2 Chronicles 20:15

2 Chronicles 20:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
• New International Version (NIV)He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

Context of 2 Chronicles 20:15

13All Judah was standing before the Lord with their dependents, their wives, and their children. 14In the middle of the congregation, the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel (son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants), and he said, “Listen carefully, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16Tomorrow, go down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. He is with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Tomorrow, go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.’”

2 Chronicles 20:15 word by word

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הַקְשִׁ֤יבוּ כָל־יְהוּדָה֙ וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְהַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט כֹּֽה־אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה לָכֶ֗ם אַ֠תֶּם אַל־תִּֽירְא֤וּ וְאַל־תֵּחַ֙תּוּ֙ מִפְּנֵ֨י הֶהָמ֤וֹן הָרָב֙ הַזֶּ֔ה כִּ֣י לֹ֥א לָכֶ֛ם הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה כִּ֥י לֵאלֹהִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Hearkenקָשַׁבqâshab · to listenH7181
• ye, all Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
• and ye inhabitantsיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
• and thou kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• Jehoshaphatיְהוֹשָׁפָטyehôshâphâţ · JehoshaphatH3092
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• unto you, Be not afraidיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
• nor dismayedחָתַתchâthath · to to be dismayedH2865
• by reasonפָּנֶהpânîym · face: becauseH6440
• of this greatרַבrab · manyH7227
• multitudeהָמוֹןhâmôn hâmôn · crowdH1995
• for the battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
• not yours, but God’sאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430

Cross-references for 2 Chronicles 20:15

• 2 Chronicles 32:7“Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria or before the large army that is with him, for there are more with us than with him.
• Exodus 14:13But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation that he will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again.
• Deuteronomy 1:29“So I said to you: Don’t be terrified or afraid of them!
• Deuteronomy 20:1“When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.
• Deuteronomy 31:6Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.”
• Joshua 11:6The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for at this time tomorrow I will cause all of them to be killed before Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.”
• Nehemiah 4:14After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.”
• Psalms 17:1Lord, hear a just cause; pay attention to my cry; listen to my prayer — from lips free of deceit.
• Isaiah 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.
• Isaiah 43:1Now this is what the Lord says — the one who created you, Jacob, and the one who formed you, Israel — “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.
• 2 Chronicles 32:8He has only human strength, but we have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people relied on the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.
• 1 Samuel 17:47and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s. He will hand you over to us.”

Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 20:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15For the battle is not yours, but God's - God will not employ you in the discomfiture of this great host; he himself will take the matter in hand, deliver you, and destroy them.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15-17Verses 15-17 The prophet uses words familiar to the people, and connected with several great deliverances (see the marginal references). 2 Chronicles 20:16 By the “cliff (or, rather - as in the margin - ascent) of Ziz,” we must understand the mountain path which leads up from Engedi across the elevated tract still known as El-Husasah, in the direction of Tekoa 2 Chronicles 20:20. At the end of the brook - Rather, “at the end of the gulley,” or dry…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-19Verses 14-19 The Spirit of prophecy came upon a Levite in the midst of the congregation. The Spirit, like the wind, blows where and on whom He listeth. He encouraged them to trust in God. Let the Christian soldier go out against his spiritual enemies, and the God of peace will make him more than a conqueror. Our trials will prove our gain. The advantage will be all our own, but the whole glory must be given to God.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-17After Jehoshaphat's lament, Jahaziel's announcement of rescue met the requirements for the speech a priest was to give before battle (Deuteronomy 20:2–4).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-1814-18. Then upon Jahaziel ... came the Spirit of the Lord--This prophet is not elsewhere mentioned, but his claim to the inspiration of a prophetic spirit was verified by the calm and distinct announcement he gave, both of the manner and the completeness of the deliverance he predicted.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Chronicles 20:15

• Faith
• Faithfulness
• Jehoshaphat
• Prayer
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Jehoshaphat
• Jerusalem
• Judah
• Judah, kingdom of Judah
• Judea, Judah
• Jahaziel
• Sanctuary
• Ammon; Ammonites
• Ben-Ammi
• Chronicles, Books of

Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings