2 Chronicles 13:17
2 Chronicles 13:17 in Multiple Translations
Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain.
And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
And Abijah and his people put them to death with great destruction: five hundred thousand of the best of Israel were put to the sword.
Abijah and his men hit them hard, and 500,000 of Israel's best warriors were killed.
And Abiiah and his people slewe a great slaughter of them, so that there fel downe wounded of Israel fiue hundreth thousand chosen men.
and Abijah and his people smite among them a great smiting, and there fall wounded of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
Abijah and his people killed them with a great slaughter, so five hundred thousand chosen men of Israel fell down slain.
And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
And Abia and his people slew them with a great slaughter, and there fell wounded of Israel five hundred thousand valiant men.
Abijah and his troops struck the capable soldiers of Israel and killed 500,000 of them.
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Chronicles 13:17
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
2 Chronicles 13:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יַּכּ֥וּ
בָ/הֶ֛ם
אֲבִיָּ֥ה
וְ/עַמּ֖/וֹ
מַכָּ֣ה
רַבָּ֑ה
וַ/יִּפְּל֤וּ
חֲלָלִים֙
מִ/יִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
חֲמֵשׁ
מֵא֥וֹת
אֶ֖לֶף
אִ֥ישׁ
בָּחֽוּר
וַ/יַּכּ֥וּ
nâkâh
H5221
to smite
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3mp
בָ/הֶ֛ם
Prep | Suff
אֲבִיָּ֥ה
ʼĂbîyâh
H29
Abijah
N-proper
וְ/עַמּ֖/וֹ
ʻam
H5971
Amaw
Conj | N-ms | Suff
מַכָּ֣ה
makkâh
H4347
wound
N-fs
רַבָּ֑ה
rab
H7227
many
Adj
וַ/יִּפְּל֤וּ
nâphal
H5307
to fall
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
חֲלָלִים֙
châlâl
H2491
slain
Adj
מִ/יִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
Israel
Prep | N-proper
חֲמֵשׁ
châmêsh
H2568
five
Adj
מֵא֥וֹת
mêʼâh
H3967
hundred
Adj
אֶ֖לֶף
ʼeleph
H505
thousand
Adj
אִ֥ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
man
N-ms
בָּחֽוּר
bâchar
H977
to choose
V-Qal-Inf-c
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Chronicles 13:17
וַ/יַּכּ֥וּ
nâkâh
H5221
"to smite"
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3mp
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to strike or hit something, and it's used in many different ways, like in Exodus when God strikes down the Egyptians. It can also mean to punish or destroy, as seen in Isaiah. The word is used to describe God's judgment.
Definition: 1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill 1a)(Niphal) to be stricken or smitten 1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust 1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast) 1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage 1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy 1d) (Hophal) to be smitten 1d1) to receive a blow 1d2) to be wounded 1d3) to be beaten 1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain 1d5) to be attacked and captured 1d6) to be smitten (with disease) 1d7) to be blighted (of plants)
Usage: Occurs in 461 OT verses. KJV: beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound. See also: Genesis 4:15; Joshua 10:20; 1 Samuel 29:5.
בָ/הֶ֛ם
""
Prep | Suff
אֲבִיָּ֥ה
ʼĂbîyâh
H29
"Abijah"
N-proper
Abijah was the name of several people in the Bible, including a king of Judah and a son of Samuel. The name Abijah means 'Jehovah is my father', showing devotion to God. It is mentioned in books like 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles.
Definition: A woman living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.18.2; daughter of: Zechariah (H2148C); married to Ahaz (H0271); mother of: Hezekiah (H2396); also called Abijah at 2Ch.29.1; Another name of a.vi (אֲבִי "Abi" H0021) § Abia or Abiah or Abijah = "Jehovah is (my) father" 1) king of Judah, son and successor of Rehoboam 2) second son of Samuel 3) son of Jeroboam the first, king of Israel 4) son of Becher, a Benjamite 5) head of a priestly house (one of the 24 Levite groups) 6) head of a priestly house (after the exile) 7) wife of Hezron 8) mother of Hezekiah (cf H021)
Usage: Occurs in 25 OT verses. KJV: Abiah, Abijah. See also: 1 Samuel 8:2; 2 Chronicles 13:3; Nehemiah 12:17.
וְ/עַמּ֖/וֹ
ʻam
H5971
"Amaw"
Conj | N-ms | Suff
A people or nation is what this Hebrew word represents, like the nation of Israel in Exodus 33:13. It can also mean a tribe, troops, or attendants, and is used to describe a group of people gathered together. The word is often used to refer to the people of God.
