2 Kings 16:15 Meaning and Explanation
“And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king’s burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Ahaz ordered all the regular offerings of king and people to be made on his new 'great altar,' reserving the old bronze altar for his own inquiry.
What Does 2 Kings 16:15 Mean?
Ahaz formalizes the change by royal decree. From now on every public sacrifice, morning and evening, for king and commoner alike, is to be offered on his new altar, which he proudly names 'the great altar.' The ancient bronze altar is reassigned to his private use 'to enquire by,' likely a means of seeking guidance on his own terms.
Here the displacement of God's worship becomes official policy, binding the whole nation. Ahaz keeps the language of devotion while reshaping its substance to suit himself. When we set our own preferences at the center and relegate God's clear instruction to a corner, we repeat his error. Worship is meant to conform us to God, not to be reshaped around our convenience and curiosity.
2 Kings 16:15 in the Original Language
baqar (בָּקַר), 'enquire' -- to seek, examine, or inquire, here seeking direction in a way of Ahaz's own choosing.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Kings 16:15
What does 2 Kings 16:15 mean?
Ahaz ordered all the regular offerings of king and people to be made on his new 'great altar,' reserving the old bronze altar for his own inquiry.