What Does 2 Chronicles 13:1 Mean in the King James?

Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.

2 Chronicles 13:1 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

One Hebrew root holds king, reigning, and kingdom together, while this verse gives Abijah’s new reign a defined reach: Judah.

THE MEANING

Two reigns occupy this frame: Jeroboam is in his eighteenth year as Abijah’s rule over Judah begins. Authority has a beginning and a defined reach; one ruler’s presence does not erase every other realm.

THE ROOT

וַיִּמְלֹךְ

wayyimlokh

GROWS FROM

מלך

To reign or exercise kingship.

“reign” in this verse is wayyimlokh. The same root names the king, the act of ruling, and the kingdom. English separates those ideas, while Hebrew holds them together and the verse locates Abijah’s rule over a particular people.

ALSO GROWS

melekh: King

מֶלֶךְ

The same root names the ruler whose reign is beginning.

mamlākāh: Kingdom

מַמְלָכָה

This branch names the realm held within the act of reigning.

mālaḵ: To reign

מָלַךְ

This verb form makes explicit the action carried by the root in the verse.

THE PATTERN

Scripture makes sovereignty legible by naming both who reigns and the people or realm under that reign.

And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

1 Samuel 8:7 · KJVThe same Hebrew root names the LORD’s reign and the people over whom that reign is at stake.

For the kingdom is the LORD’s: and he is the governor among the nations.

Psalm 22:28 · KJVThe verse names both the realm and the one who governs it, extending the scope to the nations.

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Revelation 11:15 · KJVThe kingdoms and the one who reigns over them appear together, showing sovereignty through its realm.

THE THREAD

And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

1 Samuel 8:7 · KJV

The same Hebrew root names Abijah’s reign here and the LORD’s reign in Samuel. It opens the verse beyond succession: every reign also raises the question of who holds authority over a people.

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