Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.

2 CHRONICLES 21:20KJV
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2 Chronicles 21:20 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 21:20 mean?

2 Chronicles 21:20 says that Jehoram became king of Judah at age 32, ruled for eight years in Jerusalem, and died without anyone mourning or missing him. Although he was buried in the city of David, he was not given the honor of being placed in the royal tombs with the other kings.

This verse is part of the account of King Jehoram’s reign, showing how negatively his rule was viewed by the people. The writer highlights that Jehoram’s death was met with indifference, which was unusual for a king, and his burial apart from the royal sepulchres signaled a lack of respect or approval from his nation.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 21:20

  • The word "departed" (יָלַךְ, yalak) means "to go" or "to depart." Here, it gently describes Jehoram’s death, but the lack of any positive sentiment shows the people's relief at his passing.
  • "Desired" (חֵמֶד, chemed) means "to be desired" or "to be missed." The verse uses this word to stress that Jehoram’s death left no one longing for him, underlining his unpopularity.
  • "Sepulchres" (קֶבֶר, qeber) refers to burial places or tombs. Not being buried in the royal tombs was a significant dishonor for a king, emphasizing how poorly Jehoram was regarded.

Why 2 Chronicles 21:20 matters

  • This verse clears up that Jehoram’s reign ended in disgrace, not just in death, which helps explain the negative tone of his story in the wider passage.
  • The detail about his burial outside the royal tombs shows how a king’s legacy was measured in ancient Judah—not just by power, but by the respect of his people.
  • The verse connects to the larger theme in Chronicles about the consequences of a king’s actions, especially when a ruler leads the people away from what was considered right.

Where else these words appear

“desired” Hebrew H2532 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 27:15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:
  • Jeremiah 3:19 But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.
  • Daniel 11:8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.

“sepulchres” Hebrew H6913 · used in 62 verses

  • Genesis 23:4 I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
  • 1 Kings 13:31 And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones:
  • Job 17:1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.

“eight” Hebrew H8083 · used in 105 verses

  • Genesis 5:4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:
  • 1 Kings 7:10 And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.
  • 2 Chronicles 35:19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.

“buried” Hebrew H6912 · used in 122 verses

  • Genesis 15:15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
  • Judges 16:31 Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.
  • 2 Kings 14:20 And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.