2 Chronicles 20:18 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 20:18 mean?

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.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 20:18

• "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.

Why 2 Chronicles 20:18 matters

• 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.