King James Version
2 Kings 23:21 in the King James Version says “And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of...” — study this verse from 2 Kings chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant.”
2 Kings 23:21 · KJV
And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.
And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men's bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem. slew: or, sacrificed
And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant.
Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;
But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem.
KJV Study — Public Domain
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
“all the people”
H5971a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
“the passover”
H6453a pretermission, i.e., exemption; used only techically of the jewish passover (the festival or the victim)
“unto the LORD”
H3068(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
“your God”
H430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
“as it is written”
H3789to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
“of this covenant”
H1285a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
This verse is found in the book of 2 Kings. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
2 Kings 23:21 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Verses related to 2 Kings 23:21 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge