Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. New Living Translation He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his law and his commands. English Standard Version and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment. Berean Standard Bible He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments. Berean Literal Bible and He commanded Judah to seek YHWH, God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. King James Bible And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. New King James Version He commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. New American Standard Bible and commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers and to comply with the Law and the commandment. NASB 1995 and commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment. NASB 1977 and commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment. Legacy Standard Bible and said for Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. Amplified Bible And he commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers [to inquire of and for Him and seek Him as a vital necessity], and to observe the law [given to Moses] and the commandment. Berean Annotated Bible He commanded the people of Judah (praised) to seek the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments. Christian Standard Bible He told the people of Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to carry out the instruction and the commands. Holman Christian Standard Bible He told the people of Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to carry out the instruction and the commands. American Standard Version and commanded Judah to seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. Contemporary English Version Then he told everyone in Judah to worship the LORD God, just as their ancestors had done, and to obey his laws and teachings. English Revised Version and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. GOD'S WORD® Translation He told the people of Judah to dedicate their lives to serving the LORD God of their ancestors and follow his teachings and commands. Good News Translation He commanded the people of Judah to do the will of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his teachings and commands. International Standard Version commanding Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to keep the Law and the commandments. NET Bible He ordered Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to observe his law and commands. New Heart English Bible and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. Webster's Bible Translation And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleHe commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments. World English Bible and commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and to obey his law and command. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand commands to Judah to seek YHWH, God of their fathers, and to do the Law and the command; Berean Literal Bible and He commanded Judah to seek YHWH, God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. Young's Literal Translation and saith to Judah to seek Jehovah, God of their fathers, and to do the law and the command; Smith's Literal Translation And he will say to Judah to seek Jehovah the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commands. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he commanded Juda to seek the Lord the God of their fathers, and to do the law, and all the commandments. Catholic Public Domain Version And he instructed Judah that they should seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and that they should carry out the law and all the commandments. New American Bible He told Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to observe the law and the commandment. New Revised Standard Version and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to keep the law and the commandment. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he said to Judah, Come, let us pray before the LORD God of our fathers. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And he said to Yehuda: ”Come, we will pray before LORD JEHOVAH, God of our fathers.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. Brenton Septuagint Translation and he told Juda to seek earnestly the Lord God of their fathers, and to perform the law and commandments. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Asa Reigns in Judah…3He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles. 4He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments. 5He also removed the high places and incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and under him the kingdom was at peace.… Cross References He commanded the people of Judah 2 Chronicles 30:1-9 Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel. / For the king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem had decided to keep the Passover in the second month, / since they had been unable to keep it at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not been gathered in Jerusalem. … 2 Chronicles 17:7-9 In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah, / accompanied by certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah—along with the priests Elishama and Jehoram. / They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people. Joshua 24:25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he established for them a statute and ordinance. to seek the LORD 1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. 2 Chronicles 15:2 So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. the God of their fathers 2 Chronicles 20:6 and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You. 1 Chronicles 29:18 O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this desire forever in the intentions of the hearts of Your people, and direct their hearts toward You. Exodus 3:15 God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation. and to observe the law and the commandments Joshua 22:5 But be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 5:32-33 So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left. / You must walk in all the ways that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. 1 Kings 2:3 And keep the charge of the LORD your God to walk in His ways and to keep His statutes, commandments, ordinances, and decrees, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you turn, Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Psalm 105:4 Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. Treasury of Scripture And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. commanded 2 Chronicles 29:21,27,30 And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the LORD… 2 Chronicles 30:12 Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 33:16 And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. seek 2 Chronicles 11:16 And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers. 2 Chronicles 30:19 That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. Isaiah 55:6,7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: … to do Nehemiah 10:29-39 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; … Psalm 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Jump to Previous Command Commanded Commandment Commands Fathers Judah Law Obey Observe Orders Practise SeekJump to Next Command Commanded Commandment Commands Fathers Judah Law Obey Observe Orders Practise Seek2 Chronicles 14 1. Asa following, destroys idolatry6. having peace, he strengthens his kingdom with forts and armies 9. Calling of God, he overthrows Zerah, and spoils the Ethiopians He commanded the people of Judah This phrase highlights the authority of King Asa, who reigned over Judah. Asa's leadership is significant as he sought to bring spiritual reform to the nation. The command indicates a top-down approach to religious revival, emphasizing the king's role in guiding the people back to God. Historically, Judah was the southern kingdom, distinct from Israel, and often faced the challenge of maintaining faithfulness amidst surrounding pagan influences. to seek the LORD the God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandments Persons / Places / Events 1. AsaThe king of Judah who initiated religious reforms and sought to bring the nation back to the worship of Yahweh. 2. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel, consisting of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, over which Asa reigned. 3. The LORD (Yahweh) The God of Israel, whom Asa urged the people to seek and obey. 4. The Law and the Commandments Refers to the Mosaic Law, which includes the commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai. 5. The God of their fathers A reference to the covenantal relationship between Yahweh and the patriarchs of Israel, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Teaching Points The Importance of Seeking GodAsa's command to seek the LORD underscores the necessity of prioritizing a relationship with God in our lives. Obedience to God's Law Observing the law and commandments is crucial for maintaining a covenant relationship with God, as demonstrated by Asa's reforms. Leadership in Spiritual Matters Asa's leadership in calling Judah to seek God highlights the role of leaders in guiding others toward spiritual renewal. Continuity of Faith The reference to "the God of their fathers" reminds us of the importance of maintaining and passing down faith through generations. National and Personal Revival Asa's actions show that both nations and individuals can experience revival by turning back to God and His commandments. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 14:4?2. How can we "seek the LORD" in our daily lives like Asa did? 3. What does it mean to "observe the law and commandment" in today's context? 4. How does 2 Chronicles 14:4 connect with Matthew 6:33 about seeking God first? 5. What practical steps can we take to prioritize God's commandments in our community? 6. How does seeking God influence our personal and communal spiritual growth? 7. What does 2 Chronicles 14:4 reveal about seeking God and its importance in leadership? 8. How does 2 Chronicles 14:4 emphasize the role of obedience in a nation's prosperity? 9. What historical context surrounds 2 Chronicles 14:4, and how does it affect its interpretation? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Chronicles 14? 11. What events define Hezekiah's reign as king? 12. Who was Azariah in the Bible? 13. In 2 Chronicles 31:4, why is there no historical or extra-biblical record supporting Hezekiah's decree that provided consistent resources to priests and Levites? 14. 2 Timothy 2:3-4 - Does using military imagery to describe Christian life conflict with Christ's teachings on peace and nonviolence elsewhere in the Bible? What Does 2 Chronicles 14:4 Mean He commanded the people of JudahThe text opens with King Asa taking decisive leadership. • Authority comes with responsibility; Asa “commanded,” not suggested (cf. 2 Chron 17:9). • God often works through leaders to bring reform—think of Moses in Exodus 32:26 or Josiah in 2 Chron 34:29-31. • The people of Judah are not anonymous; they are the covenant community tied to God’s promises (Genesis 17:7). to seek the LORD “Seek” implies active pursuit, not passive interest. • 2 Chron 7:14 reminds that national healing starts when “My people…seek My face.” • Jeremiah 29:13: “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” • Jesus echoes this priority: “But seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). Practical takeaway: revival begins when hearts turn deliberately toward God, not merely toward religious activity. the God of their fathers This phrase roots Judah’s faith in historical reality. • God identifies Himself to Moses as “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (Exodus 3:15). • Psalm 105:8-10 celebrates God’s enduring covenant “to a thousand generations.” • By invoking ancestral faith, Asa connects present obedience with past faithfulness, underscoring that the Lord has not changed (Malachi 3:6). and to observe the law Obedience is the tangible evidence of seeking. • Deuteronomy 5:1 calls Israel to “learn them and be careful to do them.” • Joshua 1:8 links meditation on the law with prosperity and success. • In the New Testament, faith and obedience remain inseparable (Romans 1:5). Observation involves: – Knowing the statutes. – Guarding against compromise. – Applying God’s Word to daily life. and the commandments “Law” (Torah) covers the whole instruction; “commandments” highlights specific directives. • Deuteronomy 11:1: “Therefore you shall love the LORD your God and keep His charge…His commandments.” • Jesus affirms, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). • James 1:22 urges believers to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.” In Asa’s reforms, general devotion and particular obedience walk hand in hand. summary 2 Chronicles 14:4 shows King Asa leading Judah into wholehearted devotion: he issues a clear command, points the nation back to the covenant God of their ancestors, urges an earnest pursuit of the Lord, and insists on concrete obedience to His law and specific commandments. Genuine revival blends sincere seeking with practical submission, proving that faith and faithful living cannot be separated. (4) And commanded Judah to seek.--'amar with infinitive. (Comp. 1Chronicles 21:17.) The chronicler's own style is visible in this verse.To seek the Lord God of their fathers.--The same phrase recurs in 2Chronicles 15:12. The law and the commandment.--Exodus 24:12, "That I may give thee the tables of stone, and the law and the commandment that I have written" (Deuteronomy 6:25). And the images.--Hammanim. (Comp. the word hammah, "sun.") Pillars or statues to the sun-god, standing before or upon the altars of Baal, are intended (see Leviticus 26:30; Isaiah 17:8; 2Chronicles 34:4.) Comp. the Phenician deity Baal-hamman. . . . Verse 4. - And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers. What an indication lies couched in this word "commanded" (confirmatory of the spirit of what is said above, in our previous verse-note) of the moral efforts of Asa, and that the efforts on which he may have largely relied for "taking away the high places" were moral efforts, rather than those of physical force.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew He commandedוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say the people of Judah לִֽיהוּדָ֔ה (lî·hū·ḏāh) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites to seek לִדְר֕וֹשׁ (liḏ·rō·wōš) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 1875: To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship the LORD, יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel the God אֱלֹהֵ֣י (’ĕ·lō·hê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative of their fathers, אֲבוֹתֵיהֶ֑ם (’ă·ḇō·w·ṯê·hem) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 1: Father and to observe וְלַעֲשׂ֖וֹת (wə·la·‘ă·śō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 6213: To do, make the law הַתּוֹרָ֥ה (hat·tō·w·rāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law and the commandments. וְהַמִּצְוָֽה׃ (wə·ham·miṣ·wāh) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4687: Commandment Links 2 Chronicles 14:4 NIV2 Chronicles 14:4 NLT 2 Chronicles 14:4 ESV 2 Chronicles 14:4 NASB 2 Chronicles 14:4 KJV 2 Chronicles 14:4 BibleApps.com 2 Chronicles 14:4 Biblia Paralela 2 Chronicles 14:4 Chinese Bible 2 Chronicles 14:4 French Bible 2 Chronicles 14:4 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Chronicles 14:4 And commanded Judah to seek Yahweh (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr) |
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