2 Kings 21:13 Meaning and Explanation
“And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God promises to measure Jerusalem for ruin as He did Samaria, and to wipe the city clean like an emptied dish.
What Does 2 Kings 21:13 Mean?
God uses a builder's tools as images of judgment. The measuring 'line' and the 'plummet' once used to construct will now mark Jerusalem for destruction, just as they did Samaria and the dynasty of Ahab. Then a homely, terrible picture: God will wipe the city as one wipes a dish and turns it upside down.
The same instruments that build can mark for tearing down, and the God who measures in mercy can measure in justice. The image of an emptied, overturned dish speaks of a city wiped clean of all it held. Yet a wiped dish can be filled again — and Judah's story does not end in the overturning. God's judgments, severe as they are, still leave room for His restoring grace.
2 Kings 21:13 in the Original Language
mishqeleth (מִשְׁקֹלֶת), 'plummet' -- a plumb line, used to test whether a wall is true.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Kings 21:13
What does 2 Kings 21:13 mean?
God promises to measure Jerusalem for ruin as He did Samaria, and to wipe the city clean like an emptied dish.