2 Chronicles 20:9 Meaning and Explanation
“If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jehoshaphat grounds his plea in God's own promise: when the people stand in the temple and cry out in distress, God will hear and deliver them.
The Context of 2 Chronicles 20:9
Jehoshaphat's prayer invokes God's own covenant promise regarding the temple as the place of answered prayer.
What Does 2 Chronicles 20:9 Mean?
This verse recalls the divine promise from Solomon's dedication prayer (2 Chron. 6:28-30). Jehoshaphat is not inventing a claim but invoking a covenant promise God Himself made regarding the temple. When 'evil cometh' in any form—warfare, judgment, disease, or famine—and the people approach God's house in humble prayer, God commits to hearing and helping.
The phrase 'in thy presence' emphasizes that the temple is the place of God's special attention. By standing there and crying out in affliction, the people are not distant suppliants but are addressing their covenant Lord directly. Jehoshaphat is essentially saying: 'You promised this. We are fulfilling our part. Now fulfill Yours.'
2 Chronicles 20:9 in the Original Language
'Affliction' (tzara; צָרָה) means distress or trouble; Jehoshaphat's prayer recognizes the present crisis as the exact circumstance God promised to address.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Chronicles 20:9
What does 2 Chronicles 20:9 mean?
Jehoshaphat grounds his plea in God's own promise: when the people stand in the temple and cry out in distress, God will hear and deliver them.
What is the context of 2 Chronicles 20:9?
Jehoshaphat's prayer invokes God's own covenant promise regarding the temple as the place of answered prayer.