Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.

2 CHRONICLES 32:29KJV
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What does 2 Chronicles 32:29 mean?

2 Chronicles 32:29 describes how King Hezekiah gained many cities, large numbers of flocks and herds, and great wealth, all of which the verse says were given to him by God. The verse highlights that Hezekiah’s prosperity was unusually abundant and directly attributed to God’s favor.

This verse is part of a summary of Hezekiah’s reign over Judah, written by the Chronicler to show how God blessed Hezekiah’s wise leadership and faithfulness. The focus is on the visible results—cities, livestock, and possessions—that marked a period of stability and growth for the kingdom, emphasizing that these blessings were not just the result of human effort but were gifts from God.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 32:29

  • The word for “possessions” is מִקְנֶה (miqneh), which often refers specifically to livestock or property. This highlights that Hezekiah’s wealth was not just in money or goods but in tangible, valuable resources like animals and land.
  • The word for “substance” is רְכוּשׁ (rekhush), meaning wealth or property. Its use here underlines the broad scope of Hezekiah’s prosperity, suggesting riches of many kinds.
  • The phrase “very much” uses מְאֹד (me’od) and רַב (rav), both meaning “very” and “much” or “many.” The doubling of these terms stresses the extraordinary scale of Hezekiah’s blessings.

Why 2 Chronicles 32:29 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Hezekiah’s success was not just political or military but also economic, showing a well-rounded picture of his reign.
  • The Chronicler’s emphasis on God as the source of Hezekiah’s wealth counters any idea that it was achieved solely by human means, reinforcing a key biblical theme of divine provision.
  • In the wider passage, this prosperity sets the stage for later events, including Hezekiah’s response to challenges, and shows the connection between faithfulness and blessing in the Chronicler’s perspective.

Where else these words appear

“substance” Hebrew H7399 · used in 27 verses

  • Genesis 12:5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
  • Genesis 36:7 For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.
  • 2 Chronicles 31:3 He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD.

“possessions” Hebrew H4735 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 4:20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
  • Exodus 9:3 Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.
  • Judges 6:5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.

“abundance” Hebrew H7230 · used in 149 verses

  • Genesis 16:10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
  • 2 Chronicles 17:5 Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
  • Proverbs 13:23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.