2 Chronicles 11:2 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 11:2 mean?

2 Chronicles 11:2 marks a turning point in Rehoboam’s plan to fight the Israelites who had rejected his rule. The verse introduces a message from the LORD to Shemaiah, who will pass it on to the king and the people of Judah and Benjamin.

After Rehoboam gathers an army in verse 1, the sentence begins with “But.” That word signals an interruption. The message itself follows in verses 3–4, where the LORD tells them not to fight their fellow Israelites.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 11:2

• “word” — דָּבָר (davar): This word can mean a word, a message, or a matter. Here it refers to a message from the LORD, not merely a single spoken word.
• “LORD” — יְהוָה (YHWH): This is God’s personal name in the Hebrew text. The KJV’s capital letters distinguish the name from the ordinary word “Lord.”
• “man” — אִישׁ (ish): This word means a man or person. Together with “of God,” it describes Shemaiah as someone associated with God and entrusted here with delivering God’s message.

Why 2 Chronicles 11:2 matters

• The coming instruction carries the LORD’s authority, not merely Shemaiah’s opinion. Verse 2 identifies the message as “the word of the LORD,” and verse 4 presents the instruction as what the LORD says.
• The verse introduces an alternative to treating the other Israelites simply as enemies. In verse 4, the LORD calls them “your brethren,” or fellow Israelites, and tells Rehoboam’s forces to return home.