King James Version

What Does 2 Chronicles 28:6 Mean?

2 Chronicles 28:6 in the King James Version says “For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; becau...” — study this verse from 2 Chronicles chapter 28 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. valiant: Heb. sons of valour”

2 Chronicles 28:6 · KJV

Context

4

He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

5

Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. Damascus: Heb. Darmesek

6

For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. valiant: Heb. sons of valour

7

And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king. next: Heb. the second to the king

8

And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.

Read 2 Chronicles 28 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.

This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Total rejection of God bringing catastrophic judgment. 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
וַיַּֽהֲרֹג֩1 of 18

“slew”

H2026

to smite with deadly intent

פֶּ֨קַח2 of 18

“For Pekah”

H6492

pekach, an israelite king

בְּנֵי3 of 18

“men”

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

רְמַלְיָ֜הוּ4 of 18

“of Remaliah”

H7425

remaljah, an israelite

בִּֽיהוּדָ֗ה5 of 18

“in Judah”

H3063

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

מֵאָ֨ה6 of 18

“an hundred”

H3967

a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים7 of 18

“and twenty”

H6242

twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth

אֶ֛לֶף8 of 18

“thousand”

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

בְּי֥וֹם9 of 18

“day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

אֶחָ֖ד10 of 18

“in one”

H259

properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first

הַכֹּ֣ל11 of 18
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

בְּנֵי12 of 18

“men”

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

חָ֑יִל13 of 18

“which were all valiant”

H2428

probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength

בְּעָזְבָ֕ם14 of 18

“because they had forsaken”

H5800

to loosen, i.e., relinquish, permit, etc

אֶת15 of 18
H853

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

יְהוָ֖ה16 of 18

“the LORD”

H3068

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

אֱלֹהֵ֥י17 of 18

“God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

אֲבוֹתָֽם׃18 of 18

“of their fathers”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

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 28:6 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 28:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 15:6Isaiah 1:28Jeremiah 2:19Joshua 24:202 Kings 15:27Isaiah 9:21

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