2 Chronicles 14:11

And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, [it is] nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou [art] our God; let not man prevail against thee.

And Asa {H609} cried {H7121} unto the LORD {H3068} his God {H430}, and said {H559}, LORD {H3068}, it is nothing with thee to help {H5826}, whether {H996} with many {H7227}, or with them that have no power {H3581}: help {H5826} us, O LORD {H3068} our God {H430}; for we rest {H8172} on thee, and in thy name {H8034} we go {H935} against this multitude {H1995}. O LORD {H3068}, thou art our God {H430}; let not man {H582} prevail {H6113} against thee.

Asa cried out to ADONAI his God, "ADONAI, there is no one besides yourself, strong or weak, who can help. Help us, ADONAI our God, because we are relying on you, and we are coming against this vast throng in your name. You are ADONAI our God; don't let human beings stop you!"

Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.”

And Asa cried unto Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah, there is none besides thee to help, between the mighty and him that hath no strength: help us, O Jehovah our God; for we rely on thee, and in thy name are we come against this multitude. O Jehovah, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

Commentary

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 14:11 (KJV)

This powerful verse records King Asa's fervent prayer to God as Judah faced an immense Cushite (Ethiopian) army led by Zerah, a force far outnumbering his own. It stands as a profound declaration of faith and dependence on the Almighty.

Context

King Asa had initiated significant religious reforms in Judah, removing idolatry and encouraging the people to seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 14:4). This battle against Zerah's million-man army was a critical test of the nation's renewed commitment to God. Asa did not rely on his military strategy alone, but on divine intervention, leading his people in a moment of desperate spiritual reliance before battle.

Key Themes

  • Divine Omnipotence: Asa acknowledges that God's ability to help is not constrained by human numbers or strength. "it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power" highlights God's absolute sovereignty and limitless power, echoing the sentiment that God can save by many or by few.
  • Absolute Dependence: The phrase "for we rest on thee" (Hebrew: sha'an, meaning to lean, trust, or rely upon) signifies a complete and active reliance on God. It's not passive resignation but a confident trust in God's character and power.
  • Faith in Action: Asa's declaration, "and in thy name we go against this multitude," demonstrates that his faith was not merely intellectual assent but led to courageous action. He understood that victory would come through God's authority and presence, not human might. This mirrors the principle seen in Proverbs 18:10, where the name of the Lord is a strong tower.
  • God's Glory and Honor: "let not man prevail against thee" is a plea for God to uphold His own reputation and glory. Asa understood that if Judah, who rested on God, were defeated, it would appear as if man had overcome God.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "rest" (sha'an) used in "we rest on thee" conveys a deep sense of leaning or supporting oneself completely on another. It implies full trust and dependence, not merely passive inaction. The "multitude" (Hebrew: hamon) emphasizes the overwhelming, noisy, and chaotic nature of the enemy army.

Practical Application

King Asa's prayer offers a timeless model for believers today. When facing overwhelming challenges—whether personal struggles, financial crises, health issues, or spiritual battles—this verse reminds us:

  • God's power is not limited by our circumstances: No situation is too difficult for God to handle.
  • True strength comes from dependence on God: Our resources, or lack thereof, are irrelevant when we fully trust in His infinite power.
  • Prayer is our first and most powerful weapon: Like Asa, we should turn to God with humble, confident, and fervent prayer in times of distress (Psalm 50:15).
  • Faith leads to courageous action: Trusting God doesn't mean doing nothing; it means acting boldly in His name, knowing He goes with us.

Asa's faith-filled prayer was answered, leading to a decisive victory for Judah, demonstrating God's faithfulness to those who truly rely on Him.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Corinthians 12:9

    And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:10

    Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

  • Jeremiah 1:19

    And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I [am] with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.

  • Psalms 22:5

    They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

  • Psalms 20:7

    Some [trust] in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

  • 2 Chronicles 13:14

    And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle [was] before and behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.

  • Romans 8:31

    ¶ What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?
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