Definition: This name means nation, people
Usage: Occurs in 1655 OT verses. KJV: folk, men, nation, people. See also: Genesis 11:6; Exodus 16:4; Leviticus 17:9.
מַכָּ֣ה
makkâh
H4347
"wound"
N-fs
A wound or blow, also referring to carnage, pestilence, or defeat. It can describe physical harm, like a beating, or widespread suffering, like a plague.
Definition: 1) blow, wound, slaughter 1a) blow, stripe 1b) beating, scourging 1c) wound 1d) slaughter 1e) defeat, conquest 1f) plague
Usage: Occurs in 46 OT verses. KJV: beaten, blow, plague, slaughter, smote, [idiom] sore, stripe, stroke, wound(-ed). See also: Leviticus 26:21; 2 Chronicles 22:6; Psalms 64:8.
רַבָּ֑ה
rab
H7227
"many"
Adj
This Hebrew word means a chief or captain, someone in charge. It is used in 2 Samuel 23:19 to describe a great and powerful man. The idea is one of leadership and authority.
Definition: adj 1) much, many, great 1a) much 1b) many 1c) abounding in 1d) more numerous than 1e) abundant, enough 1f) great 1g) strong 1h) greater than adv 1i) much, exceedingly
Usage: Occurs in 443 OT verses. KJV: (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent). See also: Genesis 6:5; 1 Kings 11:1; Psalms 3:2.
וַ/יִּפְּל֤וּ
nâphal
H5307
"to fall"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to fall, and it's used in many ways, like falling down, failing, or being defeated. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah. God's people often fell away from Him, but He always offered a way back.
Definition: : fall/drop/fail 1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to fall 1a2) to fall (of violent death) 1a3) to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before 1a4) to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to, go away to, fall into the hand of 1a5) to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result 1a6) to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to 1a7) to lie, lie prostrate 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate 1b2) to overthrow 1b3) to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot 1b4) to let drop, cause to fail (fig.) 1b5) to cause to fall 1c) (Hithpael) 1c1) to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon 1c2) to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself 1d) (Pilel) to fall
Usage: Occurs in 403 OT verses. KJV: be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for H6419 (פָּלַל)), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be ([idiom] hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, [idiom] surely, throw down. See also: Genesis 2:21; 1 Samuel 17:52; Esther 9:3.
חֲלָלִים֙
châlâl
H2491
"slain"
Adj
This word describes something or someone that has been profaned or hurt, like in Numbers 35:33. It can also mean to be pierced or wounded, as in physically harmed.
Definition: : killed 1) slain, fatally wounded, pierced 1a) pierced, fatally wounded 1b) slain Also means: cha.lal (חָלָל ": wounded" H2491H)
Usage: Occurs in 85 OT verses. KJV: kill, profane, slain (man), [idiom] slew, (deadly) wounded. See also: Genesis 34:27; Isaiah 66:16; Psalms 69:27.
מִ/יִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
"Israel"
Prep | N-proper
Israel is the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, had 12 sons who became the tribes of Israel, as told in Genesis 25:26. His story is crucial to the Bible's narrative.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently § Israel = "God prevails" 1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel 2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob 2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split 2b) the name used and given to the northern kingdom consisting of the 10 tribes under Jeroboam; the southern kingdom was known as Judah 2c) the name of the nation after the return from exile
Usage: Occurs in 2231 OT verses. KJV: Israel. See also: Genesis 32:29; Exodus 13:18; Exodus 40:38.
חֲמֵשׁ
châmêsh
H2568
"five"
Adj
This Hebrew word simply means the number five. It is used throughout the Bible to describe quantities of five, such as five loaves of bread in Matthew 14:17. It can also mean a multiple of five.
Definition: 1) five 1a) five (cardinal number) 1b) a multiple of five (with another number) 1c) fifth (ordinal number)
Usage: Occurs in 272 OT verses. KJV: fif(-teen), fifth, five ([idiom] apiece). See also: Genesis 5:6; Numbers 31:45; Ezra 2:66.
מֵא֥וֹת
mêʼâh
H3967
"hundred"
Adj
Means a hundred, used as a simple number or part of a larger number in the Bible. It appears in various forms, including fractions like one one-hundredth. Found in books like Genesis and Psalms.
Definition: 1) hundred 1a) as simple number 1b) as part of larger number 1c) as a fraction-one one-hundredth (1/100) Aramaic equivalent: me.ah (מְאָה "hundred" H3969)
Usage: Occurs in 511 OT verses. KJV: hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore. See also: Genesis 5:3; Numbers 2:6; Judges 18:17.
אֶ֖לֶף
ʼeleph
H505
"thousand"
Adj
A thousand, as in Exodus 20:6 where God shows love to thousands of people. It represents a large number or a company of people under one leader, like an army or a group of soldiers.
Definition: : thousand 1) a thousand 1a) as numeral 2) a thousand, company 2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops
Usage: Occurs in 390 OT verses. KJV: thousand. See also: Genesis 20:16; Joshua 3:4; 2 Kings 18:23.
אִ֥ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
"man"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Definition: : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)
Usage: Occurs in 1851 OT verses. KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare H802 (אִשָּׁה). See also: Genesis 2:23; Genesis 42:25; Exodus 32:23.
בָּחֽוּר
bâchar
H977
"to choose"
V-Qal-Inf-c
To choose or select is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which appears in Deuteronomy. It can also mean to be chosen or elected. The KJV translates it as 'choose' or 'acceptable'.
Definition: 1) to choose, elect, decide for 1a) (Qal) to choose 1b) (Niphal) to be chosen 1c) (Pual) to be chosen, selected
Usage: Occurs in 162 OT verses. KJV: acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require. See also: Genesis 6:2; 2 Kings 23:27; Psalms 25:12.
Study Notes — 2 Chronicles 13:17
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- 2 Chronicles 13:17 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 2 Chronicles 13:17
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Chronicles 13:17
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 13:17
- Trapp's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 13:17
- Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 13:17
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 13:17
- Cambridge Bible on 2 Chronicles 13:17
- Barnes' Notes on 2 Chronicles 13:17
- Whedon's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 13:17
- Sermons on 2 Chronicles 13:17
Context — Civil War against Jeroboam
15and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. And when they raised the cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
16So the Israelites fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hands.
17Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain.
18Thus the Israelites were subdued at that time, and the men of Judah prevailed because they relied on the LORD, the God of their fathers. 19Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured some cities from him: Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, along with their villages.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Chronicles 28:6 | For in one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed 120,000 valiant men in Judah. This happened because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. |
| 2 | 2 Chronicles 13:3 | Abijah went into battle with an army of 400,000 chosen men, while Jeroboam drew up in formation against him with 800,000 chosen and mighty men of valor. |
| 3 | 2 Chronicles 13:12 | Now behold, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with their trumpets sound the battle call against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.” |
| 4 | Nahum 1:5 | The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence— the world and all its dwellers. |
| 5 | 1 Corinthians 10:22 | Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? |
| 6 | Isaiah 10:16–19 | Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts will send a wasting disease among Assyria’s stout warriors, and under his pomp will be kindled a fire like a burning flame. And the Light of Israel will become a fire, and its Holy One a flame. In a single day it will burn and devour Assyria’s thorns and thistles. The splendor of its forests and orchards, both soul and body, it will completely destroy, as a sickness consumes a man. The remaining trees of its forests will be so few that a child could count them. |
| 7 | Isaiah 37:36 | Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! |
2 Chronicles 13:17 Summary
This verse, 2 Chronicles 13:17, tells us about a big battle where Abijah and his people, with God's help, defeated a much larger army from Israel, killing 500,000 of their best soldiers. This happened because Abijah trusted in God, just like it says in Proverbs 3:5-6, to trust in Him with all our heart. When we put our trust in God, like Abijah did, He can give us the power to overcome even the toughest challenges, as seen in Philippians 4:13. By relying on God, we can experience His strength and provision in our lives, just as Abijah and his people did in this battle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What led to the battle between Abijah and Jeroboam in 2 Chronicles 13:17?
The battle was a result of Jeroboam's rebellion against the house of David, as seen in 1 Kings 12:16-17, and Abijah's faith in the God of his fathers, as stated in 2 Chronicles 13:10-12.
How could Abijah and his people defeat such a large army?
Their victory was due to their reliance on the LORD, as stated in 2 Chronicles 13:18, which is a key principle also seen in Proverbs 3:5-6, where trusting in God leads to His guidance and provision.
What is the significance of the 500,000 chosen men of Israel falling slain?
This significant loss for Israel highlights God's judgment on those who rebel against His appointed leaders and His covenant people, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:25, where God warns of defeat as a consequence of disobedience.
How does this verse relate to the overall message of 2 Chronicles?
This verse demonstrates the importance of faithfulness to God and His covenant, a theme that is central to 2 Chronicles, as seen in 2 Chronicles 7:14, where God promises to heal the land if His people humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I am trusting in my own strength rather than in God's power and provision?
