2 Chronicles 19:9

He commanded them, saying, “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jehoshaphat addresses the judges he appointed in Jerusalem to handle legal disputes on behalf of the LORD (2 Chronicles 19:8). He issues this command after establishing their judicial roles and before detailing how they must process specific cases (2 Chronicles 19:10).

The words — The Hebrew verb וַיְצַו (va/y.Tzav) records that he commanded the judges, while the phrase בְּיִרְאַת יְהוָה (be./yir.'At Yah.weh) specifies that their judicial work must occur within the reverence owed to Yahweh. The term אֱמוּנָה ('e.mu.Nah) further denotes that their service requires faithfulness or steadfastness.

The thread — The directive to judge with reverence for God connects to the principle that rulers must govern justly under divine authority (2 Samuel 23:3). It also aligns with earlier judicial instructions to fear the LORD and avoid partiality (2 Chronicles 19:7) and to hear disputes fairly between Israelites (Deuteronomy 1:16).

Why it lands — The text demands that judges execute their duties with reverent obedience and steadfast integrity rather than personal preference. Readers must recognize that judicial authority carries spiritual accountability requiring unwavering loyalty to divine standards.

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

וַיְצַ֥וva/y.Tzavand/ he commanded עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם'a.lei./Hemto/ them לֵאמֹ֑רle./Mor<to>/ saying כֹּ֤הkohthus תַעֲשׂוּן֙ta.'a.Su/nyou will do/ !בְּיִרְאַ֣תbe./yir.'Atin/ [the] fear of יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh בֶּאֱמוּנָ֖הbe./'e.mu.Nahin/ faithfulness וּבְלֵבָ֥בu./ve./le.Vavand/ with/ a heart שָׁלֵֽם׃sha.Lemcomplete

King James Version

And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

Cross-references

2 Samuel 23:3 The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,
2 Chronicles 19:7 And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”
Deuteronomy 1:16 At that time I charged your judges: “Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident.
Isaiah 11:3 And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear,
Isaiah 32:1 Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice.