Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.

2 CHRONICLES 22:2KJV
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2 Chronicles 22:2 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 22:2 mean?

2 Chronicles 22:2 says that Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for one year. The verse also names his mother as Athaliah, the daughter of Omri.

This verse is part of a historical record in the book of 2 Chronicles, which tells about the kings of Judah. The writer is giving basic facts about Ahaziah’s age, length of reign, and family background. These details set the stage for understanding the short and troubled rule of Ahaziah, as well as the influence of his mother Athaliah, who is linked to the royal family of Israel through Omri.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 22:2

  • "Forty" (אַרְבָּעִים, 'arba'im) and "two" (שְׁנַיִם, shenayim): The Hebrew words here add up to "forty-two," but some ancient manuscripts and translations (like 2 Kings 8:26) say "twenty-two." This has led to questions about possible copyist errors or different traditions.
  • "Old" (בֶּן, ben): This word usually means "son," but in this context, it is used to indicate age, meaning "years old."
  • "Reign" (מָלַךְ, malakh): This word means "to become king" or "to rule," marking the official start of Ahaziah’s kingship.
  • "Mother's name" (שֵׁם, shem; אֵם, em): Naming the mother, Athaliah, is significant because she played a major role in the events that followed Ahaziah’s reign.

Why 2 Chronicles 22:2 matters

  • This verse highlights a possible textual issue about Ahaziah’s age, which can affect how readers understand the timeline of Judah’s kings.
  • Naming Athaliah and her connection to Omri shows the strong influence of the northern kingdom of Israel on Judah’s royal family at this time.
  • The brief length of Ahaziah’s reign (one year) hints at instability and sets up the dramatic events that follow in the next verses.

Where else these words appear

“Omri” Hebrew H6018 · used in 16 verses

  • 1 Kings 16:16 And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.
  • 1 Kings 16:25 But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him.
  • 2 Kings 8:26 Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.

“Athaliah” Hebrew H6271 · used in 17 verses

  • 2 Kings 8:26 Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
  • 2 Kings 11:14 And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.
  • 2 Chronicles 22:12 And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.

“Ahaziah” Hebrew H274 · used in 30 verses

  • 1 Kings 22:40 So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.
  • 2 Kings 9:16 So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.
  • 2 Kings 14:13 And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

“Forty” Hebrew H705 · used in 124 verses

  • Genesis 5:13 And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:
  • Deuteronomy 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
  • 1 Chronicles 5:18 The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war.