Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 28:19
For the LORD humbled Judah because Ahaz king of Israel had thrown off restraint in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator explains the theological cause behind Judah's recent military defeats to the Philistines and Assyrians. The statement identifies King Ahaz as the catalyst for divine judgment against the southern kingdom.
The words — The Hebrew verb הִכְנִיעַ (hikhni'a) translates literally as "he humbled," introduced by the causal conjunction כִּי (ki) meaning "for." The prepositional phrase בַּעֲב֣וּר (ba'avur) functions as "for the sake of," directly linking Yahweh's action to Ahaz's conduct.
The thread — The motif of divine humbling appears in Job 40:12, where God commands the observation of proud men to be humbled. The immediate narrative context in 2 Chronicles 28:18–20 shows this judgment unfolding through Philistine raids and subsequent Assyrian affliction.
Why it lands — It demands recognition that national disaster is not merely political but a direct consequence of royal unfaithfulness. It asks the reader to trace present suffering back to specific covenant violations rather than abstract misfortune.
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
For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the Lord.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 21:2 Jehoram’s brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; these were all sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
- Job 40:12 Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand.
- Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves.
- Genesis 3:11 “Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”
- Exodus 32:25 Moses saw that the people were out of control, for Aaron had let them run wild and become a laughingstock to their enemies.
- Deuteronomy 28:43 The foreigner living among you will rise higher and higher above you, while you sink down lower and lower.
- 1 Samuel 2:7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts.
- Psalms 106:41 He delivered them into the hand of the nations, and those who hated them ruled over them.
- Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.
- Hosea 5:11 Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow worthless idols.