2 Chronicles 36:17 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God brings the Babylonian king upon Judah, where he slaughters the population with no mercy, sparing no age group.
The Context of 2 Chronicles 36:17
Nebuchadnezzar's army slaughters Judah's population, sparing no age or condition.
What Does 2 Chronicles 36:17 Mean?
God uses Nebuchadnezzar and his armies as His instrument of judgment. The Chaldean king shows no mercy, slaughtering young men in the very Temple sanctuary—the holiest place defiled by the violence of war. The destruction is total, showing no distinction between young and old, maiden and youth, even the aged bowed by age. All are 'given into his hand.'
This judgment is thorough and devastating. The massacre in the sanctuary is particularly striking: the place that should be most protected becomes the place of greatest blood-spilling. That God orchestrates this judgment ('Therefore he brought') does not make Nebuchadnezzar merciful; it makes the judgment reflect God's holiness and the seriousness of covenant-breaking.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Chronicles 36:17
What does 2 Chronicles 36:17 mean?
God brings the Babylonian king upon Judah, where he slaughters the population with no mercy, sparing no age group.
What is the context of 2 Chronicles 36:17?
Nebuchadnezzar's army slaughters Judah's population, sparing no age or condition.