What Does 2 Kings 12:8 Mean in the King James?
And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.
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 Hebrew word translated “repair” means “strengthen,” so restoration here is making a damaged house firm again.
THE MEANING
The visible breach and the flow of the people’s money belong to one reality: who receives the funds is tied to who undertakes the work of strengthening the house. The priests’ consent marks a change in both receiving and repair.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Money received does not by itself mend a breach; the work must reach the damaged place.
THE ROOT
לְחַזֵּק
leḥazzēq
GROWS FROM
חזק
To be strong, grow firm, or strengthen.
The verse’s “repair” is literally an act of strengthening. The house is not merely patched over; its capacity to stand is restored.
ALSO GROWS
ḥāzaq: Be strong, grow firm, prevail.
חָזַק
This branch shows repair as the damaged house becoming firm again.
ḥāzāq: Strong, firm.
חָזָק
The work of repair aims at this condition: a house able to hold together.
בֶּדֶק
bedeq
GROWS FROM
בדק
The word family includes examining or inspecting, and the related noun names a breach or fissure.
“breaches” in this verse is bedeq. The breach is a specific weakness in the structure, something that can be found and examined. Paired with “strengthen,” the verse holds the exposed damage and the repair together.
ALSO GROWS
bāḏaq: Examine, inspect.
בָּדַק
This related verb brings attention to the act of locating and examining what has given way.
bedeq: Breach, fissure, structural damage.
בֶּדֶק
This noun names the house’s vulnerable place that the verse pairs with strengthening.
THE PATTERN
A breach is restored when its weakness is exposed and the work of strengthening it is joined.
And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.THE THREAD
And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.The Hebrew word rendered “repaired” here is חזק (ḥazaq, strengthen), the same root used in 2 Kings 12:8. It reveals repair as making a weakened structure firm, with the work carried by many hands.
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