2 Chronicles 21:18
New International Version
After all this, the LORD afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels.

New Living Translation
After all this, the LORD struck Jehoram with an incurable intestinal disease.

English Standard Version
And after all this the LORD struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

Berean Standard Bible
After all this, the LORD afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels.

Berean Literal Bible
And after all this, YHWH struck him in his intestines with a disease of no healing.

King James Bible
And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

New King James Version
After all this the LORD struck him in his intestines with an incurable disease.

New American Standard Bible
So after all this the LORD struck him in his intestines with an incurable sickness.

NASB 1995
So after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable sickness.

NASB 1977
So after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable sickness.

Legacy Standard Bible
So after all this Yahweh smote him in his bowels with an incurable sickness.

Amplified Bible
After all this, the LORD struck Jehoram with an incurable intestinal disease.

Berean Annotated Bible
After all this, the LORD {YHWH} afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels.

Christian Standard Bible
After all these things, the LORD afflicted him in his intestines with an incurable disease.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
After all these things, the LORD afflicted him in his intestines with an incurable disease.

American Standard Version
And after all this Jehovah smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

Contemporary English Version
After this happened, the LORD struck Jehoram with an incurable stomach disease.

English Revised Version
And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
After this, the LORD struck Jehoram with an incurable intestinal disease.

Good News Translation
Then after all this, the LORD brought on the king a painful disease of the intestines.

International Standard Version
After all of this happened, the LORD struck him in his bowels with an incurable illness.

NET Bible
After all this happened, the LORD afflicted him with an incurable intestinal disease.

New Heart English Bible
After all this the LORD struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

Webster's Bible Translation
And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
After all this, the LORD afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels.

World English Bible
After all this Yahweh struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And after all this YHWH has plagued him in his bowels by a disease for which there is no healing,

Berean Literal Bible
And after all this, YHWH struck him in his intestines with a disease of no healing.

Young's Literal Translation
And after all this hath Jehovah plagued him in his bowels by a disease for which there is no healing,

Smith's Literal Translation
And after all this Jehovah smote him in his bowels with a sickness for no healing.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And besides all this the Lord struck him with an incurable disease in his bowels.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And in addition to all these things, the Lord struck him with an incurable disease of the bowels.

New American Bible
After these events, the LORD afflicted him with a disease of the bowels for which there was no cure.

New Revised Standard Version
After all this the LORD struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And after all this he was smitten in his bowels with an incurable disease.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
After all these things the plague will be in his intestines and he shall die with severe disease and he shall have no healing.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And after all these things the Lord smote him in the bowels with an incurable disease.

Additional Translations ...



Context
Jehoram's Disease and Death
17So they went to war against Judah, invaded it, and carried off all the possessions found in the king’s palace, along with his sons and wives; not a son was left to him except Jehoahaz, his youngest. 18After all this, the LORD afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels. 19This continued day after day until two full years had passed. Finally, his intestines came out because of his disease, and he died in severe pain. And his people did not make a fire in his honor as they had done for his fathers.…

Cross References
After all this,

2 Chronicles 24:17-18
After the death of Jehoiada, however, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. / They abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherah poles and idols. So wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs.

2 Chronicles 32:25-26
But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. / Then Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart—he and the people of Jerusalem—so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.

2 Chronicles 36:15-16
Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. / But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.
the LORD afflicted Jehoram

2 Chronicles 26:20-21
When Azariah the chief priest and all the priests turned to him and saw his leprous forehead, they rushed him out. Indeed, he himself hurried to get out, because the LORD had afflicted him. / So King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He lived in isolation, leprous and cut off from the house of the LORD, while his son Jotham had charge of the royal palace and governed the people of the land.

2 Samuel 24:15
So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from that morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died.

Acts 12:23
Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
with an incurable disease

Deuteronomy 28:27
The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors and scabs and itch from which you cannot be cured.

Deuteronomy 28:35
The LORD will afflict you with painful, incurable boils on your knees and thighs, from the soles of your feet to the top of your head.

Jeremiah 30:12
For this is what the LORD says: “Your injury is incurable; your wound is grievous.
of the bowels.

2 Samuel 20:10
Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

Acts 1:18
(Now with the reward for his wickedness Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong and burst open in the middle, and all his intestines spilled out.

