Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options

2 Chronicles 36
New English Translation

Jehoahaz’s Reign

36 The people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem. 2 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. 3 The king of Egypt prevented him from ruling in Jerusalem and imposed on the land a special tax[a] of 100 talents[b] of silver and a talent of gold. 4 The king of Egypt made Jehoahaz’s[c] brother Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Necho seized his brother Jehoahaz and took him to Egypt.

Jehoiakim’s Reign

5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of[d] the Lord his God. 6 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked him,[e] bound him with bronze chains, and carried him away[f] to Babylon. 7 Nebuchadnezzar took some of the items in the Lord’s temple to Babylon and put them in his palace[g] there.[h]

8 The rest of the events of Jehoiakim’s reign, including the horrible sins he committed and his shortcomings, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel and Judah.[i] His son Jehoiachin replaced him as king.

Jehoiachin’s Reign

9 Jehoiachin was eighteen[j] years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of[k] the Lord. 10 At the beginning of the year King Nebuchadnezzar ordered him to be brought[l] to Babylon, along with the valuable items in the Lord’s temple. In his place Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoiachin’s relative[m] Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.

Zedekiah’s Reign

11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem. 12 He did evil in the sight of[n] the Lord his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, the Lord’s spokesman. 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him vow allegiance[o] in the name of God. He was stubborn and obstinate, and refused to return[p] to the Lord God of Israel. 14 All the leaders of the priests and people became more unfaithful and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations.[q] They defiled the Lord’s temple which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.

The Babylonians Destroy Jerusalem

15 The Lord God of their ancestors[r] continually warned them through his messengers,[s] for he felt compassion for his people and his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his warnings,[t] and ridiculed his prophets.[u] Finally the Lord got very angry at his people and there was no one who could prevent his judgment.[v] 17 He brought against them the king of the Babylonians, who slaughtered[w] their young men in their temple.[x] He did not spare[y] young men or women, or even the old and aging. God[z] handed everyone over to him. 18 He carried away to Babylon all the items in God’s temple, whether large or small, as well as what was in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and in the treasuries of the king and his officials. 19 They burned down God’s temple and tore down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned all its fortified buildings and destroyed all its valuable items. 20 He deported to Babylon all who escaped the sword. They served him and his sons until the Persian kingdom rose to power. 21 This took place to fulfill the Lord’s message spoken through Jeremiah[aa] and lasted until the land experienced[ab] its sabbatical years.[ac] All the time[ad] of its desolation the land rested in order to fulfill the seventy years.[ae]

Cyrus Allows the Exiles to Go Home

22 In the first year[af] of King Cyrus of Persia, in fulfillment of the Lord’s message spoken through Jeremiah,[ag] the Lord motivated[ah] King Cyrus of Persia to issue a proclamation[ai] throughout his kingdom and also to put it in writing. It read:

23 “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says:

