2 Kings 13:4

2 Kings 13:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Jehoahaz besought the Lord, and the Lord hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.
• New International Version (NIV)Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord’s favor, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the Lord, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Jehoahaz pleaded with the Lord, and the Lord listened to him; for He saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.

Context of 2 Kings 13:4

2But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit. 3So the Lord was very angry with Israel, and he allowed King Hazael of Aram and his son Ben-hadad to defeat them repeatedly. Then Jehoahaz prayed for the Lord’s help, and the Lord heard his prayer, for he could see how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel. 5So the Lord provided someone to rescue the Israelites from the tyranny of the Arameans. Then Israel lived in safety again as they had in former days. 6But they continued to sin, following the evil example of Jeroboam. They also allowed the Asherah pole in Samaria to remain standing.

2 Kings 13:4 word by word

וַיְחַ֥ל יְהוֹאָחָ֖ז אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע אֵלָיו֙ יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֤י רָאָה֙ אֶת־לַ֣חַץ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּֽי־לָחַ֥ץ אֹתָ֖ם מֶ֥לֶךְ אֲרָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Jehoahazיְהוֹאָחָזyehô'âchâz · JehoahazH3059
• besoughtחָלָהchâlâh · to begH2470
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• hearkenedשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• untoפָּנֶהpânîym · face ofH6440
• him: for he sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• the oppressionלַ֫חַץlachats · oppressionH3906
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• because the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• of Syriaאֲרָם'ărâm · SyriaH758
• oppressedלָחַץlâchats · to oppressH3905

Cross-references for 2 Kings 13:4

• Numbers 21:7Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people.
• Judges 6:6So Israel was reduced to starvation by the Midianites. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help.
• Judges 10:10Finally, they cried out to the Lord for help, saying, “We have sinned against you because we have abandoned you as our God and have served the images of Baal.”
• Psalms 78:34When God began killing them, they finally sought him. They repented and took God seriously.
• Isaiah 26:16Lord, in distress we searched for you. We prayed beneath the burden of your discipline.
• Jeremiah 2:27To an image carved from a piece of wood they say, ‘You are my father.’ To an idol chiseled from a block of stone they say, ‘You are my mother.’ They turn their backs on me, but in times of trouble they cry out to me, ‘Come and save us!’
• 2 Kings 14:26For the Lord saw the bitter suffering of everyone in Israel, and that there was no one in Israel, slave or free, to help them.
• Genesis 21:17But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.
• Exodus 3:7Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.
• Judges 10:15But the Israelites pleaded with the Lord and said, “We have sinned. Punish us as you see fit, only rescue us today from our enemies.”
• 2 Chronicles 33:12But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors.
• Psalms 50:15Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”
• Psalms 106:43Again and again he rescued them, but they chose to rebel against him, and they were finally destroyed by their sin.
• Jeremiah 33:3Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.
• Genesis 31:42In fact, if the God of my father had not been on my side—the God of Abraham and the fearsome God of Isaac—you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen your abuse and my hard work. That is why he appeared to you last night and rebuked you!”
• Exodus 3:9Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 13:4

• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5Jehoahaz sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened: Despite Jehoahaz's poor spiritual state, God kindly answered his prayer. The Lord kindly answers the sincere prayers of His people (see also 2 Kings 4:32–35; 6:17–20; 19:14–28; 20:2–6; 1 Kings 3:8–14; 13:4–6; 17:21–23; 18:36–39; Psalm 34:4–7; James 5:16). the LORD gave Israel a deliverer (compare Judges 3:9, 15): Scholars have suggested many possibilities for Israel’s rescuer. The most likely…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. he saw the oppression of Israel--that is, commiserated the fallen condition of His chosen people. The divine honor and the interests of true religion required that deliverance should be granted them to check the triumph of the idolatrous enemy and put an end to their blasphemous taunts that God had forsaken Israel (De 32:27; Psa 12:4).Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 13:4

• Jehoahaz
• Prayer
• Repentance
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Syria
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Syria, Ashur
• Benhadad
• Coming
• Hazael
• Jehoahaz
• Oppression

Commentaries on 2 Kings 13

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings