Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 26:19
Uzziah, with a censer in his hand to offer incense, was enraged. But while he raged against the priests in their presence in the house of the LORD before the altar of incense, leprosy broke out on his forehead.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — King Uzziah confronts the priests in the house of the LORD while holding a censer to offer incense. The confrontation occurs immediately after the priests warned him that he had no right to perform this ritual.
The words — The Hebrew verb זַעַף (za'af) appears twice, literally meaning "he was enraged" or "he raged," describing Uzziah's reaction to the priests' rebuke. The noun מִקְטֶרֶת (mikteret) denotes the censer he holds while attempting to burn incense.
The thread — The sudden appearance of leprosy on Uzziah's forehead parallels Miriam’s affliction in Numbers 12:10 as a divine sign against unauthorized religious action. The narrative echoes the pattern of kings facing divine judgment for overstepping priestly boundaries, as seen in 2 Chronicles 25:16.
Why it lands — The text records that leprosy broke out on Uzziah's forehead while he raged against the priests before the altar of incense. It requires a reader to recognize that religious authority cannot be seized by force or status, but remains bound to divine appointment.
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The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, from beside the incense altar.
Cross-references
- Numbers 12:10 As the cloud lifted from above the Tent, suddenly Miriam became leprous, white as snow. Aaron turned toward her, saw that she was leprous,
- 2 Kings 5:25 When Gehazi went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Gehazi, where have you been?” “Your servant did not go anywhere,” he replied.
- 2 Chronicles 25:16 While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”
- 2 Chronicles 16:10 Asa was angry with the seer and became so enraged over this matter that he put the man in prison. And at the same time Asa oppressed some of the people.