Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 20:21
Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jehoshaphat, having just exhorted Judah to trust the LORD (v. 20), consults with the people and appoints a group of singers to go before the army as it marches out against Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir.
The words — לְהַדְרַת (le'hadrat) means "for the adornment of" or "for the splendor of"; it is a rare, formal term for divine majesty, not a generic praise word.
The thread — The song they sing is a recognized liturgical refrain: "Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever" (Psalms 106:1; 107:1). The same combined singing and praising appears at the temple dedication in 2 Chronicles 5:13.
Why it lands — An army facing a larger coalition sends singers ahead of soldiers. The verse asks what you would do if the only appropriate response to an impossible situation were to name who you trust before you name your strategy.
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 he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.
Cross-references
- Psalms 107:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
- Psalms 106:1 Hallelujah! Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
- 2 Chronicles 5:13 The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud
- 1 Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
- 1 Chronicles 16:29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness;
- Ezra 3:10 When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their positions to praise the LORD, as David king of Israel had prescribed.
- Psalms 29:2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.
- Jeremiah 33:11 the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those bringing thank offerings into the house of the LORD, saying: ‘Give thanks to the LORD of Hosts, for the LORD is good; His loving devotion endures forever.’ For I will restore the land from captivity as in former times, says the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 7:3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.”
- 2 Chronicles 7:6 The priests stood at their posts, as did the Levites with the musical instruments of the LORD, which King David had made for giving thanks to the LORD and with which David had offered praise, saying, “For His loving devotion endures forever.” Across from the Levites, the priests sounded trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.