2 Chronicles 29:34

2 Chronicles 29:34 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
• New International Version (NIV)The priests, however, were too few to skin all the burnt offerings; so their relatives the Levites helped them until the task was finished and until other priests had been consecrated, for the Levites had been more conscientious in consecrating themselves than the priests had been.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished—for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in consecrating themselves.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brethren the Levites helped them until the work was ended and until the other priests had sanctified themselves, for the Levites were more diligent in sanctifying themselves than the priests.

Context of 2 Chronicles 29:34

32For their burnt offerings, the people brought 70 bulls, 100 male sheep and 200 lambs to offer to the Lord. 33They also brought 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep to offer to the Lord. But there were not enough priests to prepare all the animals for the sacrifices. So their relatives, the Levites, helped them until they had finished the work. By that time more priests had made themselves clean to serve the Lord. (The Levites had been more careful than the priests to make themselves clean for the Lord.) 35The people brought a lot of animals for burnt offerings. There was also the fat from the friendship offerings. And there were drink offerings too. The priests offered all those with the burnt offerings. That is how they started to worship the Lord again in his temple. 36Hezekiah and all the people were happy because God had helped them. They had been able to do the work on the temple very quickly.

2 Chronicles 29:34 word by word

רַ֤ק הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ הָי֣וּ לִמְעָ֔ט וְלֹ֣א יָֽכְל֔וּ לְהַפְשִׁ֖יט אֶת־כָּל־הָעֹל֑וֹת וַֽיְּחַזְּק֞וּם אֲחֵיהֶ֣ם הַלְוִיִּ֗ם עַד־כְּל֤וֹת הַמְּלָאכָה֙ וְעַ֣ד יִתְקַדְּשׁ֣וּ הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֔ים כִּ֤י הַלְוִיִּם֙ יִשְׁרֵ֣י לֵבָ֔ב לְהִתְקַדֵּ֖שׁ מֵֽהַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But the priestsכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
• were too fewמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592
• so that they couldיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• not flayפָּשַׁטpâshaţ · to stripH6584
• all the burnt offeringsעֹלָה‛ôlâh ‛ôlâh · burnt offeringH5930
• wherefore their brethrenאָח'âch · brother: male-relativeH251
• the Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881
• did helpחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: strengthenH2388
• them, till the workמְלָאכָהmelâ'kâh · workH4399
• was endedכָּלָהkâlâh · to end: finishH3615
• had sanctifiedקָדַשׁqâdash · to consecrate: consecateH6942
• more uprightיָשָׁרyâshâr · uprightH3477
• in heartלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824

Cross-references for 2 Chronicles 29:34

• 2 Chronicles 20:5Then Jehoshaphat stood up in front of the people of Jerusalem and the other places in Judah. He was standing in front of the new yard of the Lord's temple.
• 2 Chronicles 30:16They stood in their proper places. God's servant Moses had written in God's law where they should stand. The Levites gave the blood from the sacrifices to the priests. The priests then splashed the blood on the altar.
• 2 Chronicles 35:11Some Levites killed the lambs for the Passover meal. They gave the blood to the priests, and the priests splashed the blood on the altar. At the same time, some Levites were removing the skins from the animals.
• Numbers 8:15Then after that the Levites can go in to work in the Tent of Meeting. But you must make them clean and you must bring them to me as a special gift.
• Numbers 18:3They must take care of the Tent of Meeting on your behalf. You must tell them what they should do. They must not go near anything that is inside God's Holy Place or the altar. If they do, they will die, and you will die too.
• 2 Chronicles 30:3Not enough priests had made themselves clean to serve the Lord. So they could not have the feast at the usual time. Also, all the people had not yet come to Jerusalem.
• 1 Chronicles 29:17My God, I know that you look carefully at our thoughts. You are pleased when we want to do things that are right. And I really do want to offer all these things to you. I know that your people who have met together here are happy. I can see that they are pleased to give these things to you.
• Psalms 7:10The Most High God is like a shield to keep me safe. He takes care of good, honest people.
• Psalms 26:6I wash my hands as a sign that I live in a pure way. I will worship you at your altar, Lord.
• Psalms 94:15Once again, judges will do what is right and fair, and good, honest people will agree.

Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 29:34

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 34They could not flay all the burnt-offerings - Peace-offerings, and such like, the Levites might flay and dress; but the whole burnt-offerings, that is, those which were entirely consumed on the altar, could be touched only by the priests, unless in a case of necessity, such as is mentioned here. The Levites were more upright in heart - The priests seem to have been very backward in this good work; the Levites were more ready to help forward this glorious…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 34The Levites were more upright etc - See the marginal reference. Urijah, the high priest, had participated to some extent in the impieties of Ahaz 2 Kings 16:10-16. He and many of the priests may, therefore, have looked coldly on the reforming zeal of Hezekiah.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-36Verses 20-36 As soon as Hezekiah heard that the temple was ready, he lost no time. Atonement must be made for the sins of the last reign. It was not enough to lament and forsake those sins; they brought a sin-offering. Our repentance and reformation will not obtain pardon but in and through Christ, who was made sin, that is, a sin-offering for us. While the offerings were on the altar, the Levites sang. Sorrow for sin must not prevent us from praising…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 34The Chronicler feels surprised and delighted by the people's spontaneous actions and the large number of praise offerings during the thanksgiving festivities. These events show that the Lord prepared the people's hearts for the occasion, exceeding the expectations of the priests and Levites.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 34-3634-36. the priests were too few, ... wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them--The skins of beasts intended as peace offerings might be taken off by the officers, because, in such cases, the carcass was not wholly laid upon the altar; but animals meant for burnt offerings which were wholly consumed by fire could be flayed by the priests alone, not even the Levites being allowed to touch them, except in cases of unavoidable necessity (2Ch 35:11)…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Chronicles 29:34

• Form
• Levites
• Minister, Christian
• Obedience
• Priest

In the dictionaries

• Burnt offering
• Covenant
• Dedication, Feast of the
• Filthiness
• Hezekiah
• Ezekiel
• Genealogy
• Hezekiah (2)
• Names, Proper
• Priests and Levites

Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 29

• 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