2 Chronicles 13:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Lord gave the kingdom to David and his descendants by an eternal covenant.
The Context of 2 Chronicles 13:5
The Davidic covenant is invoked as an eternal, unbreakable divine promise.
What Does 2 Chronicles 13:5 Mean?
Abijah appeals to covenant history—not as an invention of the moment but as something his hearers ought already to know. The covenant with David is presented as an eternal arrangement, divinely ordained by the Lord God of Israel. Abijah assumes the people recognize this foundational truth about their nation's origins.
A covenant of salt was the strongest form of binding agreement in ancient cultures, implying permanence and sacredness. Abijah uses this language to establish that the Davidic dynasty was not a temporary arrangement but an unbreakable divine promise. His argument rests on appealing to what God has already sworn.
2 Chronicles 13:5 in the Original Language
berith melach (בְרִית־מֶלַח), 'covenant of salt' — an ancient Near Eastern term for an unbreakable, eternal agreement, with salt symbolizing preservation and permanence.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Chronicles 13:5
What does 2 Chronicles 13:5 mean?
The Lord gave the kingdom to David and his descendants by an eternal covenant.
What is the context of 2 Chronicles 13:5?
The Davidic covenant is invoked as an eternal, unbreakable divine promise.