2 Chronicles 13:21
New International Version
But Abijah grew in strength. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

New Living Translation
Meanwhile, Abijah of Judah grew more and more powerful. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

English Standard Version
But Abijah grew mighty. And he took fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

Berean Standard Bible
But Abijah grew strong, married fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

King James Bible
But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.

New King James Version
But Abijah grew mighty, married fourteen wives, and begot twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

New American Standard Bible
But Abijah became powerful, and he took fourteen wives for himself, and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

NASB 1995
But Abijah became powerful; and took fourteen wives to himself, and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

NASB 1977
But Abijah became powerful, and took fourteen wives to himself; and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Abijah became stronger; and he took fourteen wives to himself, and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

Amplified Bible
But Abijah became powerful. He took fourteen wives for himself and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

Christian Standard Bible
However, Abijah grew strong, acquired fourteen wives, and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
However, Abijah grew strong, acquired 14 wives, and fathered 22 sons and 16 daughters.

American Standard Version
But Abijah waxed mighty, and took unto himself fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.

Contemporary English Version
Abijah had a total of 14 wives, 22 sons, and 16 daughters.

English Revised Version
But Abijah waxed mighty, and took unto himself fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But Abijah became strong. He married 14 wives and fathered 22 sons and 16 daughters.

Good News Translation
Abijah, however, grew more powerful. He had fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

International Standard Version
but Abijah continued to grow more powerful. He took fourteen wives for himself and fathered 22 sons and sixteen daughters.

Majority Standard Bible
But Abijah grew strong, married fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

NET Bible
Abijah's power grew; he had fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

New Heart English Bible
But Abijah grew mighty, and took to himself fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons, and sixteen daughters.

Webster's Bible Translation
But Abijah became mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.

World English Bible
But Abijah grew mighty and took for himself fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Abijah strengthens himself, and takes fourteen wives for himself, and begets twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters;

Young's Literal Translation
And Abijah strengtheneth himself, and taketh to him fourteen wives, and begetteth twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abijah will be strengthened, and he will take to him fourteen wives, and he will beget twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But Abia, being strengthened in his kingdom, took fourteen wives: and begot two and twenty sons, and sixteen daughters.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so Abijah, having been strengthened in his authority, took fourteen wives. And he procreated twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

New American Bible
while Abijah continued to grow stronger. He married fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

New Revised Standard Version
But Abijah grew strong. He took fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But Abijah became strong, and he married fourteen wives, and there were born to him twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abia was valiant and he took to himself fourteen wives, and twentysix male children were born to him and sixteen female children.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But Abijah waxed mighty, and took unto himself fourteen wives, and begot twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But Abia strengthened himself, and took to himself fourteen wives, and he begot twenty-two sons, and sixteen daughters.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Civil War Against Jeroboam
20Jeroboam did not again recover his power during the days of Abijah, and the LORD struck him down and he died. 21But Abijah grew strong, married fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. 22Now the rest of the acts of Abijah, along with his ways and his words, are written in the Treatise of the Prophet Iddo.…

Cross References
1 Kings 11:3
He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away.

1 Kings 15:22
Then King Asa summoned all the men of Judah, with no exceptions, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials King Asa built up Geba of Benjamin, as well as Mizpah.

2 Chronicles 11:21
Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

1 Kings 14:21
Meanwhile, Rehoboam son of Solomon reigned in Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen from all the tribes of Israel in which to put His Name. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite.

1 Kings 15:6
And there was war between the houses of Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of Abijam’s life.

1 Kings 15:8
And Abijam rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David, and his son Asa reigned in his place.

1 Kings 15:24
And Asa rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of his father David, and his son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 12:16
And Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Abijah reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 14:1
Then Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Asa reigned in his place, and in his days the land was at peace for ten years.

2 Chronicles 15:17
The high places were not removed from Israel, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted all his days.

2 Chronicles 16:1
In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.

2 Chronicles 17:1
Asa’s son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place, and he strengthened himself against Israel.

Matthew 1:7
Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa.

Matthew 1:8
Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah.

Luke 3:10
The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”


Treasury of Scripture

But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.

waxed

2 Samuel 5:12,13
And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake…

fourteen wives

2 Chronicles 11:21
And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)

begat

Judges 8:30,31
And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives…

Judges 9:5
And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.

