And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.

2 KINGS 9:21KJV
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2 Kings 9:21 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 9:21 mean?

2 Kings 9:21 describes how Joram, king of Israel, ordered his chariot to be prepared and, together with Ahaziah, king of Judah, went out in their chariots to confront Jehu. They met Jehu at the field that had belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite.

Joram gives the command to get ready, and both kings personally ride out, showing the seriousness of the situation. The meeting place—the land of Naboth—reminds readers of earlier injustice, since Naboth was wrongly killed so King Ahab (Joram’s father) could take his vineyard. This sets the stage for a confrontation tied to past wrongs.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 9:21

  • "Ready" (אָסֹר, ʼasor): This word means to bind or harness, and here it refers to getting the chariot ready for action. It shows urgency and preparation for a significant encounter.
  • "Portion" (חֶלְקָה, chelqah): This means a piece of land or plot. The verse points out that the meeting happens specifically in Naboth’s field, highlighting the connection to the earlier story of Naboth’s unjust death.

Why 2 Kings 9:21 matters

  • The verse ties the coming confrontation to the earlier story of Naboth, reminding readers that Jehu’s actions are connected to God’s judgment for past injustice.
  • By naming both kings and their personal involvement, the verse emphasizes the gravity of the moment and the direct consequences for Israel and Judah’s leadership.
  • The detail about the location signals to the reader that this is not just a random meeting, but a fulfillment of prophecy and a turning point in Israel’s history.

Where else these words appear

“Jezreelite” Hebrew H3158 · used in 8 verses

  • 1 Kings 21:1 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
  • 1 Kings 21:6 And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.
  • 1 Kings 21:15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.

“Naboth” Hebrew H5022 · used in 18 verses

  • 1 Kings 21:1 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
  • 1 Kings 21:7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
  • 1 Kings 21:15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.

“portion” Hebrew H2513 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 27:16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:
  • 2 Samuel 23:11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.
  • Job 24:18 He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.

“Joram” Hebrew H3088 · used in 26 verses

  • 1 Kings 22:50 And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
  • 2 Kings 9:17 And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?
  • 2 Chronicles 21:4 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.