2 Chronicles 21:15 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 21:15 mean?

2 Chronicles 21:15 predicts that King Jehoram will suffer a severe and ongoing illness affecting his intestines, so serious that his bowels will eventually come out because of the disease, and this suffering will continue day after day. The verse describes a specific, graphic consequence for Jehoram’s actions, emphasizing the seriousness of his punishment.

This warning comes from a prophecy delivered by Elijah to King Jehoram of Judah, who had led his people into wrongdoing and idolatry. The verse uses vivid language to show the intensity and duration of the suffering Jehoram will face, highlighting that his punishment will be both painful and drawn out over time.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 21:15

• "great" (רַב, rav, H7227): This word means "much" or "great," stressing the severity of the sickness Jehoram will experience, not just a mild illness.
• "sickness" (חֳלִי, choli, H2483): This word refers to illness or disease in general, but here it is paired with "great" to show the seriousness.
• "disease" (מַחֲלָה, machalah, H4245): This word often points to a specific affliction or plague, highlighting that Jehoram’s suffering is not random but a targeted, harsh disease.
• "bowels" (מֵעֶה, me'eh, H4578): Used twice in this verse, this word literally means the intestines or inner organs, making the description of the illness very physical and specific.
• "out" (יָצָא, yatsa, H3318): This word means "to go out" or "come out," making the phrase about the bowels falling out very literal and graphic.
• "day" (יוֹם, yom, H3117): Repeated twice, this word means "day," emphasizing that the suffering is ongoing, happening day after day without relief.

Why 2 Chronicles 21:15 matters

• The verse clears up that the punishment is not just spiritual or symbolic but involves real, physical suffering described in graphic terms, which would have been shocking to ancient readers.
• The repeated mention of "day by day" underlines that Jehoram’s suffering is not a one-time event but a drawn-out ordeal, showing the seriousness of his wrongdoing.
• This verse fits into a larger passage where Elijah warns Jehoram about the consequences of leading Judah away from faithfulness, connecting the king’s actions directly to his personal fate.