Judges 10:4
And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.

Jump to Previous
Abijah Begat Begot Daughters Fourteen Great Grew Married Mighty Powerful Sixteen Strength Strengthened Strengtheneth Twenty Twenty-Two Waxed Wives
Jump to Next
Abijah Begat Begot Daughters Fourteen Great Grew Married Mighty Powerful Sixteen Strength Strengthened Strengtheneth Twenty Twenty-Two Waxed Wives
2 Chronicles 13
1. Abijah succeeding makes war against Jeroboam
4. he declares the right of his cause
13. Trusting in God, he overcomes Jeroboam
21. The wives and children of Abijah














But Abijah
The name "Abijah" means "Yahweh is my Father" in Hebrew. Abijah was the son of Rehoboam and the grandson of Solomon, placing him in the Davidic line of kings. His reign over Judah was marked by a significant battle against Jeroboam of Israel, where he demonstrated reliance on God. This phrase introduces a contrast to the preceding verses, highlighting a shift in focus to Abijah's personal life and growth.

grew strong
The Hebrew root for "grew strong" is "ḥāzaq," which conveys the idea of becoming firm, secure, or courageous. This strength is not merely physical but also implies a consolidation of power and influence. In the context of Abijah's reign, it suggests that despite the challenges he faced, he was able to establish his authority and stabilize his kingdom, likely through divine favor and strategic alliances.

married fourteen wives
Polygamy was a common practice among ancient Near Eastern kings, often used to secure political alliances and ensure a large progeny. While this practice is recorded in the Old Testament, it is not prescribed by God and often led to familial and spiritual complications, as seen in the lives of David and Solomon. Abijah's multiple marriages reflect the customs of his time but also hint at the potential for internal strife and deviation from God's ideal for marriage.

and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters
The large number of offspring signifies Abijah's success in ensuring the continuation of his lineage and the stability of his dynasty. In the ancient world, having many children, especially sons, was seen as a blessing and a sign of prosperity. However, it also posed challenges in terms of succession and governance, as seen in the subsequent history of Judah. This phrase underscores the importance of family and legacy in the biblical narrative, while also serving as a reminder of the complexities that accompany such blessings.

(21) But Abijah waxed mighty.--And Abijah strengthened himself, after his life-and-death struggle with Jeroboam. (See on 2Chronicles 12:13.)

And married fourteen wives, and begat twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.--Abijah reigned only three years altogether. He must, therefore, have had most of these wives and children before his accession. (2Chronicles 11:21-23 may be said to imply this; see Note on 2Chronicles 11:23.) A stop should be placed after the first clause, thus: "And Abijah strengthened himself. And he took him fourteen wives, and begat twenty-two sons," etc. The two facts are merely placed side by side, though a tacit contrast may be suggested between the number of Abijah's off-spring, and the speedy extirpation of the house of Jeroboam.

Verse 21. - Waxed mighty. For this our Authorized Version reads, "waxed fat and wanton" (Hebrew, יִתְחַזֵּק), and grew too like his father Rehoboam and his grandfather Solomon, forgetting the "Law" (Deuteronomy 17:17).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Abijah
אֲבִיָּ֔הוּ (’ă·ḇî·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 29: Abijah -- 'Yah is my father', an Israelite name

grew strong,
וַיִּתְחַזֵּ֣ק (way·yiṯ·ḥaz·zêq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

married
וַיִּ֨שָּׂא־ (way·yiś·śā-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

fourteen
אַרְבַּ֣ע (’ar·ba‘)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 702: Four

wives,
נָשִׁ֖ים (nā·šîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

and became the father
וַיּ֗וֹלֶד (way·yō·w·leḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage

of twenty-two
עֶשְׂרִ֤ים (‘eś·rîm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 6242: Twenty, twentieth

sons
בָּנִ֔ים (bā·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

and sixteen
וְשֵׁ֥שׁ (wə·šêš)
Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singular
Strong's 8337: Six (a cardinal number)

daughters.
בָּנֽוֹת׃ (bā·nō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 1323: A daughter


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 13:21 But Abijah grew mighty and took (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 13:20
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