And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

2 CHRONICLES 20:13KJV
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2 Chronicles 20:13 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 20:13 mean?

2 Chronicles 20:13 describes the entire community of Judah—men, women, and children—standing together before the LORD as they seek His help. The verse highlights that everyone, including families with their youngest members, gathered in unity during a moment of crisis.

King Jehoshaphat had called the people of Judah to seek God because enemy armies were threatening them. This verse shows that the response was not just from the leaders or the men, but from all the people, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation and the shared dependence on God for deliverance.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 20:13

  • יְהוּדָה (Yehudah / Judah): This word refers to the southern kingdom and its people, showing that the entire nation was involved, not just a select group.
  • נָצַב (natsav / stood): This word often carries the sense of standing firm or taking a deliberate position, suggesting a posture of attention, readiness, or reverence before God.
  • לִפְנֵי (lifnei / before): This preposition means "in the presence of," emphasizing that the people were consciously placing themselves before God, not just physically gathering.
  • טַף (taf / little ones): This word specifically points to very young children, underlining that even the youngest were included in this act of seeking God, which is unusual for gatherings of this kind in the ancient world.

Why 2 Chronicles 20:13 matters

  • The verse clears up any idea that only leaders or adults were involved in seeking God; it stresses the participation of the whole community, including families with their children.
  • This detail sets the stage for the dramatic answer God gives in the following verses, showing that the deliverance to come is for everyone present.
  • The verse connects to the larger theme of communal dependence on God in times of trouble, highlighting unity and shared faith as central to the story.

Where else these words appear

“with” Hebrew H1571 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
  • Deuteronomy 12:30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
  • Job 12:3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

“ones” Hebrew H2945 · used in 42 verses

  • Genesis 34:29 And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.
  • Numbers 16:27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
  • Deuteronomy 31:12 Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: