Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.

2 KINGS 3:27KJV
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2 Kings 3:27 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 3:27 mean?

2 Kings 3:27 describes the king of Moab making a desperate sacrifice during a siege. He offers his own son, the heir to his throne, as a burnt offering. The verse then reports great anger against Israel and the departure of the invading forces.

After the king’s attempt to break through the enemy lines fails in verse 26, he makes the offering on the city wall. The wall places the act in view of the forces surrounding the city. The account is told by a narrator, not by the king himself.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 3:27

  • “offering” — עֹלָה (ʿolah): This word refers to an offering burned on an altar. Here it identifies the killing of the king’s son as an act of sacrifice, not simply an act of violence.
  • “indignation” — קֶצֶף (qetsef): This word means anger or wrath. The Hebrew describes the anger as directed against Israel, while leaving the source of that anger unstated.

Why 2 Kings 3:27 matters

  • The sacrifice has a cost for the king’s family and kingdom. The son was the one “that should have reigned in his stead,” so the king gave up his expected successor.
  • The ending leaves the Moabite city in the king’s hands. The invading forces “departed from him,” bringing their attack to an end.
  • The “great indignation against Israel” is important to the outcome, but the wording leaves room for readers to ask whose anger caused the withdrawal. The verse does not identify the angry party.

Where else these words appear

“indignation” Hebrew H7110 · used in 29 verses

  • Numbers 1:53 But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.
  • 2 Chronicles 24:18 And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.
  • Isaiah 54:8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

“eldest” Hebrew H1060 · used in 96 verses

  • Genesis 10:15 And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,
  • Numbers 3:40 And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
  • 1 Chronicles 2:27 And the sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel were, Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker.

“wall” Hebrew H2346 · used in 123 verses

  • Exodus 14:22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
  • Nehemiah 2:8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
  • Isaiah 36:11 Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.

“departed” Hebrew H5265 · used in 140 verses

  • Genesis 11:2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
  • Numbers 10:22 And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud.
  • Numbers 33:31 And they departed from Moseroth, and pitched in Benejaakan.