Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 34:31
So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Josiah stands before the assembled people of Judah and Jerusalem immediately after the Book of the Covenant was read in the temple. He publicly commits himself and the nation to the terms just heard.
The words — וַיִּכְרֹת (va.yi.khot) "and he made" combined with הַבְּרִית (ha.be.rit) "the covenant" describes the formal establishment of a binding agreement. עָמַד (a.mad) "he stood" marks his physical position at the pillar during this public declaration.
The thread — This pillar-covenant scene parallels Jehoiada’s restoration in 2 Chronicles 23:16 and Josiah’s own reform account in 2 Kings 23:3. The phrasing follows the established pattern of covenant renewal at a central sanctuary.
Why it lands — The text demands a total commitment of heart and soul to the written commands, not merely ritual compliance. It requires readers to align their full life with the specific statutes they acknowledge.
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 the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 23:16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people.
- 2 Kings 11:14 And she looked out and saw the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!”
- 2 Kings 23:3 So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.
- 2 Chronicles 6:13 Now Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high and had placed it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on it, knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven,
- 2 Chronicles 15:12 Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul.
- 2 Chronicles 29:10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that His fierce anger will turn away from us.
- Exodus 24:6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splattered on the altar.
- Deuteronomy 6:5 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
- Deuteronomy 29:10 All of you are standing today before the LORD your God—you leaders of tribes, elders, officials, and all the men of Israel,
- Joshua 24:25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he established for them a statute and ordinance.