King James Version

What Does 2 Chronicles 25:1 Mean?

2 Chronicles 25:1 in the King James Version says “Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his...” — study this verse from 2 Chronicles chapter 25 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.”

2 Chronicles 25:1 · KJV

Context

1

Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

2

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.

3

Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father. established: Heb. confirmed upon him

Read 2 Chronicles 25 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Half-hearted obedience and pride's consequences. 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 · 15 words
בֶּן1 of 15

“old”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

וְעֶשְׂרִ֣ים2 of 15

“twenty”

H6242

twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth

וְחָמֵ֤שׁ3 of 15

“and five”

H2568

five

שָׁנָ֔ה4 of 15

“years”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

מָלַ֖ךְ5 of 15

“and he reigned”

H4427

to reign; hence (by implication) to take counsel

אֲמַצְיָ֔הוּ6 of 15

“Amaziah”

H558

amatsjah, the name of four israelites

וְעֶשְׂרִ֣ים7 of 15

“twenty”

H6242

twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth

וָתֵ֙שַׁע֙8 of 15

“and nine”

H8672

nine or (ordinal) ninth

שָׁנָ֔ה9 of 15

“years”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

מָלַ֖ךְ10 of 15

“and he reigned”

H4427

to reign; hence (by implication) to take counsel

מִירֽוּשָׁלָֽיִם׃11 of 15

“in Jerusalem”

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

וְשֵׁ֣ם12 of 15

“name”

H8034

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

אִמּ֔וֹ13 of 15

“And his mother's”

H517

a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively [like father])

יְהֽוֹעַדָּ֖ן14 of 15

“was Jehoaddan”

H3086

jehoaddin or jehoaddan, an israelitess

מִירֽוּשָׁלָֽיִם׃15 of 15

“in Jerusalem”

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

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 25:1 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 25:1 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Kings 14:1-6

Places in This Verse

JerusalemSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E955 verses across 37 books
View all places in 2 Chronicles 25 →

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