Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.

2 CHRONICLES 25:14KJV
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2 Chronicles 25:14 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 25:14 mean?

2 Chronicles 25:14 describes how King Amaziah, after defeating the Edomites, brought back their idols and began to worship them, even offering incense to these foreign gods. This act shows Amaziah turning away from the God of Israel to follow the gods of the people he had just conquered.

The verse is part of a historical account where Amaziah, king of Judah, returns from a military victory over Edom (the people of Seir). Instead of giving thanks to the God who gave him victory, Amaziah adopts the defeated nation’s gods, setting them up as his own and performing acts of worship to them. This moment is highlighted to show a significant failure in Amaziah’s leadership and faithfulness.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 25:14

  • אֱלֹהִים (’elohim; gods): This word is used for the idols Amaziah brings back. In this context, it refers to the false gods of Edom, not the God of Israel. The use of the same word that can mean "God" or "gods" in Hebrew highlights the contrast between true worship and idolatry.
  • קָטַר (qatar; to burn incense): This verb describes Amaziah’s act of burning incense to the idols. Burning incense was a common act of worship in the ancient world, so this detail shows Amaziah fully participating in pagan religious practices, not just keeping the idols as trophies.
  • שָׁחָה (shachah; to bow down): This word means to bow or prostrate oneself in worship. Amaziah’s physical act of bowing shows his submission and devotion to these foreign gods, making his rejection of Israel’s God even clearer.

Why 2 Chronicles 25:14 matters

  • The verse highlights the irony and tragedy of Amaziah’s actions: after defeating the Edomites, he chooses to worship their powerless gods rather than remain loyal to the God who gave him victory.
  • This moment sets up the reason for Amaziah’s later downfall, as the narrative shows that turning to other gods leads to negative consequences for Israel’s leaders.
  • The detail about burning incense and bowing down emphasizes that Amaziah’s idolatry was not casual or accidental but involved deliberate, formal acts of worship.

Where else these words appear

“Edomites” Hebrew H130 · used in 12 verses

  • Deuteronomy 23:7 Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.
  • 1 Samuel 22:18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
  • 1 Kings 11:17 That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child.

“Seir” Hebrew H8165 · used in 38 verses

  • Genesis 14:6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.
  • Deuteronomy 2:1 Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.
  • Judges 5:4 LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.

“Amaziah” Hebrew H558 · used in 39 verses

  • 2 Kings 12:21 For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.
  • 2 Kings 15:1 In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.
  • 2 Chronicles 25:17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.

“incense” Hebrew H6999 · used in 112 verses

  • Exodus 29:13 And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul that is above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar.
  • Leviticus 9:20 And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:
  • 2 Chronicles 28:4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.