And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

2 CHRONICLES 14:11KJV
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2 Chronicles 14:11 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 14:11 mean?

2 Chronicles 14:11 shows King Asa praying to the LORD for help in battle, declaring that God can save whether the army is large or small. Asa puts his trust in God alone, asking that human strength not win against God’s power.

King Asa is speaking directly to the LORD (the God of Israel) as his army faces a much larger enemy force. Asa’s prayer recognizes God’s ability to help regardless of numbers or strength, and he openly admits his dependence on God. This verse highlights Asa’s humility and faith, as he appeals to God’s name and reputation in the face of overwhelming odds.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 14:11

  • LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God, used repeatedly in Asa’s prayer to show a close, covenant relationship.
  • help (עָזַר, ‘azar): This word means to assist or support, emphasizing that Asa is not asking for a little boost, but for God’s active intervention.
  • rest (שָׁעַן, sha‘an): This word carries the sense of leaning on or relying upon, showing Asa’s total dependence on God rather than his own resources.
  • prevail (עָצַר, ‘atsar): Here, it means to overcome or defeat; Asa is asking that no human effort succeed against God.

Why 2 Chronicles 14:11 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that victory depends on human strength or numbers; Asa’s prayer focuses entirely on God’s ability to save.
  • The emphasis on God’s name and reputation shows that Asa is concerned not just for his own safety, but for how God is seen by others.
  • In the wider passage, Asa’s prayer stands out as a model of humble faith in a moment of crisis, setting the tone for how Israel’s kings should rely on God.

Where else these words appear

“rest” Hebrew H8172 · used in 20 verses

  • Genesis 18:4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
  • 2 Kings 7:17 And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.
  • Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

“whether” Hebrew H996 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
  • Exodus 12:6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
  • Job 24:11 Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.

“prevail” Hebrew H6113 · used in 45 verses

  • Genesis 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
  • 1 Kings 8:35 When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:
  • 2 Chronicles 20:37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

“Asa” Hebrew H609 · used in 52 verses

  • 1 Kings 15:8 And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
  • 1 Kings 16:10 And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.
  • 2 Chronicles 15:10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.