Psalm 109:18
The cursing that he wore like a coat, may it soak into his body like water, and into his bones like oil.
2 Kings 5:27
Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and your descendants forever!” And as Gehazi left his presence, he was leprous—as white as snow.

Job 2:7
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

Isaiah 1:5-6
Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep rebelling? Your head has a massive wound, and your whole heart is afflicted. / From the sole of your foot to the top of your head, there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and festering sores neither cleansed nor bandaged nor soothed with oil.

1 Samuel 5:6-12
Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, ravaging them and afflicting them with tumors. / And when the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not stay here with us, because His hand is heavy upon us and upon our god Dagon.” / So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” “It must be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel. …


Treasury of Scripture

And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

A.

2 Chronicles 21:15
And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.

2 Kings 9:29
And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.

Acts 12:23
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

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2 Chronicles 21
1. Jehoram, succeeding Jehoshaphat, slays his brothers
5. His wicked reign
8. Edom and Libnah revolt
12. The prophecy of Elijah against him in writing
16. Philistines and Arabians oppress him
18. His incurable disease, infamous death, and burial












After all this,

Jehoram’s murder of his brothers, alliance with idolatry, and corruption of Judah brought him under the judgment Elijah had announced. His rebellion had wounded the nation spiritually and politically, and the consequences now reached the king himself.

2Ch 24:17-18 After the death of Jehoiada, however, the officials…
2Ch 32:25-26 But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay…
2Ch 36:15-16 Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers,…

the LORD afflicted Jehoram

God personally carried out the judgment foretold in Elijah’s written warning (2 Chronicles 21:12–15). Jehoram’s authority could not shield him from the Lord, who judges rulers according to their faithfulness and influence over those entrusted to them.

2Ch 26:20-21 When Azariah the chief priest and all the priests…
2Sa 24:15 So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from that morning…
Act 12:23 Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God,…

with an incurable disease

The disease was beyond human remedy because it came under God’s declared sentence. Jehoram had refused opportunities to turn from evil, and the judgment revealed the certainty of God’s word.

Deu 28:27 The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt,…
Deu 28:35 The LORD will afflict you with painful, incurable boils…
Jer 30:12 For this is what the LORD says: “Your injury is incurable;…

of the bowels.

The painful inward affliction corresponded to the inward corruption of Jehoram’s reign. After two years of suffering, he died without the honor given to faithful kings, and Judah buried him in Jerusalem but not in the royal tombs (2 Chronicles 21:19–20).

2Sa 20:10 Amasa was not on guard against the dagger…
Act 1:18 Now with the reward for his wickedness Judas bought a field;…
Psa 109:18 The cursing that he wore like a coat, may it soak…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jehoram
The king of Judah, son of Jehoshaphat, who turned away from the ways of his father and led Judah into idolatry and wickedness.

2. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, over which Jehoram reigned. It was a place of significant religious history and covenant with God.

3. The LORD
The God of Israel, who is just and righteous, executing judgment upon Jehoram for his sins.

4. Incurable Disease
A severe affliction sent by God as a judgment upon Jehoram, highlighting the seriousness of his sins.

5. Prophet Elijah
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Elijah had previously sent a letter to Jehoram warning him of God's impending judgment due to his evil actions.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Sin
Jehoram's life serves as a stark reminder that sin has serious consequences, both personally and for those we lead.

The Importance of Godly Leadership
Leaders have a profound impact on their followers. Jehoram's failure to lead righteously led to the spiritual decline of Judah.

God's Justice and Mercy
While God is just in His judgments, His actions are also a call to repentance and restoration for those who turn back to Him.

The Role of Prophetic Warning
God often sends warnings through His prophets to call His people back to righteousness, as seen in Elijah's letter to Jehoram.

The Need for Repentance
Jehoram's account highlights the importance of repentance and turning back to God to avoid the consequences of sin.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 21:18?

2. How does 2 Chronicles 21:18 illustrate God's judgment on King Jehoram's disobedience?

3. What lessons can we learn from Jehoram's suffering about consequences of sin?

4. How does Jehoram's affliction connect with Deuteronomy 28's warnings about disobedience?

5. In what ways can we seek God's guidance to avoid Jehoram's fate?

6. How can we apply the lessons from Jehoram's life to our daily walk?

7. Why did God inflict Jehoram with an incurable disease in 2 Chronicles 21:18?

8. What does Jehoram's punishment reveal about God's justice in 2 Chronicles 21:18?

9. How does 2 Chronicles 21:18 reflect the consequences of disobedience to God?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Chronicles 21?


