2 Chronicles 28:6 Meaning and Explanation
“For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Pekah, king of Israel, slays 120,000 Judean soldiers in a single day.
The Context of 2 Chronicles 28:6
Pekah of Israel inflicts a massive one-day massacre on Judean forces.
What Does 2 Chronicles 28:6 Mean?
Pekah of Israel kills 120,000 valiant men—soldiers and warriors—in a single battle. The scale is staggering and emphasizes the totality of Judah's military collapse. The term 'valiant men' shows these were not civilian casualties but the trained fighting force of Judah, representing both the nation's strength and vulnerability.
The text explicitly connects this catastrophe to spiritual cause: these soldiers 'had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.' Their military defeat follows their leadership's religious failure. The death of the best soldiers removes Judah's capacity to defend itself against future threats.
2 Chronicles 28:6 in the Original Language
Pekah (פְקַח) — meaning 'to open' or 'to see'; the king's name itself carries irony, as his eyes were opened to military victory while Judah's people did not see the danger of their spiritual apostasy.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Chronicles 28:6
What does 2 Chronicles 28:6 mean?
Pekah, king of Israel, slays 120,000 Judean soldiers in a single day.
What is the context of 2 Chronicles 28:6?
Pekah of Israel inflicts a massive one-day massacre on Judean forces.