2 Chronicles 18:33 Meaning and Explanation
“And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A random arrow strikes Ahab in a gap in his armor, wounding him mortally.
The Context of 2 Chronicles 18:33
An arrow finds Ahab despite his disguise.
What Does 2 Chronicles 18:33 Mean?
Despite Ahab's disguise, fate—or more precisely, divine decree—found him. An unnamed archer drew his bow 'at a venture,' without aiming at any particular target, yet the arrow found the one crucial gap in Ahab's armor, the space between the plates of his breastplate. The wound was mortal. Ahab immediately realized his danger and commanded his chariot driver to remove him from the battle.
This seemingly chance occurrence—an arrow shot randomly that happens to find the one gap in armor and strike the disguised king—is the working out of Micaiah's prophecy. Nothing was left to chance; everything was ordered by God's decree. Ahab's attempt to escape his fate through disguise was rendered meaningless.
2 Chronicles 18:33 in the Original Language
joints (הַדְּקִיקִים), 'joints' — gaps, spaces between armor plates; small openings in the harness.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Chronicles 18:33
What does 2 Chronicles 18:33 mean?
A random arrow strikes Ahab in a gap in his armor, wounding him mortally.
What is the context of 2 Chronicles 18:33?
An arrow finds Ahab despite his disguise.