2 Chronicles 20:15

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

He said: 'Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הַקְשִׁ֤יבוּ כָל־יְהוּדָה֙ וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְהַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט כֹּֽה־אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה לָכֶ֗ם אַ֠תֶּם אַל־תִּֽירְא֤וּ וְאַל־תֵּחַ֙תּוּ֙ מִפְּנֵ֨י הֶהָמ֤וֹן הָרָב֙ הַזֶּ֔ה כִּ֣י לֹ֥א לָכֶ֛ם הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה כִּ֥י לֵאלֹהִֽים׃

Transliteration

And wayyōʾmer pay attention haqšîbû all-kol yəhûdâ and inhabitants-of wəyōšbê Jerusalem yərûšālaim and the king wəhammelek yəhôšāpāṭ, thus kōh-said ʾāmar YHWH yhwh to you lākem you ʾattem do not ʾal-fear tîrʾû and do not wəʾal-be dismayed tēḥattû from before mippnê the multitude hehāmôn the great hārāb this hazzeh, for kî not lōʾ to you lākem the battle hammilḥāmâ for kî to God lēʾlōhîm.

Grammar Details

• *wayyōʾmer*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he said
• *haqšîbû*: hiphil imperative masculine plural - pay attention/listen
• *kol*: construct masculine singular - all of
• *yəhûdâ*: proper name - Judah
• *wəyōšbê*: waw-conjunction + qal participle masculine plural construct - and inhabitants of
• *yərûšālaim*: proper name - Jerusalem
• *wəhammelek*: waw-conjunction + definite article + masculine singular noun - and the king
• *yəhôšāpāṭ*: proper name - Jehoshaphat
• *kōh*: adverb - thus/so
• *ʾāmar*: qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - he said
• *yhwh*: divine name - YHWH
• *lākem*: preposition *lə* + 2nd masculine plural suffix - to you/yours
• *ʾattem*: 2nd masculine plural pronoun - you
• *ʾal*: negative particle with jussive/imperative - do not
• *tîrʾû*: qal imperfect 2nd masculine plural - you fear
• *wəʾal*: waw-conjunction + negative particle - and do not
• *tēḥattû*: niphal imperfect 2nd masculine plural - you be dismayed
• *mippnê*: preposition *min* + construct masculine plural - from before
• *hehāmôn*: definite article + masculine singular noun - the multitude
• *hārāb*: definite article + adjective masculine singular - the great
• *hazzeh*: definite article + masculine singular demonstrative pronoun - this
• *kî*: conjunction - for/because
• *lōʾ*: negative particle - not
• *hammilḥāmâ*: definite article + feminine singular noun - the battle
• *lēʾlōhîm*: preposition *lə* + masculine plural noun - to God

Word Meanings

• *haqšîbû*: pay attention/listen/give ear
• *tēḥattû*: be dismayed/terrified/broken
• *hehāmôn*: the multitude/crowd/army

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And he said, Listen, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat, Thus says the LORD to you: Do not be afraid or dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  and he said,{H559} Hearken{H7181} ye, all Judah,{H3063} and ye inhabitants{H3427} of Jerusalem,{H3389} and thou king{H4428} Jehoshaphat:{H3092} Thus saith{H559} Jehovah{H3068} unto you, Fear{H3372} not ye, neither be dismayed{H2865} by reason{H6440} of this great{H7227} multitude;{H1995} for the battle{H4421} is not yours, but God's.{H430}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Hearken{H7181}{(H8685)} ye, all Judah{H3063}, and ye inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} of Jerusalem{H3389}, and thou king{H4428} Jehoshaphat{H3092}, Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068} unto you, Be not afraid{H3372}{(H8799)} nor dismayed{H2865}{(H8735)} by reason{H6440} of this great{H7227} multitude{H1995}; for the battle{H4421} is not yours, but God's{H430}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  and sayde: Geue hede all thou Iuda, and ye inhabiters of Ierusalem, and thou kynge Iosaphat: Thus sayeth the LORDE vnto you: Be not ye afrayed, nether feare ye this greate multitude: for it is not ye that fighte, but God.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And he said, Hearken ye, all Iudah, and ye inhabitantes of Ierusalem, and thou, King Iehoshaphat: thus saith the Lord vnto you, Feare you not, neither be afraide for this great multitude: for the battel is not yours, but Gods.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And he sayd, Hearken all Iuda, and ye inhabiters of Hierusalem, and thou king Iehosaphat, thus sayth the Lorde vnto you: Be not afrayd nor faynt hearted by reason of this great multitude: for the battell is not yours, but Gods.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle [is] not yours, but God's.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  and he said, Listen you, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat: Thus says Yahweh to you, Don't be afraid you, neither be dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and he saith, `Attend, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and O king Jehoshaphat, Thus said Jehovah to you, Ye fear not, nor are afraid of the face of this great multitude, for not for you `is' the battle, but for God.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat: Thus saith Jehovah unto you, Fear not ye, neither be dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat: Thus saith Jehovah unto you, Fear not ye, neither be dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And he said, Give ear, O Judah, and you people of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat: the Lord says to you, Have no fear and do not be troubled on account of this great army; for the fight is not yours but God's.

• World English Bible (2000)

  and he said, "Listen, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat. Thus says Yahweh to you, 'Don't be afraid, neither be dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  He said:“Pay attention, all you people of Judah, residents of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says to you:‘Don’t be afraid and don’t panic because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

Referenced Verses

• 2 Chr 32:7-8 : 7 "Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. 8 With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles." The people regained confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
• 1 Sam 17:47 : 47 'And all those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle belongs to the LORD, and He will give you into our hands.'
• Deut 20:1 : 1 When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and a people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, is with you.
• Deut 20:4 : 4 For the LORD your God goes with you to fight for you against your enemies and to give you victory.
• Deut 31:6 : 6 Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or be terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
• Deut 31:8 : 8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
• Isa 43:1-2 : 1 But now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel: 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine.' 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you cross the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not consume you.
• Exod 14:13-14 : 13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm, and you will see the LORD's salvation, which He will accomplish for you today. The Egyptians you see today, you will never see again forever. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to remain silent.
• Deut 1:29-30 : 29 Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified or afraid of them.' 30 The LORD your God, who goes before you, will fight for you, just as He did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes.
• Josh 11:6 : 6 The LORD said to Joshua, 'Do not be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots in the fire.'
• Neh 4:14 : 14 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, gather to us there. Our God will fight for us.
• Ps 17:1-2 : 1 A prayer of David: Hear, O Lord, my just plea. Give attention to my cry, listen to my prayer; it is not from deceitful lips. 2 Let my vindication come from your presence; may your eyes see what is right.
• Isa 41:10-16 : 10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; indeed, I will help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 11 Behold, all who are enraged against you will be ashamed and disgraced. Those who oppose you will be as nothing and will perish. 12 You will search for your enemies, but you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing, as non-existent. 13 For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.' 14 Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel. I myself will help you, declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 15 See, I will make you into a sharp threshing sledge, new and covered with many blades. You will thresh the mountains and crush them and reduce the hills to chaff. 16 You will winnow them, and the wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy One of Israel.