‘The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Anyone of his people among you may go up there, and may the Lord his God be with him.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 36:3 tn Or “a fine.”
  2. 2 Chronicles 36:3 tn The Hebrew word כִּכַּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or, by extension, to a standard unit of weight. According to the older (Babylonian) standard the “talent” weighed 130 lbs. (58.9 kg), but later this was lowered to 108.3 lbs. (49.1 kg). More recent research suggests the “light” standard talent was 67.3 lbs. (30.6 kg). Using this as the standard for calculation, the weight of the silver was 6,730 lbs. (3,060 kg).
  3. 2 Chronicles 36:4 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Jehoahaz) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  4. 2 Chronicles 36:5 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
  5. 2 Chronicles 36:6 tn Heb “came up against him.”
  6. 2 Chronicles 36:6 tn Heb “to carry him away.”
  7. 2 Chronicles 36:7 tn Or “temple.”
  8. 2 Chronicles 36:7 tn Heb “in Babylon.” Repeating the proper name “Babylon” here would be redundant in contemporary English, so “there” has been used in the translation.
  9. 2 Chronicles 36:8 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Jehoiakim, and his horrible deeds which he did and that which was found against him, look, they are written on the scroll of the kings of Israel and Judah.”
  10. 2 Chronicles 36:9 tc The Hebrew text reads “eight,” but some ancient textual witnesses, as well as the parallel text in 2 Kgs 24:8, have “eighteen.”
  11. 2 Chronicles 36:9 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
  12. 2 Chronicles 36:10 tn Heb “sent and brought him.”
  13. 2 Chronicles 36:10 tn Heb “and he made Zedekiah his brother king.” According to the parallel text in 2 Kgs 24:17, Zedekiah was Jehoiachin’s uncle, not his brother. Therefore many interpreters understand אח (ʾakh) here in its less specific sense of “relative” (NEB “made his father’s brother Zedekiah king”; NASB “made his kinsman Zedekiah king”; NIV “made Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah, king”; NRSV “made his brother Zedekiah king”).
  14. 2 Chronicles 36:12 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
  15. 2 Chronicles 36:13 tn Or “made him swear an oath.”
  16. 2 Chronicles 36:13 tn Heb “and he stiffened his neck and strengthened his heart from returning.”
  17. 2 Chronicles 36:14 tn Heb “like all the abominable practices of the nations.”
  18. 2 Chronicles 36:15 tn Heb “fathers.”
  19. 2 Chronicles 36:15 tn Heb “and the Lord God of their fathers sent against them by the hand of his messengers, getting up early and sending.”
  20. 2 Chronicles 36:16 tn Heb “his words.”
  21. 2 Chronicles 36:16 tn All three verbal forms (“mocked,” “despised,” and “ridiculed”) are active participles in the Hebrew text, indicating continual or repeated action. They made a habit of rejecting God’s prophetic messengers.
  22. 2 Chronicles 36:16 tn Heb “until the anger of the Lord went up against his people until there was no healer.”
  23. 2 Chronicles 36:17 tn Heb “killed with the sword.”
  24. 2 Chronicles 36:17 tn Heb “in the house of their sanctuary.”
  25. 2 Chronicles 36:17 tn Or “show compassion to.”
  26. 2 Chronicles 36:17 tn Heb “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  27. 2 Chronicles 36:21 tn Heb “by the mouth of Jeremiah.”
  28. 2 Chronicles 36:21 tn The verb may be seen as either of two homophonous roots רָצָה (ratsah) meaning “to restore” or “to accept, take pleasure in.”
  29. 2 Chronicles 36:21 sn According to Lev 25:4, the land was to remain uncultivated every seventh year. Lev 26:33-35 warns that the land would experience a succession of such sabbatical rests if the people disobeyed God, for he would send them away into exile.
  30. 2 Chronicles 36:21 tn Heb “days of.”
  31. 2 Chronicles 36:21 sn Concerning the seventy years see Jer 25:11. Cyrus’ edict (see vv. 22-23) occurred about fifty years after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 b.c., which is most naturally understood as the beginning point of the “days of desolation” mentioned in v. 21. The number “seventy” is probably used in a metaphorical sense, indicating a typical lifetime and suggesting a thorough or complete judgment that would not be lifted until an entirely new generation emerged.
  32. 2 Chronicles 36:22 sn The first year of Cyrus would be ca. 539 b.c. Cyrus reigned in Persia from ca. 539-530 b.c.
  33. 2 Chronicles 36:22 tn Heb “by the mouth of Jeremiah.”sn See Jer 25:11; 29:10.
  34. 2 Chronicles 36:22 tn Heb “stirred the spirit of.” The Hebrew noun רוּחַ (ruakh, “spirit”) has a broad range of meanings (see BDB 924-26 s.v.). Here, it probably refers to (1) “mind” as the seat of mental acts (e.g., Exod 28:3; Deut 34:9; Isa 29:24; 40:13; Ezek 11:5; 20:32; 1 Chr 28:12; cf. BDB 925 s.v. 6) or (2) “will” as the seat of volitional decisions (e.g., Exod 35:5, 22; Pss 51:12, 14; 57:8; 2 Chr 29:31; cf. BDB 925 s.v. 7). So also in Ezra 1:5. The entire phrase “stirred the spirit” has been rendered as “motivated” to better reflect normal English.
  35. 2 Chronicles 36:22 tn Heb “a voice.” The Hebrew noun קוֹל (qol, “voice, sound”) has a broad range of meanings, including the metonymical (cause—effect) nuance “proclamation” (e.g., Exod 36:6; 2 Chr 24:9; 30:5; 36:22; Ezra 1:1; 10:7; Neh 8:15). See BDB 877 s.v. 3.a.2.
Next
2 Chronicles 35
Ezra 1
Next
Previous

Revelation 22
New English Translation

22 Then[a] the angel[b] showed me the river of the water of life—water as clear as crystal—pouring out[c] from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 flowing down the middle of the city’s[d] main street.[e] On each side[f] of the river is the tree of life producing twelve kinds[g] of fruit, yielding its fruit every month of the year.[h] Its leaves are for the healing of the nations. 3 And there will no longer be any curse,[i] and the throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city.[j] His[k] servants[l] will worship[m] him, 4 and they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 Night will be no more, and they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.

A Final Reminder

6 Then[n] the angel[o] said to me, “These words are reliable[p] and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants[q] what must happen soon.”

7 (Look ! I am coming soon!
Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy expressed in this book.)[r]

8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things,[s] and when I heard and saw them,[t] I threw myself down[u] to worship at the feet of the angel who was showing them to me. 9 But[v] he said to me, “Do not do this![w] I am a fellow servant[x] with you and with your brothers the prophets, and with those who obey[y] the words of this book. Worship God!” 10 Then[z] he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy contained in this book, because the time is near. 11 The evildoer must continue to do evil,[aa] and the one who is morally filthy[ab] must continue to be filthy. The[ac] one who is righteous must continue to act righteously, and the one who is holy must continue to be holy.”

12 (Look ! I am coming soon,
and my reward is with me to pay[ad] each one according to what he has done!
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the first and the last,
the beginning and the end!)[ae]

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can have access[af] to the tree of life and can enter into the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers[ag] and the sexually immoral, and the murderers, and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood![ah]

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star!”[ai] 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say: “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge.

