Question 1

What does 2 Chronicles 20:18 mean?

Accepted Answer

2 Chronicles 20:18 describes King Jehoshaphat and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem bowing down with their faces to the ground to worship the LORD. This verse shows a moment of deep humility and reverence as the entire community responds to God together. In this scene, Jehoshaphat is leading the people during a crisis, as enemy armies threaten them. After hearing a prophetic message of assurance from God, Jehoshaphat and everyone present physically lower themselves in worship, showing their trust and surrender to God’s authority and help.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 20:18

Accepted Answer

"Bowed" (כָּרַע, kāra‘): This word means to bend low or kneel, often as a sign of respect or submission. Here, it highlights Jehoshaphat’s humility before God. "Fell" (נָפַל, nāphal): This verb means to fall down, which in this context emphasizes the people’s complete surrender and awe in God’s presence. "Worshipping" (שָׁחָה, shāchāh): This word is often used for bowing down in worship, not just with words but with the whole body. It shows that their worship was physical and wholehearted, not just a mental or verbal act.

Question 3

Why 2 Chronicles 20:18 matters

Accepted Answer

This verse makes clear that worship in ancient Israel was often a physical act, involving the whole body, not just words or inner feelings. The verse shows the unity of the people, with both leaders and ordinary citizens responding to God together, which is a key theme in the story. 2 Chronicles 20:18 connects directly to the wider passage, where God’s people are facing a threat and respond first with worship and trust, before any action is taken against their enemies.

2 Chronicles 20:18 (KJV)