What Does 2 Chronicles 26:20 Mean in the King James?

And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.

2 Chronicles 26:20 · 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.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The Hebrew root behind the LORD’s “smiting” also names a plague, holding the stroke and the bodily affliction in one word-family.

THE MEANING

You see a body marked on the forehead, and the priests hurry him out. Their action is described with a word of alarmed haste, and the verse names the affliction as the LORD’s stroke. The departure comes through both human action and divine affliction.

THE ROOT

נְגָעוֹ

nəgāʿô

GROWS FROM

נגע

Touch, reach, or strike; the same root also names a stroke or plague.

The form translated “had smitten him” belongs to a root that can describe touching or reaching, while its noun form names a stroke or plague. The Hebrew holds the LORD’s blow and the bodily affliction it leaves within one word-family.

ALSO GROWS

nāgaʿ: To touch, reach, or strike.

נָגַע

This verb form shows the root’s sense of contact behind the verse’s “smitten.”

negaʿ: A stroke, plague, or affliction.

נֶגַע

This noun shows how the same root names the affliction itself, not only the act that reaches the body.

וַיַּבְהִילוּהוּ

wayyavhilūhū

GROWS FROM

בהל

To be alarmed or dismayed; to hurry or hasten.

“thrust him out” in this verse is wayyavhilūhū. The Hebrew verb foregrounds alarmed haste where “thrust” foregrounds force and direction. The priests’ removal is urgent, and the next clause says he too is driven toward the exit.

ALSO GROWS

bāhal: To be alarmed, dismayed, or hurried.

בָּהַל

This verbal branch makes the priests’ urgency part of the scene.

behālāh: Alarm, panic, or sudden terror.

בְּהָלָה

This noun carries the root’s sense of disturbance, clarifying the force behind their hurried response.

THE PATTERN

A visible bodily affliction reshapes where a person may stand among others.

All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.

Leviticus 13:46 · KJVThe bodily affliction places the person outside the shared life of the camp.

The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

2 Kings 5:27 · KJVThe mark changes Gehazi’s condition and the way he leaves the presence of another.

And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

Luke 17:12 · KJVThe men’s visible condition is joined to the distance at which they stand.

THE THREAD

And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.

Exodus 11:1 · KJV

The Hebrew word translated “plague” is ⁨נֶגַע⁩ (negaʿ), from the same root as the LORD’s striking of Uzziah. One word-family holds both the stroke that reaches a body and the affliction that follows.

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