- How can I apply the principle of trusting in God, as seen in 2 Chronicles 13:17, to my own life and challenges?
- What are some ways that I can demonstrate my reliance on God, like Abijah and his people did, in my daily life and decisions?
- What can I learn from the consequences of Jeroboam's rebellion against God's appointed leaders, and how can I apply those lessons to my own life?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Chronicles 13:17
And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter,.... As they fled, pursuing them: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men; such a slaughter as is not to be met
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Chronicles 13:17
And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 13:17
A vast number: but it hath been oft observed and recorded by sacred and profane historians, that in those ancient times there were very numerous armies, and ofttimes very great slaughters; and if this slaughter was more than ordinary, there is nothing strange nor incredible, because the Almighty God fought against the Israelites.
Trapp's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 13:17
2 Chronicles 13:17 And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.Ver. 17. So there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand.] A monstrous and matchless slaughter, far beyond that of Tamerlane when he took Bajazet, or Aetius, the Roman prefect, when he fought with Attilas and his Huns in the fields of Catalaunia, where were slain on both sides one hundred and sixty-five thousand. See on 2 Chronicles 13:3.
Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 13:17
(17) Slew them with a great slaughter.—Literally, Smote in them a great smiting. Numbers 11:33. Five hundred thousand chosen men.—Or more than half of Jeroboam’s entire army. It is hardly true to say that “there is nothing in the original to indicate that this slaughter was all on one day.” (Speaker’s Commentary.) On the contrary, it is perfectly evident from the whole narrative that this verse describes the issue of a single great and decisive encounter of the rival hosts. The result is certainly incredible, if the numbers be pressed; but it seems more reasonable to see in them “only a numerical expression of the belief of contemporaries of the war, that both kings had made a levy of all the fighting men in their respective realms, and that Jeroboam was defeated with such slaughter that he lost more than half his warriors” (Keil). The Syriac reads “five thousand.” The number of slain on the other side is not stated. But it is absurd to talk as Reuss does, of Abijah’s 400,000 as being “still intact,” and then to ask why they did not proceed to reduce the northern kingdom.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 13:17
Verse 17. Slain - five hundred thousand chosen men.] Query, fifty thousand? This was a great slaughter: 2 Chronicles 13:3, where all these numbers are supposed to be overcharged.
Cambridge Bible on 2 Chronicles 13:17
17. five hundred thousand] Contrast this statement with 2 Chronicles 28:6, a hundred and twenty thousand in one day. The absence of the phrase in one day from the present passage is significant. It seems probable, when we consider the small interest taken by the Chronicler in military matters as such and the consequent looseness of his language regarding them, that he may intend 500,000 to represent the losses, not of a single battle, but of the whole campaign. That some farther fighting took place is suggested by 2 Chronicles 13:19. Even so the losses are doubtless exaggerated.
Barnes' Notes on 2 Chronicles 13:17
Slain - The word means strictly “pierced,” and will include both the killed and the wounded. It is translated “wounded” in Lamentations 2:12.
Whedon's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 13:17
17. There fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men — These many slain (çììéí, pierced, wounded) probably include both killed and wounded during the whole war; not those who fell in any one engagement.
Sermons on 2 Chronicles 13:17
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Through the Bible) 2 Chronicles 10-13 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the history of Israel and their rebellion against God. He mentions how God had made a covenant with David that there would always be a king fr |
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Fighting Our Battles by Mary Wilder Tileston | Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about the assurance of victory in God's battles, emphasizing the presence of the Lord as our fighter and captain. She highlights the importance of tru |
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Of the Conflagration of the Universe. by John Gill | John Gill preaches on the universal conflagration of the universe, emphasizing the literal interpretation of biblical prophecies regarding the end times, particularly the burning o |
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The Cause and Cure of Earthquakes by John Wesley | John Wesley addresses the terrifying reality of earthquakes as divine judgments from God, emphasizing that they serve as a reminder of human sinfulness and the need for repentance. |
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The Future Punishment of the Wicked Unavoidable and Intolerable by Jonathan Edwards | Jonathan Edwards preaches a powerful sermon on the future punishment of the wicked, emphasizing the unavoidable, intolerable, and inescapable nature of God's wrath upon impenitent |
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Worship - Notes of a Reading John 4 by John Nelson Darby | John Nelson Darby emphasizes that true worship is distinct from preaching and requires a relationship with God through salvation. He explains that worship can only occur in the pre |
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A Letter From the Devil by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher shares a personal story about his father's struggles and how the devil tried to tempt him with thoughts of financial success. The preacher emphasizes t |