2 Kings 22:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The LORD promises Josiah he will die in peace and not witness the coming judgment; the message is brought back to the king.
What Does 2 Kings 22:20 Mean?
The LORD's word to Josiah closes with mercy: he will be gathered to his fathers and laid in his grave in peace, spared the sight of the disaster to come upon Jerusalem. The delegation then carries this answer back to the king. Judgment is deferred for the sake of one faithful heart.
To be gathered in peace is a gift to those who walk with God. Josiah's humble seeking secured not the cancelling of judgment but a measure of grace within it. So the chapter ends on mercy, a reminder that God remembers the faithful and that those who seek Him find, even in dark days, the assurance of His peace.
2 Kings 22:20 in the Original Language
shalom (שָׁלוֹם), 'peace' -- wholeness and well-being, here the gift of a death untroubled by judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Kings 22:20
What does 2 Kings 22:20 mean?
The LORD promises Josiah he will die in peace and not witness the coming judgment; the message is brought back to the king.