2 Kings 14:18 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 14:18 mean?

2 Kings 14:18 says that the rest of King Amaziah’s actions are recorded in another historical source called the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah. This verse tells the reader that more details about Amaziah’s reign can be found elsewhere, beyond what is summarized here.

The writer of 2 Kings is wrapping up the account of Amaziah, king of Judah, by pointing readers to another record for further information. This was a common way for biblical writers to signal that their account was selective and that official records existed with more details about a king’s reign.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 14:18

• "rest" (יֶתֶר, yether): This word means "what remains" or "the remainder." Here, it refers to all the other deeds of Amaziah not included in this summary.
• "acts" (דָּבָר, davar): While often translated as "acts" or "deeds," this word can also mean "words" or "matters." It emphasizes that both actions and possibly decisions or events are included in the record.
• "written" (כָּתַב, kathav): This word means "to write." It highlights that the information about Amaziah was officially recorded, not just passed down orally.
• "book" (סֵפֶר, sefer): This word means "scroll" or "book." It refers to an actual written document, not just a figurative record.
• "chronicles" (דָּבָר, davar; יָמִים, yamim): Here, "chronicles" combines "davar" (matters) and "yamim" (days), meaning "the matters of the days"—a phrase used for annals or official records.

Why 2 Kings 14:18 matters

• This verse shows that the biblical account is selective and that the writer expects readers to know there are more detailed records elsewhere.
• It helps clarify that the Bible sometimes summarizes events and points to other sources for a fuller historical picture.
• By mentioning the "book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah," the verse connects the story of Amaziah to the broader history of Judah’s kings, helping readers see each king as part of a larger narrative.