2 Chronicles 21:14

So behold, the LORD is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions with a serious blow.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — A prophet delivers a divine pronouncement to the reigning king of Judah immediately after condemning his idolatry and the execution of his brothers. The warning targets the monarch directly for leading Jerusalem into covenant unfaithfulness.

The words — The Hebrew phrase נֹגֵף מַגֵּפָה גְדוֹלָה (nogef megafah gedolah) literally renders "[is] about to strike a great blow." It pairs the imminent action of Yahweh with a comprehensive plague that will strike the king's people, sons, wives, and possessions.

The thread — This structure of covenant violation followed by multiplied plague mirrors the warning in Leviticus 26:21 and the jealous judgment of Exodus 20:5. The prophetic linkage of idolatrous pursuit with crushing judgment appears in Hosea 5:11.

Why it lands — The text states that divine judgment will systematically dismantle the king's lineage, household, and wealth as a direct consequence of his actions. It requires the reader to recognize that covenant rebellion produces inevitable, comprehensive consequences.

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

הִנֵּ֣הhi.Nehhere!יְהוָ֗הYah.wehYahweh נֹגֵ֛ףno.Gef[is] about to strike מַגֵּפָ֥הma.ge.Faha blow גְדוֹלָ֖הge.do.Lahgreat בְּעַמֶּ֑ךָbe./'a.Me./khaon/ people/ your וּבְבָנֶ֥יךָu./ve./va.Nei./khaand/ on/ sons/ your וּבְנָשֶׁ֖יךָu./ve./na.Shei./khaand/ on/ wives/ your וּבְכָל־u./ve./Khol-and/ on/ all רְכוּשֶֽׁךָ׃re.khu.She./khaproperty/ your

King James Version

Behold, with a great plague will the Lord smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:

Cross-references

Leviticus 26:21 If you walk in hostility toward Me and refuse to obey Me, I will multiply your plagues seven times, according to your sins.
Exodus 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Hosea 5:11 Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow worthless idols.
Micah 6:16 You have kept the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house; you have followed their counsel. Therefore I will make you a desolation, and your inhabitants an object of contempt; you will bear the scorn of the nations.”