ/יִּקְרָ֨א (va/i.yik.Ra') records Asa’s vocal appeal, and אֵֽין\־ ('ein-) functions as an absolute negation stating that no other entity exists to aid the weak against the strong.

The thread — The text’s declaration of divine exclusivity parallels Jeremiah 1:19, where God guarantees deliverance to those He stands with, and reflects the pattern in 2 Corinthians 12:9 where human insufficiency becomes the locus for divine strength.

Why it lands — The passage records Asa attributing the battle’s outcome solely to Yahweh’s intervention, requiring the reader to acknowledge that reliance on God, not human capacity, dictates victory when facing a multitude.

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

וַיִּקְרָ֨אva/i.yik.Ra'and/ he called out אָסָ֜א'a.Sa'Asa אֶל־'el-to יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהָיו֮'e.lo.Ha/vGod/ his וַיֹּאמַר֒va/i.yo.Marand/ he said יְהוָ֗הYah.wehO Yahweh אֵֽין־'ein-there not עִמְּךָ֤'i.me./Kha[is] with/ you לַעְזוֹר֙la/'.zOrto/ help בֵּ֥יןbeinbetween רַב֙ravgreat לְאֵ֣יןle./'Einand/ not כֹּ֔חַKo.achstrength עָזְרֵ֜נוּ'a.ze.Re./nuhelp/ us יְהוָ֤הYah.wehO Yahweh אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙'e.lo.Hei./nuGod/ our כִּֽי־ki-for עָלֶ֣יךָ'a.Lei./khaon/ you נִשְׁעַ֔נּוּnish.'A.nuwe depend וּבְשִׁמְךָ֣u./ve./shim./Khaand/ in/ name/ your בָ֔אנוּVa.nuwe have come עַל־'al-on הֶהָמ֖וֹןhe./ha.Monthe/ multitude הַזֶּ֑הha./Zeh<the>/ this יְהוָ֤הYah.wehO Yahweh אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙'e.lo.Hei./nu[are] God/ our אַ֔תָּה'A.tahyou אַל־'al-may not יַעְצֹ֥רya'.Tzorhe retain עִמְּךָ֖'i.me./Khawith/ you אֱנֽוֹשׁ׃ ס'e.No.osha man

King James Version

And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 1:19 They will fight against you but will never overcome you, since I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
2 Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
Psalms 22:5 They cried out to You and were set free; they trusted in You and were not disappointed.
Psalms 20:7 Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
2 Chronicles 13:14 When Judah turned and discovered that the battle was both before and behind them, they cried out to the LORD. Then the priests blew the trumpets,
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Acts 2:21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
2 Chronicles 13:18 Thus the Israelites were subdued at that time, and the men of Judah prevailed because they relied on the LORD, the God of their fathers.
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

People named

Asa