2 Chronicles 36:14

Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.

Moreover all the chief {H8269} of the priests {H3548}, and the people {H5971}, transgressed {H4603} very {H4604} much {H7235} after all the abominations {H8441} of the heathen {H1471}; and polluted {H2930} the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068} which he had hallowed {H6942} in Jerusalem {H3389}.

In addition, the chief cohanim and the people grew increasingly unfaithful, following all the abominable practices of the other nations; and they polluted the house of ADONAI, which he had consecrated in Yerushalayim.

Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied their unfaithful deeds, following all the abominations of the nations, and they defiled the house of the LORD, which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.

Moreover all the chiefs of the priests, and the people, trespassed very greatly after all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted the house of Jehovah which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 36:14 KJV stands as a somber indictment of the spiritual state of ancient Judah just before its devastating fall to Babylon. This verse encapsulates the profound and widespread apostasy that permeated society, from its religious leaders down to the common people, leading directly to divine judgment.

Context

This verse is found at the climax of the book of 2 Chronicles, which chronicles the history of the kings of Judah. By chapter 36, the kingdom is in its final throes, with a succession of unfaithful kings reigning under the shadow of Babylonian power. The chronicler emphasizes that the nation's spiritual decline was not sudden but a culmination of centuries of disobedience, idolatry, and a rejection of God's covenant. Verse 14 highlights that this corruption was not confined to the monarchy but had thoroughly infected the priesthood and the populace, underscoring the spiritual bankruptcy that justified the impending Babylonian exile.

Key Themes

  • Widespread Apostasy: The phrase "all the chief of the priests, and the people" emphasizes that spiritual corruption was not limited to a few but was pervasive throughout society, including those meant to uphold God's law.
  • Gross Transgression: "Transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen" points to a deep and deliberate rebellion against God's commands. It signifies the adoption of pagan religious practices, including idolatry, child sacrifice, and various forms of immorality that were detestable to the Lord.
  • Desecration of the Holy: The "polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem" is a critical point. The Temple was God's dwelling place on earth, set apart as holy. Its defilement by pagan practices and spiritual impurity was an ultimate act of defiance against God's holiness and covenant.
  • Divine Justice: This verse serves as a justification for the severe judgment that follows, explaining why God permitted the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the exile of His people.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "transgressed" is ma'al (מָעַל), which often carries the nuance of acting unfaithfully, especially against God or against a sacred trust. It implies a breach of covenant or a treacherous act.
  • "Abominations" translates to'evah (תּוֹעֵבָה), a strong term for something detestable, abhorrent, or morally repugnant to God. It is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe idolatrous practices and severe moral sins, as seen in passages warning against pagan rituals and customs in Deuteronomy 18:9-12.
  • "Polluted" (טָמֵא - tame') means to make unclean, defile, or contaminate, especially in a ritual or spiritual sense. The Temple, which was "hallowed" (קָדַשׁ - qadash), meaning "set apart as holy," was made profane by their actions. This stands in stark contrast to its original purpose and sanctity.

Related Scriptures

The severity of their sin is echoed throughout the prophetic books, where God laments the defilement of His sanctuary (e.g., Jeremiah 7:11, where God calls the Temple a "den of robbers"). The persistent rejection of God's messengers and the mockery of His warnings, as described in 2 Chronicles 36:16, ultimately sealed their fate.

Practical Application

For believers today, 2 Chronicles 36:14 serves as a powerful reminder of several truths:

  1. The Seriousness of Sin: God takes sin, especially spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry, very seriously. Even in the New Covenant, believers are warned against spiritual adultery (James 4:4).
  2. Responsibility of Leadership: The mention of "chief of the priests" highlights that spiritual leaders bear a significant responsibility to uphold God's standards and guide the people in righteousness. Their failure has widespread consequences.
  3. The Holiness of God: God is holy, and He desires His people and their places of worship (which for Christians is now the body, the temple of the Holy Spirit – 1 Corinthians 6:19) to reflect that holiness. We must guard against anything that would pollute or defile our walk with Him.
  4. Consequences of Persistent Disobedience: This verse is a stark warning that continued rebellion and rejection of God's ways will eventually lead to severe consequences. God is patient, but His patience has limits.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Daniel 9:8

    O Lord, to us [belongeth] confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.

  • Micah 7:2

    The good [man] is perished out of the earth: and [there is] none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.

  • Ezra 9:7

    Since the days of our fathers [have] we [been] in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, [and] our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as [it is] this day.

  • Jeremiah 5:5

    I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, [and] the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, [and] burst the bonds.

  • 2 Chronicles 33:4

    Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.

  • 2 Chronicles 33:7

    And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

  • 2 Kings 16:10

    ¶ And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that [was] at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.

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