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2 Chronicles 14:7

in 2 Chronicles 14

So he said to the people of Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought Him and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

For he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars; the land is yet before us, because we have sought Jehovah our God; we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.

KJV

Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.

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This verse in 2 Chronicles 14

Commentary

5 notes on this verse
The land is yet before us - i. e., “unoccupied by an enemy” - “the land is open to us to go where we please.” Compare Gen 13:9. The fortification of the strongholds would be an act of rebellion against Egypt, and it might be expected that the Egyptians would endeavor to put a stop to it.

This site's exposition

built fenced cities in Judah

on 2 Chronicles 14:6-7

Asa turns the quiet into fortification: fenced cities, walls, towers, gates and bars go up while the land is yet before us, because we have sought the Lord our God and he has given us rest on every side. The chain is the book's own logic stated once more, seeking answered by rest and rest spent on preparation rather than ease, the reasoning Jehoshaphat's court will run again in chapter 20. Barnes notes the fortification was itself a quiet act of independence, since Judah still sat inside the sphere Shishak's invasion had drawn a generation before.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

Therefore he said unto Judah,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

"This let us do," says he, " while the land is yet before us, " that is, "while we have opportunity and advantage for it and have nothing to hinder us." He speaks as if he expected that, some way or other, trouble would arise, when it would be too late to fortify, and when they would wish they had done it.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

while the land is yet before us--that is, while we have free and undisputed progress everywhere; no foe is near; but, as this happy time of peace may not last always and the kingdom is but small and weak, let us prepare suitable defenses in case of need.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

On the verses either side of this one

as long as the land is before us As long as the kingdom is established before us, so that if we need them, they will be a refuge for us.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on II Chronicles 14:6:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

25 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand he said

    vaiyomerH559 →5305 times

  • לִֽיהוּדָ֜הto Judah

    lihudahH3063 →819 times

  • נִבְנֶ֣ה׀let us build

    nivnehH1129 →376 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • הֶעָרִ֣יםthe cities

    hearimH5892 →1090 times

  • הָאֵ֗לֶּה<the> these

    haelehH428 →746 times

  • וְנָסֵ֨בand let us surround [them]

    venasevH5437 →161 times

  • חוֹמָ֣הwall

    chomahH2346 →133 times

  • וּמִגְדָּלִים֮and towers

    umigdalimH4026 →48 times

  • דְּלָתַ֣יִםgates

    delatayimH1817 →88 times

  • וּבְרִיחִים֒and bars

    uverichimH1280 →

  • עוֹדֶ֨נּוּstill it

    odenuH5750 →490 times

  • הָאָ֜רֶץthe land

    haaretzH776 →2504 times

  • לְפָנֵ֗ינוּ[is] <to> before us

    lefaneinuH6440 →2123 times

  • כִּ֤יfor

    kiH3588 →4482 times

  • דָרַ֙שְׁנוּ֙we have sought

    darashnuH1875 →164 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • יְהוָ֣הYahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּGod our

    ʾeloheinuH430 →2601 times

  • דָּרַ֕שְׁנוּwe sought [him]

    darashnuH1875 →164 times

  • וַיָּ֥נַֽחand he has given rest

    vaiyanachH5117 →142 times

  • לָ֖נוּto us

    lanu

  • מִסָּבִ֑יבfrom round about

    misavivH5439 →336 times

  • וַיִּבְנ֖וּand they built

    vaiyivnuH1129 →376 times

  • וַיַּצְלִֽיחוּ׃ פand they prospered

    vaiyatzlichuH6743 →65 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

2 Chronicles 15:15And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it with all their heart. They had sought Him earnestly, and He was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.6 works1 Peter 3:12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”5 works2 Chronicles 14:6Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. In those days no one made war with him, because the LORD had given him rest.4 worksJohn 12:35–36Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.3 works1 Chronicles 28:9As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.3 worksJeremiah 29:12–14Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.3 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
2 Chronicles 31:21He was diligent in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law and the commandments, in order to seek his God. And so he prospered.3 works2 Chronicles 8:5He rebuilt Upper and Lower Beth-horon as fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars,3 works2 Chronicles 14:4He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments.2 worksPsalms 105:3–4Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.2 worksJohn 9:4While it is daytime, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work.2 worksActs 9:31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.2 worksMatthew 11:28–29Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.2 worksJoshua 23:1A long time after the LORD had given Israel rest from all the enemies around them, when Joshua was old and well along in years,2 works2 Chronicles 32:5Then Hezekiah worked resolutely to rebuild all the broken sections of the wall and to raise up towers on it. He also built an outer wall and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David, and he produced an abundance of weapons and shields.2 worksHebrews 3:13–15But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.2 works1 Samuel 25:9When David’s young men arrived, they relayed all these words to Nabal on behalf of David. Then they waited.2 works2 Chronicles 27:4He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Chronicles 28:9

    As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought.…

    it leads to

    • Jeremiah 29:13

      You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

    • James 4:8–11

      Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

    • Matthew 7:7–8

      Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

    • Isaiah 55:6–7

      Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.

    • Jeremiah 24:7

      I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD. They will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with all their…

  • Through

    1 Peter 3:12

    For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

    it leads to

    • Psalms 34:15–16

      The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.

    • John 9:31

      We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.

    • Proverbs 15:29

      The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

About 2 Chronicles

Solomon Receives the Queen of Sheba, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Solomon Receives the Queen of Sheba, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
2 Chronicles: the study guide →Read 2 Chronicles 14 →

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 2 Chronicles 14 →