And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

2 CHRONICLES 21:18KJV
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2 Chronicles 21:18 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 21:18 mean?

2 Chronicles 21:18 says that after previous events, the LORD struck King Jehoram with a severe and incurable disease in his intestines. This verse describes a direct act of judgment from God, resulting in a painful and terminal illness for the king.

The setting is the reign of Jehoram, king of Judah, who had turned away from God and led his people into wrongdoing. The verse is part of a narrative where the prophet Elijah has already warned Jehoram of coming disaster because of his actions. This specific disease is presented as a consequence of Jehoram’s choices and a fulfillment of prophetic warning.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 21:18

  • LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that the action comes directly from Israel’s covenant God.
  • smote (נָכָה, nākhah): This word means to strike or afflict, often used for a decisive, sometimes fatal, blow. Here, it highlights that the disease is not random but a purposeful act.
  • bowels (מֵעֶה, mēʿeh): This word refers to the inner organs, especially the intestines, which in ancient Hebrew thought were associated with deep emotions and physical suffering.
  • incurable (אֵין, ʾēn; מַרְפֵּא, marpēʾ): The phrase uses two words together to stress that the disease has no remedy or healing, making the king’s condition hopeless by human means.
  • disease (חֳלִי, ḥolī): This is a general word for illness or sickness, but in this context, it refers to a particularly severe and devastating affliction.

Why 2 Chronicles 21:18 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the disease Jehoram suffers is not just a natural illness but is described as a direct consequence of his actions, fulfilling a prophetic warning.
  • The emphasis on the disease being “incurable” underlines the seriousness of God’s judgment and the hopelessness of Jehoram’s situation.
  • Understanding the original words shows the intensity of Jehoram’s suffering and the deliberate nature of the punishment, connecting it to the broader theme of accountability for leaders in the biblical narrative.

Where else these words appear

“incurable” Hebrew H4832 · used in 15 verses

  • 2 Chronicles 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
  • Proverbs 13:17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
  • Ecclesiastes 10:4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

“disease” Hebrew H2483 · used in 22 verses

  • Deuteronomy 7:15 And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.
  • 2 Kings 13:14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.
  • Isaiah 1:5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

“incurable” Hebrew H369 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 2:5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
  • 1 Chronicles 22:4 Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.
  • Isaiah 41:24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.

“bowels” Hebrew H4578 · used in 30 verses

  • Genesis 15:4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:21 And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.
  • Isaiah 49:1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.