And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD.

2 CHRONICLES 24:12KJV
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2 Chronicles 24:12 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 24:12 mean?

2 Chronicles 24:12 describes how King Joash and the priest Jehoiada distributed collected funds to pay skilled workers—masons, carpenters, and metalworkers—to repair and restore the temple of the LORD. The verse highlights the organized effort and practical steps taken to fix the temple using both labor and materials.

King Joash and Jehoiada are leading a project to restore the temple in Jerusalem, which had fallen into disrepair. They collect money from the people and then give it to those responsible for the work, making sure to hire skilled laborers for stonework, carpentry, and metalwork. This verse shows the careful management and teamwork involved in the temple’s restoration.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 24:12

  • "gave" (נָתַן, natan): This word means to give or hand over. Here, it emphasizes that the funds were actively distributed by the leaders to those doing the actual work, not just collected and stored.
  • "service" (עֲבֹדָה, avodah): This word often means work or service, especially in a religious or temple context. It points to the fact that the repairs were seen as a sacred duty, not just a construction job.
  • "repair" (חָדַשׁ, chadash): This word means to renew or make new. It suggests that the work was not just patching up, but a real restoration to bring the temple back to its intended state.
  • "mend" (חָזַק, chazaq): This word means to strengthen or make strong. It shows that the repairs aimed to make the temple sturdy and lasting, not just cosmetically improved.

Why 2 Chronicles 24:12 matters

  • The verse clarifies that the temple repairs were a well-organized, community-supported project, not just a royal command or a priestly ritual.
  • By mentioning specific trades—masons, carpenters, and metalworkers—the verse shows the practical skills and teamwork needed for such a large restoration.
  • This verse connects to the broader story of King Joash’s reforms, showing his commitment to restoring proper worship by first repairing the physical place of worship.

Where else these words appear

“repair” Hebrew H2318 · used in 10 verses

  • 1 Samuel 11:14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
  • Job 10:17 Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.
  • Psalms 104:30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

“hired” Hebrew H7936 · used in 18 verses

  • Genesis 30:16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.
  • 2 Samuel 10:6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
  • Nehemiah 6:12 And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

“masons” Hebrew H2672 · used in 22 verses

  • Deuteronomy 6:11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
  • 2 Chronicles 2:18 And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work.
  • Isaiah 5:2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

“carpenters” Hebrew H2796 · used in 32 verses

  • Exodus 28:11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.
  • 1 Chronicles 14:1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house.
  • Isaiah 44:13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.