2 Chronicles 28:11 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 28:11 mean?

2 Chronicles 28:11 is a warning to the people of Israel to release the captives they have taken from their fellow Israelites, because God’s anger is against them for what they have done. The verse urges them to listen and act quickly to avoid further judgment from the LORD.

In this scene, a prophet is speaking to the leaders of Israel after they have captured people from Judah during a conflict. The prophet tells them that keeping their own relatives as prisoners is wrong and has brought about the fierce wrath of the LORD (H3068) against them. The message is direct: they must return the captives (H7633) to avoid even greater consequences.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 28:11

• "Deliver" (שׁוּב, shuv, H7725) means to return or restore. The prophet is not just asking for release, but for the captives to be brought back to their homes, emphasizing restoration and making things right.
• "Captives" (שְׁבִי, shevi, H7633) and "captive" (שָׁבָה, shavah, H7617) both refer to people taken by force in war. The use of both words highlights the seriousness of taking their own brethren (אח, ach, H251) as prisoners, stressing the family relationship and the betrayal involved.
• "Fierce" (חָרוֹן, charon, H2740) and "wrath" (אַף, aph, H639) together describe an intense, burning anger. This pairing shows that the LORD’s response is not mild but deeply provoked by their actions.

Why 2 Chronicles 28:11 matters

• This verse clarifies that God holds His people accountable for how they treat each other, especially when they harm their own kin.
• The warning about the LORD’s fierce wrath connects to the larger theme in Chronicles that God’s judgment is real and immediate when His people act unjustly.
• The call to restore the captives shows that repentance is not just about feeling sorry but about taking concrete steps to correct wrongs.