2 Chronicles 20:21

2 Chronicles 20:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.
• New International Version (NIV)After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, "Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever."
• New King James Version (NKJV)And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.”

Context of 2 Chronicles 20:21

19Then some Levites, from the Kohathites and Korahites, got up and loudly praised the Lord God of Israel. 20Early the next morning they marched out to the Desert of Tekoa. When they were ready to march, Jehoshaphat stood up and said: “Listen to me, you people of Judah and residents of Jerusalem! Trust in the Lord your God and you will be safe! Trust in the message of his prophets and you will win.” He met with the people and appointed musicians to play before the Lord and praise his majestic splendor. As they marched ahead of the warriors they said: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his loyal love endures.” 22When they began to shout and praise, the Lord suddenly attacked the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the men from Mount Seir and annihilated them. When they had finished off the men of Seir, they attacked and destroyed one another.

2 Chronicles 20:21 word by word

וַיִּוָּעַץ֙ אֶל־הָעָ֔ם וַיַּעֲמֵ֤ד מְשֹֽׁרֲרִים֙ לַיהוָ֔ה וּֽמְהַֽלְלִ֖ים לְהַדְרַת־קֹ֑דֶשׁ בְּצֵאת֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הֶֽחָל֔וּץ וְאֹֽמְרִים֙ הוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֔ה כִּ֥י לְעוֹלָ֖ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And when he had consultedיָעַץyâ‛ats · to adviseH3289
• with the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• he appointedעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: appointH5975
• singersשִׁירshîyr shûr · to singH7891
• unto the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• and that should praiseהָלַלhâlal · to boast: praiseH1984
• the beautyהֲדָרָהhădârâh · adornmentH1927
• of holinessקֹ֫דֶשׁqôdesh · holinessH6944
• as they went outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• the armyחָלַץchâlats · to armH2502
• and to sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Praiseיָדָהyâdâh · to give thanksH3034
• for his mercyחֶ֫סֶדchêsêd · kindnessH2617
• for everעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: enduringH5769

Cross-references for 2 Chronicles 20:21

• 1 Chronicles 13:1David consulted with his military officers, including those who led groups of a thousand and those who led groups of a hundred.
• Proverbs 11:14When there is no guidance a nation falls, but there is success in the abundance of counselors.
• 2 Chronicles 29:25King Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the Lord’s temple with cymbals and stringed instruments, just as David, Gad the king’s prophet, and Nathan the prophet had ordered. (The Lord had actually given these orders through his prophets.)
• 2 Chronicles 30:21The Israelites who were in Jerusalem observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. The Levites and priests were praising the Lord every day with all their might.
• Ezra 3:10When the builders established the Lord’s temple, the priests, ceremonially attired and with their clarions, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with their cymbals, stood to praise the Lord according to the instructions left by King David of Israel.
• Nehemiah 12:27At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought out the Levites from all the places they lived to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication joyfully with songs of thanksgiving and songs accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres.
• 1 Chronicles 16:29Ascribe to the Lord the splendor he deserves! Bring an offering and enter his presence! Worship the Lord in holy attire!
• Psalms 29:2Acknowledge the majesty of the Lord’s reputation! Worship the Lord in holy attire!
• Psalms 50:2From Zion, the most beautiful of all places, God comes in splendor.
• Psalms 90:17May our sovereign God extend his favor to us! Make our endeavors successful! Yes, make them successful!
• Psalms 96:9Worship the Lord in holy attire! Tremble before him, all the earth!
• 2 Chronicles 5:13The trumpeters and musicians played together, praising and giving thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they loudly praised the Lord, singing: “Certainly he is good; certainly his loyal love endures!” Then a cloud filled the Lord’s temple.
• 2 Chronicles 7:3When all the Israelites saw the fire come down and the Lord’s splendor over the temple, they got on their knees with their faces downward toward the pavement. They worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “Certainly he is good; certainly his loyal love endures!”
• 1 Chronicles 16:34Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good and his loyal love endures.
• Ezra 3:11With antiphonal response they sang, praising and glorifying the Lord: “For he is good; his loyal love toward Israel is forever.” All the people gave a loud shout as they praised the Lord when the temple of the Lord was established.
• Psalms 106:1Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, and his loyal love endures!

Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 20:21

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Praise the beauty of holiness - Some render, “in the beauty of holiness” - i. e. in rich apparel and ornaments suitable to a holy occasion. Compare Psalm 29:2.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-30Verses 20-30 Jehoshaphat exhorted his troops to firm faith in God. Faith inspires a man with true courage; nor will any thing help more to the establishing of the heart in shaking times, than a firm belief of the power, and mercy, and promise of God. In all our trust in the Lord, and our praises of him, let us especially look at his everlasting mercy to sinners through Jesus Christ. Never was an army so destroyed as that of the enemy. Thus God often makes…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-21The appointed singers' song replaced the battle cry. The prophets were Jahaziel (2 Chronicles 20:14–17) and the Levitical musicians (20:21). Their musical praise during the battle march was a prophecy, declaring that God led the army.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2120-21. as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood ... Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem--probably in the gate of Jerusalem, the place of general rendezvous; and as the people were on the eve of setting out, he exhorted them to repose implicit trust in the Lord and His prophet, not to be timid or desponding at sight of the enemy, but to remain firm in the confident assurance of a miraculous deliverance, without their striking a single stroke.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Chronicles 20:21

• Armies
• Faithfulness
• Harp
• Jehoshaphat
• King
• Music
• Prayer
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Jehoshaphat
• Sanctuary
• Ammon; Ammonites
• Ben-Ammi
• Chronicles, Books of
• Dead Sea, the
• Jehoshaphat (2)
• Judah, Territory of
• Moab; Moabites
• Prophecy; Prophets

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