King James Version

What Does 2 Chronicles 20:17 Mean?

2 Chronicles 20:17 in the King James Version says “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O...” — study this verse from 2 Chronicles chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.”

2 Chronicles 20:17 · KJV

SalvationFear & Courage

Context

15

And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

16

To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. cliff: Heb. ascent brook: or, valley

17

Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

18

And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.

19

And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.

Read 2 Chronicles 20 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The prophetic word continues: 'Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.' The command combines apparent contradictions - 'go out' (active) yet 'not fight' (passive), 'set yourselves' (prepare) yet 'stand still' (don't act). This tension requires faith: obey the summons to battle while trusting God to fight. 'See the salvation of the LORD' echoes Moses at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:13-14). Fear and dismay are forbidden because 'the LORD will be with you.' This prefigures Christ's victory where believers contribute nothing to salvation yet must respond in faith and obedience.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This prophetic strategy (c. 853 BCE) tested Judah's faith - march to battle but don't fight. Their obedience resulted in enemies destroying each other (20:22-23), vindicating God's word. This became a testimony that salvation belongs to the LORD alone.

Reflection Questions

  1. What 'battles' is God calling you to enter while trusting Him to fight rather than relying on your efforts?
  2. How can you balance active obedience ('go out') with passive trust ('stand still') in your current challenges?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
לֹ֥א1 of 22
H3808

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

לָכֶ֖ם2 of 22
H0
לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם3 of 22

“Ye shall not need to fight”

H3898

to feed on; figuratively, to consume

בָּזֹ֑את4 of 22

“in this”

H2063

this (often used adverb)

הִתְיַצְּב֣וּ5 of 22

“battle set”

H3320

to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue

עִמְד֡וּ6 of 22

“yourselves stand”

H5975

to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)

וּרְא֣וּ7 of 22

“ye still and see”

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

אֶת8 of 22
H853

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

יְשׁוּעַת֩9 of 22

“the salvation”

H3444

something saved, i.e., (abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory, prosperity

וַֽיהוָ֖ה10 of 22

“of the LORD”

H3068

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

עִמָּכֶ֜ם11 of 22
H5973

adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

יְהוּדָ֣ה12 of 22

“with you O Judah”

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

וִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֗ם13 of 22

“and Jerusalem”

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

אַל14 of 22
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

תִּֽירְאוּ֙15 of 22

“fear”

H3372

to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten

וְאַל16 of 22
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

תֵּחַ֔תּוּ17 of 22

“not nor be dismayed”

H2865

properly, to prostrate; hence, to break down, either (literally) by violence, or (figuratively) by confusion and fear

מָחָר֙18 of 22

“to morrow”

H4279

properly, deferred, i.e., the morrow; usually (adverbially) tomorrow; indefinitely, hereafter

צְא֣וּ19 of 22

“go out”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם20 of 22

“against”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

וַֽיהוָ֖ה21 of 22

“of the LORD”

H3068

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

עִמָּכֶֽם׃22 of 22
H5973

adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

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 20:17 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 20:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Exodus 14:13-142 Chronicles 15:2Isaiah 41:10Psalms 46:10-11Matthew 28:20Lamentations 3:26

Places in This Verse

JerusalemSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E955 verses across 37 books
View all places in 2 Chronicles 20 →

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