English Standard Version
2 Kings 23:25
25Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.
2 Kings 23:25 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.
- New International Version (NIV)Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.
Context of 2 Kings 23:25
23But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was kept to the Lord in Jerusalem. 24Moreover, Josiah put away the mediums and the necromancers and the household gods and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might establish the words of the law that were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord. Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him. 26Still the Lord did not turn from the burning of his great wrath, by which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked him. 27And the Lord said, "I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will cast off this city that I have chosen, Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there."
Read all of 2 Kings 232 Kings 23:25 word by word
וְכָמֹהוּ֩ לֹֽא־הָיָ֨ה לְפָנָ֜יו מֶ֗לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֤ב אֶל־יְהוָה֙ בְּכָל־לְבָב֤וֹ וּבְכָל־נַפְשׁוֹ֙ וּבְכָל־מְאֹד֔וֹ כְּכֹ֖ל תּוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֑ה וְאַחֲרָ֖יו לֹֽא־קָ֥ם כָּמֹֽהוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And like unto him was there no kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- him, that turnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- to the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- with all his heartלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824
- and with all his soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
- and with all his mightמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
- according to all the lawתּוֹרָהtôrâh tôrâh · instructionH8451
- of Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
- neither afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- him aroseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
Cross-references for 2 Kings 23:25
- 2 Kings 18:5He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him.
- 2 Kings 23:3And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.
- Deuteronomy 4:29But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
- Deuteronomy 6:5You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
- 1 Kings 2:4that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'
- 1 Kings 8:48if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name,
- 1 Kings 15:5because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
- Jeremiah 29:13You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
- Nehemiah 10:29join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his rules and his statutes.
- Malachi 4:4"Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.
- John 1:17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
- John 7:19Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?"
Commentaries on 2 Kings 23:25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25Like unto him was there no king - Perhaps not one from the time of David; and, morally considered, including David himself, none ever sat on the Jewish throne, so truly exemplary in his own conduct, and so thoroughly zealous in the work of God. David was a greater but not a better man than Josiah.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25And like unto him - See 2 Kings 18:5 note. We must not press the letter of either passage, but regard both kings as placed among the very best of the kings of Judah.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-30Verses 25-30 Upon reading these verses, we must say, Lord, though thy righteousness be as the great mountains, evident, plainly to be seen, and past dispute; yet thy judgments are a great deep, unfathomable, and past finding out. The reforming king is cut off in the midst of his usefulness, in mercy to him, that he might not see the evil coming upon his kingdom: but in wrath to his people, for his death was an inlet to their desolations. (2Ki 23:31-37)Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 24-25Josiah's dedication to the law led to changes in Jerusalem and Judah. He worked hard to remove all bad practices and strictly observed Passover. This made him the greatest king in following the laws of Moses.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 23:25
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Kings 23
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries