What Does 2 Chronicles 35:2 Mean in the King James?
And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the LORD,
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
The priests are strengthened for service at their watch, making attentive keeping part of the work itself.
THE MEANING
Your service is a watch, a place where attention keeps what is entrusted. You are strengthened through encouragement so the work can be carried, and your charge belongs within the house of the LORD. The verse holds keeping and service together as one living responsibility.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie is that the work entrusted to you must be carried by solitary effort; the verse pairs responsibility with strengthening.
THE ROOT
מִשְׁמְרֹתָם
mishmerotam
GROWS FROM
שמר
shamar
Keep, guard, watch over.
“Charges” is מִשְׁמְרֹתָם (mishmerotam, their watches or posts), from שׁמר (shamar, to keep, guard, or watch). The same seed moves between guarding a charge and sustaining watchfulness, so the priests are strengthened for attentive keeping as part of their service.
ALSO GROWS
mishmeret: Watch, post, charge.
מִשְׁמֶרֶת
This is the singular form behind “charges,” showing that the priests are assigned a place to keep.
shomer: Keeper, guardian.
שֹׁמֵר
The watch is carried by someone who guards what has been entrusted.
shamar: Keep, guard, watch.
שָׁמַר
The verb reveals the active attention within the priests’ assigned post.
וַיְחַזְּקֵם
vaychazzeqem
GROWS FROM
חזק
chazaq
Be strong, strengthen, make firm.
“Encouraged” is וַיְחַזְּקֵם (vaychazzeqem, he strengthened them), from חזק (chazaq, to be strong or strengthen). This root also carries the sense of taking hold firmly: encouragement makes the priests steady for the work.
ALSO GROWS
chazaq: Be strong, grow firm.
חָזַק
The strengthening in this verse makes the priests firm enough to carry their charge.
chizzeq: Strengthen, make firm.
חִזֵּק
This form shows encouragement as an action that steadies another person.
hecheziq: Take hold, hold fast.
הֶחֱזִיק
The root links strength with being held firmly to the work entrusted.
THE PATTERN
People carry entrusted work through strengthening and ability given for service.
And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.THE THREAD
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.Isaiah’s “Strengthen” uses the same Hebrew root חזק (chazaq, to strengthen or make firm) as “encouraged” here. The root opens encouragement as something practical: weakness is steadied in hands and knees, making service carryable.
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