2 Chronicles 16:14 Meaning and Explanation
“And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Asa receives a grand funeral with lavish spices and honor, though his life ended in spiritual decline.
The Context of 2 Chronicles 16:14
Asa receives a grand funeral with elaborate honors in the city of David, befitting his former achievements.
What Does 2 Chronicles 16:14 Mean?
Despite his spiritual fall, Asa is buried with royal honor in a tomb he had prepared in Jerusalem. His grave is filled with fragrant spices and precious aromatics prepared by skilled apothecaries—a very great burning of honor attends his funeral. This is fitting; Asa was, after all, a king who had done much good in his earlier years.
Yet the lavish burial highlights a painful irony: external honor cannot compensate for internal estrangement from God. A tomb surrounded by sweet odors does not heal a life that ended in disease, refusal, and spiritual distance from the Lord. Asa is remembered for forty-one years of rule, but his legacy is one of promise betrayed and faith abandoned.
2 Chronicles 16:14 in the Original Language
apothecaries' art (מֶרְקַחַת, merqachat) — the craft of preparing costly perfumes and aromatics; a sign of wealth and refined burial practice.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Chronicles 16:14
What does 2 Chronicles 16:14 mean?
Asa receives a grand funeral with lavish spices and honor, though his life ended in spiritual decline.
What is the context of 2 Chronicles 16:14?
Asa receives a grand funeral with elaborate honors in the city of David, befitting his former achievements.