Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, July 8th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

2 Chronicles 21:4

This verse is not available in the MSG!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Fratricide;   Homicide;   Jehoram;   King;   Michael;   Thompson Chain Reference - Family;   Fratricide;   Home;   Trouble;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Kings;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Joram or Jehoram;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Athaliah;   Jehoram;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Jehoash;   Michael;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Athaliah;   Jehiel (2);   Jehoram;   Jerusalem;   Joash;   King;   Michael;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Chronicles, Books of;   Jehiel;   Zechariah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Chronicles, I;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Joram, Jehoram;   Michael ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Athaliah;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Jehi'el;   Mi'chael;   Punishments;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Athaliah;   Judah, Kingdom of;   Zechariah (1);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Jehoram (Joram);  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When Jehoram had established himself over his father’s kingdom, he strengthened his position by killing with the sword all his brothers as well as some of the princes of Israel.
Hebrew Names Version
Now when Yehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and various also of the princes of Yisra'el.
King James Version
Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.
English Standard Version
When Jehoram had ascended the throne of his father and was established, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of Israel.
New Century Version
When Jehoram took control of his father's kingdom, he killed all his brothers with a sword and also killed some of the leaders of Judah.
New English Translation
Jehoram took control of his father's kingdom and became powerful. Then he killed all his brothers, as well as some of the officials of Israel.
Amplified Bible
When Jehoram had ascended over the kingdom of his father and made himself secure, he killed all his brothers with the sword [to eliminate any rivals], and some of the leaders of Israel as well.
New American Standard Bible
Now when Jehoram had taken over the kingdom of his father and gathered courage, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and some of the leaders of Israel as well.
World English Bible
Now when Jehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and various also of the princes of Israel.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Iehoram rose vp vpon the kingdom of his father, and made himselfe strong, & slew all his brethren with the sworde, and also of the princes of Israel.
Legacy Standard Bible
So Jehoram arose over the kingdom of his father and strengthened himself, and he killed all his brothers with the sword, and some of the commanders of Israel also.
Berean Standard Bible
When Jehoram had established himself over his father's kingdom, he strengthened himself by putting to the sword all his brothers along with some of the princes of Israel.
Contemporary English Version
After Jehoram had taken control of Judah, he had his brothers killed, as well as some of the nation's leaders.
Complete Jewish Bible
But when Y'horam had taken control of his father's kingdom and consolidated his rule, he put to the sword all his brothers and a number of the leading men in Isra'el.
Darby Translation
And Jehoram established himself over the kingdom of his father, and strengthened himself; and he slew all his brethren with the sword, and [certain] also of the princes of Israel.
Easy-to-Read Version
Jehoram took over his father's kingdom and made himself strong. Then he used a sword to kill all his brothers. He also killed some of the leaders of Israel.
George Lamsa Translation
Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself and slew all his brothers in the battle and also slew some of the elders of Israel.
Good News Translation
When Jehoram was in firm control of the kingdom, he had all his brothers killed, and also some Israelite officials.
Lexham English Bible
When Jehoram ascended to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself and murdered all his brothers with the sword, and even some of the princes of Israel.
Literal Translation
And Jehoram rose up over the kingdom of his father and made himself strong. And he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also of the leaders of Israel.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But whan Ioram came vp ouer his fathers kyngdome, & had gotten the power of it, he slewe all his brethre with the swerde, & certayne rulers also in Israel.
American Standard Version
Now when Jehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.
Bible in Basic English
Now when Jehoram had taken his place over his father's kingdom, and had made his position safe, he put all his brothers to death with the sword, as well as some of the princes of Israel.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Iehoram rose vp against the kingdome of his father, and preuayled, and slue all his brethren with the sworde, and diuers of the lordes of Israel.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Now when Jehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.
King James Version (1611)
Now when Iehoram was risen vp to the kingdome of his father, he strengthened himselfe, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and diuers also of the Princes of Israel.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Joram entered upon his kingdom, and strengthened himself, and slew all his brothers with the sword, and some of the princes of Israel.
English Revised Version
Now when Jehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe Joram roos on the rewme of his fadir; and whanne he hadde confermyd hym silf, he killide alle hise britheren bi swerd, and summe of the princes of Juda.
Update Bible Version
Now when Jehoram had risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he slew all his brothers with the sword, and diverse also of the princes of Israel.
Webster's Bible Translation
Now when Jehoram had risen to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and [divers] also of the princes of Israel.
New King James Version
Now when Jehoram was established over the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself and killed all his brothers with the sword, and also others of the princes of Israel.
New Living Translation
But when Jehoram had become solidly established as king, he killed all his brothers and some of the other leaders of Judah.
New Life Bible
Now when Jehoram had become king in the place of his father, and had made himself strong, he killed all his brothers with the sword. He killed some of the leaders of Israel also.
New Revised Standard
When Jehoram had ascended the throne of his father and was established, he put all his brothers to the sword, and also some of the officials of Israel.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, when Jehoram had arisen over the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren, with the sword, - moreover also some of the rulers of Israel.
Douay-Rheims Bible
So Joram rose up over the kingdom of his father: and when he had established himself, he slew all his brethren with the sword, and some of the princes of Israel.
Revised Standard Version
When Jeho'ram had ascended the throne of his father and was established, he slew all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of Israel.
Young's Literal Translation
And Jehoram riseth up over the kingdom of his father, and strengtheneth himself, and slayeth all his brethren with the sword, and also -- of the heads of Israel.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now when Jehoram had taken over the kingdom of his father and made himself secure, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and some of the rulers of Israel also.

