Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 15:4
But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought Him, and He was found by them.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator addresses Judah and Jerusalem during King Asa’s reforms, contrasting years of spiritual abandonment with a period of national crisis that precedes covenant renewal.
The words — The Hebrew verb שׁוּב (shuv, "turned back") combined with בַּצָּר (ba-tsar, "in distress") marks a reactive pivot toward Yahweh, the God of Israel. The reflexive form וַיִּמָּצֵא (wayyimmāṣē', "and He let Himself be found") records God’s responsive presence rather than a passive discovery.
The thread — This sequence of crisis-driven seeking and divine finding aligns with Deuteronomy 4:29, Isaiah 55:6, and the earnest pursuit noted in 2 Chronicles 15:15.
Why it lands — The text first records that national distress triggered a return to Yahweh, which resulted in Him being found. It requires readers to acknowledge that turning to God in desperation is met with His active presence, not merely a promise.
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
But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
- Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
- 2 Chronicles 15:15 And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it with all their heart. They had sought Him earnestly, and He was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.
- Isaiah 65:1 “I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. To a nation that did not call My name, I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’
- Hosea 6:1 Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds.
- Psalms 106:44 Nevertheless He heard their cry; He took note of their distress.
- Hosea 14:1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled by your iniquity.
- Romans 10:20 And Isaiah boldly says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.”
- Judges 3:9 But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, He raised up Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz as a deliverer to save them.
- Judges 10:10 Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against You, for we have indeed forsaken our God and served the Baals.”