18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described[aj] in this book. 19 And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life[ak] and in the holy city that are described in this book.

20 The one who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.[al]

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 22:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
  2. Revelation 22:1 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the angel mentioned in 21:9, 15) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  3. Revelation 22:1 tn Grk “proceeding.” Water is more naturally thought to pour out or flow out in English idiom.
  4. Revelation 22:2 tn Grk “its”; the referent (the city, the new Jerusalem) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  5. Revelation 22:2 tn The Greek word πλατεῖα (plateia) refers to a major (broad) street (L&N 1.103).
  6. Revelation 22:2 tn Grk “From here and from there.”
  7. Revelation 22:2 tn Or “twelve crops” (one for each month of the year).
  8. Revelation 22:2 tn The words “of the year” are implied.
  9. Revelation 22:3 tn Or “be anything accursed” (L&N 33.474).
  10. Revelation 22:3 tn Grk “in it”; the referent (the city, the new Jerusalem) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  11. Revelation 22:3 tn Grk “city, and his.” Although this is a continuation of the previous sentence in Greek, a new sentence was started here in the translation because of the introduction of the Lamb’s followers.
  12. Revelation 22:3 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
  13. Revelation 22:3 tn Or “will serve.”
  14. Revelation 22:6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
  15. Revelation 22:6 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the angel mentioned in 21:9, 15; 22:1) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  16. Revelation 22:6 tn Grk “faithful.”
  17. Revelation 22:6 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
  18. Revelation 22:7 sn These lines are parenthetical, forming an aside to the narrative. The speaker here is the Lord Jesus Christ himself rather than the narrator.
  19. Revelation 22:8 tn Or “I am John, the one who heard and saw these things.”
  20. Revelation 22:8 tn The pronoun “them” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
  21. Revelation 22:8 tn Grk “I fell down and worshiped at the feet.” BDAG 815 s.v. πίπτω 1.b.α.ב. has “fall down, throw oneself to the ground as a sign of devotion or humility, before high-ranking persons or divine beings.”
  22. Revelation 22:9 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present here.
  23. Revelation 22:9 tn On the elliptical expression ὅρα μή (hora mē) BDAG 720 s.v. ὁράω B.2 states: “Elliptically…ὅρα μή (sc. ποιήσῃς) watch out! don’t do that! Rv 19:10; 22:9.”
  24. Revelation 22:9 tn Grk “fellow slave.” Though σύνδουλος (sundoulos) is here translated “fellow servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
  25. Revelation 22:9 tn Grk “keep” (an idiom for obedience).
  26. Revelation 22:10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
  27. Revelation 22:11 tn Grk “must do evil still.”
  28. Revelation 22:11 tn For this translation see L&N 88.258; the term refers to living in moral filth.
  29. Revelation 22:11 tn Grk “filthy, and the.” This is a continuation of the previous sentence in Greek, but because of the length and complexity of the construction a new sentence was started in the translation.
  30. Revelation 22:12 tn The Greek term may be translated either “pay” or “pay back” and has something of a double meaning here. However, because of the mention of “wages” (“reward,” another wordplay with two meanings) in the previous clause, the translation “pay” for ἀποδοῦναι (apodounai) was used here.
  31. Revelation 22:13 sn These lines are parenthetical, forming an aside to the narrative. The speaker here is the Lord Jesus Christ himself rather than the narrator.
  32. Revelation 22:14 tn Grk “so that there will be to them authority over the tree of life.”
  33. Revelation 22:15 tn On the term φάρμακοι (pharmakoi) see L&N 53.101.
  34. Revelation 22:15 tn Or “lying,” “deceit.”
  35. Revelation 22:16 tn On this expression BDAG 892 s.v. πρωϊνός states, “early, belonging to the morning ὁ ἀστὴρ ὁ πρ. the morning star, Venus Rv 2:28; 22:16.”
  36. Revelation 22:18 tn Grk “written.”
  37. Revelation 22:19 tc The Textus Receptus, on which the KJV rests, reads “the book” of life (ἀπὸ βίβλου, apo biblou) instead of “the tree” of life. When the Dutch humanist Desiderius Erasmus translated the NT he had access to no Greek mss for the last six verses of Revelation. So he translated the Latin Vulgate back into Greek at this point. As a result he created seventeen textual variants which were not in any Greek mss. The most notorious of these is this reading. It is thus decidedly inauthentic, while “the tree” of life, found in the best and virtually all Greek mss, is clearly authentic. The confusion was most likely due to an intra-Latin switch: The form of the word for “tree” in Latin in this passage is ligno; the word for “book” is libro. The two-letter difference accounts for an accidental alteration in some Latin mss; that “book of life” as well as “tree of life” is a common expression in the Apocalypse probably accounts for why this was not noticed by Erasmus or the KJV translators. (This textual problem is not discussed in NA27.)
  38. Revelation 22:21 tc Most mss (א M) read “amen” (ἀμήν, amēn) after “all” (πάντων, pantōn). It is, however, not found in other significant mss (A 1006 1841). It is easier to account for its addition than its omission from the text if original. Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant.
Next
Revelation 21
dropdown
New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.