Contextual Overview

1 Jehoshaphat died and was buried in the family cemetery in the City of David. Jehoram his son was the next king. 2Jehoram's brothers were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah—the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. Their father had lavished them with gifts—silver, gold, and other valuables, plus the fortress cities in Judah. But Jehoram was his firstborn son and he gave him the kingdom of Judah. But when Jehoram had taken over his father's kingdom and had secured his position, he killed all his brothers along with some of the government officials. 5Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king and ruled in Jerusalem for eight years. He imitated Israel's kings and married into the Ahab dynasty. God considered him an evil man. But despite that, because of his covenant with David, God was not yet ready to destroy the descendants of David; he had, after all, promised to keep a light burning for David and his sons. 8During Jehoram's reign, Edom revolted from Judah's rule and set up their own king. Jehoram responded by setting out with his officers and chariots. Edom surrounded him, but in the middle of the night he and his charioteers broke through the lines and hit Edom hard. 10Edom continues in revolt against Judah right up to the present. Even little Libnah revolted at that time. The evidence accumulated: Since Jehoram had abandoned God , the God of his ancestors, God was abandoning him. He even went so far as to build pagan sacred shrines in the mountains of Judah. He brazenly led Jerusalem away from God, seducing the whole country.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

slew all: 2 Chronicles 21:17, 2 Chronicles 22:8, 2 Chronicles 22:10, Genesis 4:8, Judges 9:5, Judges 9:56, Judges 9:57, 1 John 3:12

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 1:12 - the life 2 Kings 3:7 - wilt thou go 2 Kings 10:7 - slew seventy 2 Chronicles 21:2 - Israel 2 Chronicles 21:13 - hast slain 2 Chronicles 22:9 - the house

Cross-References

Genesis 21:22
At about that same time, Abimelech and the captain of his troops, Phicol, spoke to Abraham: "No matter what you do, God is on your side. So swear to me that you won't do anything underhanded to me or any of my family. For as long as you live here, swear that you'll treat me and my land as well as I've treated you."
Exodus 12:48
"If an immigrant is staying with you and wants to keep the Passover to God , every male in his family must be circumcised, then he can participate in the Meal—he will then be treated as a native son. But no uncircumcised person can eat it.
Deuteronomy 12:32
Diligently do everything I command you, the way I command you: don't add to it; don't subtract from it.
Luke 1:59
On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were calling him Zachariah after his father. But his mother intervened: "No. He is to be called John."
Luke 2:21
When the eighth day arrived, the day of circumcision, the child was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived.
Acts 7:8
"Then he made a covenant with him and signed it in Abraham's flesh by circumcision. When Abraham had his son Isaac, within eight days he reproduced the sign of circumcision in him. Isaac became father of Jacob, and Jacob father of twelve ‘fathers,' each faithfully passing on the covenant sign.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father,.... Succeeded him in it, and reigned alone, for he had reigned with his father some years before his death; :-,

he strengthened himself; in the kingdom, by some means or another closely attaching the greater part of the princes, and people of the land, unto him, when he thought himself well settled and established on the throne; though some understand it of making strong, or hardening his heart to do what is next mentioned:

and slew all his brethren with the sword; either to get their riches into his hands, or lest, being religious princes, they should oppose his restoring idolatry, and for that reason the people should depose him, and set up one of them; and therefore he dispatched them out of the way to secure himself, and carry his point:

and [divers] also of the princes of Israel; such who had removed out of the ten tribes, for the sake of religion, and therefore would never agree to the introduction of idolatry among them, for which reason Jehoram slew them; and perhaps they might express their disapprobation and abhorrence of his murder of his brethren.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The execution of several “princes of Israel” (i. e. of Judah; see 2 Chronicles 20:34 note) implies that Jehoram’s brothers found supporters among the chief men of the country, and that Jehoram’s sole sovereignty was not established without a struggle.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Chronicles 21:4. Slew all his brethren — What a truly diabolic thing is the lust of power! it destroys all the charities of life, and renders those who are under its influence the truest resemblants of the arch fiend. That he might sit the more secure upon his throne, this execrable man imbrues his hands in the blood of his own brothers! There are more instances of this species of cruelty among bad Asiatic kings than among any other class of men. The history of every country abounds in proofs; even that of our own is not the least barren.


 
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