What Does 2 Kings 14:5 Mean in the King James?

And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.

2 Kings 14:5 · 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 uses one strike-root for both killings, so the king’s answer carries the same blow that first wounded his house.

THE MEANING

Power can become secure while a wound remains active: the hand that now holds authority answers a killing with another killing. The same strike echoes in both directions as Amaziah kills those who killed his father. Security arrives beside retaliation, not after the violence has disappeared.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The lie that regaining security means the danger is over: here, the first act after the kingdom is firm is another killing.

THE ROOT

וַיַּךְ

wayyak

GROWS FROM

נכה

n-k-h

To strike or smite.

“slew / slain” in this verse is wayyak. The words translated “slew” and “had slain” come from the same root: striking. The sentence makes the king’s retaliation echo the original killing in the language itself.

ALSO GROWS

nakah: To strike or smite.

נָכָה

This root names the king’s act and the servants’ earlier act with the same word family.

makkah: A blow, stroke, or plague.

מַכָּה

The resulting blow remains present in the root’s range of meaning, even where English says “slain.”

חָזְקָה

chazqah

GROWS FROM

חזק

ḥ-z-q

To be strong, grow firm, or strengthen.

“confirmed” in this verse is chazqah. The kingdom grows firm in Amaziah’s hand before the killing follows. This root places the act of retaliation at the moment his authority has become strong.

ALSO GROWS

chazaq: To be strong or grow firm.

חָזַק

This is the root behind the kingdom becoming “confirmed” in his hand.

chizzeq: To strengthen or reinforce.

חִזֵּק

This branch makes the sense of confirmation concrete: what was unstable is made firm.

THE PATTERN

The deed a person sends out can return to that person in its own form.

Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Genesis 9:6 · KJVBloodshed returns in the same form, as the violence done becomes the violence received.

Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Matthew 26:52 · KJVThe sword taken up against another becomes the very instrument of a person’s own end.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Galatians 6:7 · KJVThe image of sowing and reaping extends the pattern: what goes out from a person returns as its harvest.

THE THREAD

He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.

Exodus 21:12 · KJV

“Smiteth” comes from the same root, ⁨נכה⁩ (nakah), that appears twice here as “slew” and “slain.” The repeated root makes the two killings sound as one returning blow; Exodus makes explicit the lethal consequence carried by that strike.

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