King James Version

What Does 2 Chronicles 20:9 Mean?

2 Chronicles 20:9 in the King James Version says “If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy p...” — study this verse from 2 Chronicles chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.”

2 Chronicles 20:9 · KJV

Context

7

Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? who: Heb. thou

8

And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,

9

If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.

10

And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;

11

Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.

Read 2 Chronicles 20 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.

This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing God fights for those who seek Him in crisis. 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.

KJV Study — Public Domain

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 · 22 words
אִם1 of 22
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

תָּב֨וֹא2 of 22

“cometh”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

עָלֵ֜ינוּ3 of 22
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

רָעָ֗ה4 of 22

“If when evil”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

חֶרֶב֮5 of 22

“upon us as the sword”

H2719

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

שְׁפוֹט֮6 of 22

“judgment”

H8196

a judicial sentence, i.e., punishment

וְדֶ֣בֶר7 of 22

“or pestilence”

H1698

a pestilence

וְרָעָב֒8 of 22

“or famine”

H7458

hunger (more or less extensive)

נַֽעַמְדָ֞ה9 of 22

“we stand”

H5975

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

וּלְפָנֶ֔יךָ10 of 22

“and in thy presence”

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

בַּבַּ֣יִת11 of 22

“is in this house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

הַזֶּה֙12 of 22
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

וּלְפָנֶ֔יךָ13 of 22

“and in thy presence”

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

כִּ֥י14 of 22
H3588

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

שִׁמְךָ֖15 of 22

“for thy name”

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

בַּבַּ֣יִת16 of 22

“is in this house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

הַזֶּ֑ה17 of 22
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

וְנִזְעַ֥ק18 of 22

“and cry”

H2199

to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly

אֵלֶ֛יךָ19 of 22
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

מִצָּֽרָתֵ֖נוּ20 of 22

“unto thee in our affliction”

H6869

transitively, a female rival

וְתִשְׁמַ֥ע21 of 22

“then thou wilt hear”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

וְתוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃22 of 22

“and help”

H3467

properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e., (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor

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 20:9 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 20:9 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Chronicles 6:28-302 Chronicles 6:201 Kings 8:33Exodus 20:24Matthew 18:201 Kings 8:37

Test Your Knowledge

2 Chronicles 20 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapter2 Chronicles Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read 2 Chronicles 20 with CommentaryAll 2 Chronicles ChaptersComplete 2 Chronicles QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes