And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.
2 CHRONICLES 26:20KJVWhat does 2 Chronicles 26:20 mean?
2 Chronicles 26:20 describes how Azariah the chief priest and the other priests saw that King Uzziah had become leprous on his forehead, and they quickly forced him out of the temple. Uzziah himself hurried to leave because the LORD had struck him with this disease.
The scene takes place in the temple, where King Uzziah had just tried to burn incense—a duty reserved for priests. Azariah and the priests immediately recognized the visible sign of leprosy (a serious skin disease) on Uzziah’s forehead, which was seen as a direct punishment from God. The priests acted quickly to remove him, and Uzziah did not resist, knowing he had been afflicted by God’s judgment.
The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 26:20
- לְצָרַעַת (tzara‘at, “leprous”): This word refers to a serious skin disease, not necessarily modern leprosy, but something that made a person ritually unclean and excluded from temple worship. Its appearance on Uzziah’s forehead would have been immediately obvious and alarming.
- מֵהֵיכָל (meheikhal, “out”): The word used for being thrust out carries a sense of urgency and force, showing that the priests did not hesitate to remove Uzziah from the holy place.
- יָחַף (yachaf, “hasted”): The word for Uzziah hurrying out suggests he was eager to leave, likely out of fear and shame, recognizing the seriousness of what had happened to him.
- נָגַע (naga‘, “smitten”): This word means “to strike” or “to touch,” and in this context, it shows that the disease was a direct act from the LORD (יהוה, YHWH), not just a natural illness.
Why 2 Chronicles 26:20 matters
- This verse clarifies that Uzziah’s leprosy was an immediate and visible judgment from God, not a random illness, emphasizing the seriousness of disobeying God’s commands about temple worship.
- The reaction of the priests shows the importance of maintaining the holiness of the temple and following the roles God had set for priests and kings.
- The verse connects to the larger story of Uzziah’s reign, marking a turning point where his pride led to downfall, and it explains why he was separated from the community for the rest of his life.