What Does 2 Chronicles 21:18 Mean
After all this

The phrase signals that Jehoram’s sickness is not an isolated event but the climax of a long string of rebellious choices. Earlier in the chapter he had:

• slaughtered his own brothers (2 Chron 21:4)

• led Judah into idolatry, building high places (v. 11)

• ignored a prophetic warning delivered in a letter from Elijah (vv. 12-15)

God had already stirred surrounding nations against him (vv. 16-17). “Whatever a man sows, he will reap” (Galatians 6:7). The timing underscores the certainty of covenant consequence promised in passages like Deuteronomy 28:15-20.


the LORD

The verse makes clear that the ultimate cause of the judgment is not chance, genetics, or medicine but “the LORD.” Scripture repeatedly affirms that God both blesses and disciplines (Deuteronomy 32:39; Job 5:18). His actions are never arbitrary; they arise from holy righteousness. For the covenant king, the Lord’s hand is a reminder that leadership carries added accountability (James 3:1).


afflicted

“To afflict” here is an active verb—God intervened. Throughout Scripture He sometimes uses physical illness to confront sin:

• Pharaoh and Abimelech’s households (Genesis 12:17; 20:17-18)

• Miriam’s leprosy (Numbers 12:10)

• The church in Corinth—“many are weak and sick” (1 Corinthians 11:30)

When believers respond, affliction can refine (Hebrews 12:6); when they harden, it exposes and judges (Revelation 2:21-23). Jehoram chose hardness.


Jehoram

This king of Judah, son of the godly Jehoshaphat, married Athaliah, daughter of Ahab, and “walked in the ways of the kings of Israel” (2 Kings 8:18). His life illustrates that:

• Godliness is not inherited; each generation must choose (Ezekiel 18:4).

• Wrong alliances corrupt good beginnings (1 Corinthians 15:33).

• High position does not exempt from divine scrutiny (Proverbs 16:12).


with an incurable disease

The sentence of “incurable” (literally “no healing”) echoes covenant curses: “The LORD will strike you with… incurable boils” (Deuteronomy 28:27, 35). God can heal any ailment (Exodus 15:26), yet here He withholds mercy, signaling that the window for repentance is closing (Jeremiah 30:12-13). His patience is vast but not endless (Romans 2:4-5).


of the bowels.

The specific location intensifies the shame and agony. Two years later “his intestines came out” and “he died in severe pain” (2 Chron 21:19). The internal rot of his body mirrored the moral decay of his reign. Similar imagery surrounds Judas (Acts 1:18). The lesson is sobering: unchecked corruption within will eventually manifest without (Mark 7:20-23).


summary

2 Chronicles 21:18 shows that God personally intervenes in history to uphold His holiness. Jehoram’s incurable intestinal disease is a literal, physical judgment following deliberate, sustained rebellion. The verse warns that sin’s consequences are certain, highlights God’s sovereign right to discipline, and urges every reader to choose obedience while repentance is still possible.

(18) With an incurable disease.—This is correct. Literally, to a disease, to want of healing. (Comp. 2Chronicles 36:16.) The Syriac and Arabic make 2Chronicles 21:16-18 part of the prophecy.

Verse 18. - An incurable disease; i.e. it was so severe that it was in this case incurable.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
After
וְאַחֲרֵ֖י (wə·’a·ḥă·rê)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

this,
זֹ֑את (zōṯ)
Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

the LORD
יְהוָ֧ה ׀ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

afflicted [Jehoram]
נְגָפ֨וֹ (nə·ḡā·p̄ōw)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5062: To push, gore, defeat, stub, inflict

with an incurable
לְאֵ֥ין (lə·’ên)
Preposition-l | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

disease
לָחֳלִ֖י (lā·ḥo·lî)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2483: Malady, anxiety, calamity

of the bowels.
בְּמֵעָ֛יו (bə·mê·‘āw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4578: The intestines, the abdomen, sympathy, a vest, the stomach, the uterus, the heart


Additonal Resources
2 Chronicles 21:18 Blue Letter Bible
2 Chronicles 21:18 Bible Gateway
2 Chronicles 21:18 Bible.com

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2 Chronicles 21:18 Catholic Bible

OT History: 2 Chronicles 21:18 After all this Yahweh struck him (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)

2 Chronicles 21:17
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