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Wednesday, July 9th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Read the Bible

The NET Bible®

2 Chronicles 21:4

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.

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.
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 passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Jehoram replaced him as king. 2 His brothers, Jehoshaphat's sons, were Azariah, Jechiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. All of these were sons of King Jehoshaphat of Israel. 3 Their father gave them many presents, including silver, gold, and other precious items, along with fortified cities in Judah. But he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn. 4 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. 5 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem. 6 He followed in the footsteps of the kings of Israel, just as Ahab's dynasty had done, for he married Ahab's daughter. He did evil in the sight of the Lord . 7 But the Lord was unwilling to destroy David's dynasty because of the promise he had made to give David a perpetual dynasty. 8 During Jehoram's reign Edom freed themselves from Judah's control and set up their own king. 9 Jehoram crossed over to Zair with his officers and all his chariots. The Edomites, who had surrounded him, attacked at night and defeated him and his chariot officers. 10 So Edom has remained free from Judah's control to this very day. At that same time Libnah also rebelled and freed themselves from Judah's control because Jehoram rejected the Lord God of his ancestors.

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 21:10
So she said to Abraham, "Banish that slave woman and her son, for the son of that slave woman will not be an heir along with my son Isaac!"
Genesis 21:12
But God said to Abraham, "Do not be upset about the boy or your slave wife. Do all that Sarah is telling you because through Isaac your descendants will be counted.
Genesis 21:22
At that time Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, said to Abraham, "God is with you in all that you do.
Genesis 21:23
Now swear to me right here in God's name that you will not deceive me, my children, or my descendants. Show me, and the land where you are staying, the same loyalty that I have shown you."
Exodus 12:48
"When a foreigner lives with you and wants to observe the Passover to the Lord , all his males must be circumcised, and then he may approach and observe it, and he will be like one who is born in the land—but no uncircumcised person may eat of it.
Leviticus 12:3
On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin must be circumcised.
Deuteronomy 12:32
You must be careful to do everything I am commanding you. Do not add to it or subtract from it!
Luke 1:6
They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
Luke 1:59
On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father.
Luke 2:21
At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

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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