Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 26:20
When Azariah the chief priest and all the priests turned to him and saw his leprous forehead, they rushed him out. Indeed, he himself hurried to get out, because the LORD had afflicted him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Azariah the chief priest and the assembled priests observe King Uzziah during a temple service and physically remove him after noticing leprosy on his forehead. Uzziah himself accelerates his exit because the text states the LORD had afflicted him.
The words — וַ/יִּ֣פֶן (va/i.Yi.fen) translates literally as "and he turned," describing the priests' sudden shift of attention toward the king. וְ/הִנֵּה\־ (ve./hi.neh-) means "and behold," marking the precise moment of discovery.
The thread — The narrative parallels covenant consequences in Deuteronomy 28:22 regarding divine affliction and Leviticus 14:34 concerning the removal of contamination from sacred spaces. These passages establish a pattern where physical affliction accompanies breach of holy boundaries.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that unauthorized worship triggers immediate divine judgment and institutional exclusion. Readers must acknowledge that sacred privilege requires strict adherence to prescribed boundaries.
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 Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the Lord had smitten him.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 14:34 “When you enter the land of Canaan, which I am giving you as your possession, and I put a contamination of mildew into a house in that land,
- Deuteronomy 28:22 The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, and with blight and mildew; these will pursue you until you perish.
- Deuteronomy 28:35 The LORD will afflict you with painful, incurable boils on your knees and thighs, from the soles of your feet to the top of your head.
- Esther 6:12 Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief.