King James Version

What Does 2 Chronicles 16:12 Mean?

2 Chronicles 16:12 in the King James Version says “And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet i...” — study this verse from 2 Chronicles chapter 16 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.”

2 Chronicles 16:12 · KJV

Context

10

Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time. oppressed: Heb. crushed

11

And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

12

And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.

13

And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.

14

And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him. had made: Heb. had digged

Read 2 Chronicles 16 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.

This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Human alliances replacing trust in God. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those who forsake Him face judgment. This pattern provides instruction for the post-exilic community on the conditions for God's blessing.

The account demonstrates God's covenant faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. Even in judgment, God preserves a remnant and offers restoration through repentance. The repeated cycle of apostasy, judgment, and restoration reveals both human sinfulness and divine mercy. References to the temple, proper worship, and priestly service emphasize the Chronicler's concern for correct religious observance.

Theologically, these accounts point beyond immediate history to God's ultimate purposes through the Davidic line. Despite repeated failures, God preserves David's dynasty, anticipating the perfect King who will reign in righteousness. The pattern of judgment for sin and restoration through repentance prefigures the gospel message of salvation through Christ.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This passage occurs during the divided monarchy period when Judah existed separately from northern Israel. The Chronicler writes from a post-exilic perspective, addressing the restored community in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (539 BCE onward). His emphasis on temple worship, proper religious observance, and God's covenant faithfulness speaks directly to the needs of his audience who had just rebuilt the temple and were reestablishing their identity as God's people.

The historical context demonstrates both God's judgment on persistent sin and His readiness to restore those who genuinely repent. The Chronicler omits most northern kingdom material, focusing on Judah and the Davidic line to emphasize God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. Archaeological discoveries from sites like Lachish, Beersheba, and Jerusalem corroborate the biblical accounts of various kings' reigns and building projects.

Understanding the Chronicler's post-exilic perspective is crucial—he's not merely recording history but applying past lessons to his contemporary audience, showing that the same principles of seeking God, maintaining proper worship, and covenant faithfulness that determined blessing or judgment in the past still apply.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse illustrate the principle of divine retribution (blessing for obedience, judgment for sin)?
  2. What specific applications does this passage have for maintaining spiritual faithfulness in contemporary Christian life?
  3. How does this account point to God's ultimate purposes through the Davidic line and the coming Messiah?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
וַיֶּֽחֱלֶ֣א1 of 18

“was diseased”

H2456

to be sick

אָסָ֡א2 of 18

“And Asa”

H609

asa, the name of a king and of a levite

בִּשְׁנַת֩3 of 18

“year”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

שְׁלוֹשִׁ֨ים4 of 18

“in the thirty”

H7970

thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth

וָתֵ֤שַׁע5 of 18

“and ninth”

H8672

nine or (ordinal) ninth

לְמַלְכוּתוֹ֙6 of 18

“of his reign”

H4438

a rule; concretely, a dominion

בְּרַגְלָ֔יו7 of 18

“in his feet”

H7272

a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda

עַד8 of 18
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

לְמַ֖עְלָה9 of 18

“was exceeding”

H4605

properly,the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc

בְּחָלְיוֹ֙10 of 18

“great yet in his disease”

H2483

malady, anxiety, calamity

וְגַם11 of 18
H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

בְּחָלְיוֹ֙12 of 18

“great yet in his disease”

H2483

malady, anxiety, calamity

לֹֽא13 of 18
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

דָרַ֣שׁ14 of 18

“he sought”

H1875

properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship

אֶת15 of 18
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יְהוָ֔ה16 of 18

“not to the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

כִּ֖י17 of 18
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

בָּרֹֽפְאִֽים׃18 of 18

“but to the physicians”

H7495

properly, to mend (by stitching), i.e., (figuratively) to cure

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 2 Chronicles. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

2 Chronicles 16:12 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 2 Chronicles 16:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 17:52 Chronicles 28:221 Chronicles 10:142 Chronicles 16:9Mark 5:26Mark 2:17

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