What does 2 Kings 23:27 mean?
"And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there." - 2 Kings 23:27
The Bible verse 2 Kings 23:27 from the King James Version (KJV) states: "And the Lord said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there."
This verse comes at the end of a chapter detailing the reign of King Josiah, who was one of the few righteous kings in the history of Judah. Throughout his reign, Josiah sought to rid the land of idolatry and restore the worship of the one true God. In doing so, he uncovered the Book of the Law in the temple and instituted significant reforms in Judah, which were in marked contrast to the idolatrous practices of previous kings.
The verse itself is a proclamation from the Lord, declaring His intention to remove Judah from His sight, just as He had removed Israel. This is a prophetic statement, foreshadowing the eventual destruction and exile of Judah at the hands of the Babylonians. The Lord’s declaration of casting off Jerusalem – the city He had chosen and where His name was to dwell – serves as a powerful indictment of Judah’s persistent disobedience and idolatry.
One significant theme in this verse is the consequence of disobedience. The Lord had made a covenant with His people, promising to bless them if they followed His commandments, and to punish them if they turned away from Him. The historical context of 2 Kings 23:27 is a poignant example of this principle in action. Despite the efforts of righteous leaders like Josiah, the overall spiritual state of Judah had deteriorated to the point where the judgment of the Lord was inevitable.
Another important theme in this verse is the sovereignty of God. The Lord’s declaration to remove Judah from His sight and cast off Jerusalem serves as a reminder that God is in control of the affairs of nations. This prophetic announcement was fulfilled when Babylon invaded Judah, destroyed the city of Jerusalem, and took the people into exile. It demonstrates the Lord’s faithfulness to His word and His judgment against unrepentant sin.
The symbolism in 2 Kings 23:27 is powerful and multi-faceted. First, the removal of Judah from God’s sight and the casting off of Jerusalem symbolize the severing of the covenant relationship between the Lord and His people. This is a grave and solemn image, representing the loss of divine protection, blessing, and favor.
Second, the house in Jerusalem, where the Lord’s name was to dwell, symbolizes the temple, the central place of worship and encounter with God. The Lord’s declaration of casting off this city and the house therein conveys the profound devastation and desolation that would overtake the sacred place of His presence. This symbolizes the loss of spiritual significance and the abandonment of the people by their God.
In conclusion, 2 Kings 23:27 is a profound verse that encapsulates the themes of judgment, sovereignty, and disobedience within a rich historical and prophetic context. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from the Lord and the enduring faithfulness of God to His covenant promises. The symbolism of the verse further underscores the gravity of the situation and the profound implications of God’s judgment. Ultimately, this verse points to the need for repentance, humility, and steadfast obedience in our relationship with the Lord.
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2 Kings 23:27 - "And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there."
"And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there." - 2 Kings 23:27
2 Samuel 23:27 - "Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,"
2 Kings 23:23 - "But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem."
2 Kings 8:23 - "And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Kings 23:22 - "Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;"
2 Kings 23:28 - "Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Kings 3:23 - "And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil."
"Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite," - 2 Samuel 23:27
2 Kings 23:1 - "And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem."
2 Chronicles 35:27 - "And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah."
2 Kings 21:23 - "¶ And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house."
2 Kings 9:23 - "And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah."
Jehoiachin is released from Babylonian jail 2 kings 25: 27
2 Kings 19:27 - "But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me."
"But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem." - 2 Kings 23:23
2 Kings 10:27 - "And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day."
2 Chronicles 27:7 - "¶ Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah."
2 Kings 23:37 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done."
1Esdy 2:27 (KJVA) 27 And the men therein were given to rebellion and war: and that mighty kings and fierce were in Jerusalem, who reigned and exacted tributes in Celosyria and Phenice.
2 Kings 23:11 - "And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the suburbs, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire."
2 Kings 23:32 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done."
2 Kings 6:27 - "And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?"
2 Kings 23:21 - "¶ And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant."
2 Kings 23:7 - "And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove."
2 Kings 15:27 - "¶ In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years."
2 Chronicles 9:23 - "¶ And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart."
2 Kings 15:23 - "¶ In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years."
2 Kings 8:27 - "And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as did the house of Ahab: for he was the son in law of the house of Ahab."
2 Kings 23:9 - "Nevertheless the priests of the high places came not up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they did eat of the unleavened bread among their brethren."