2 Chronicles 30:9

For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children [shall find] compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God [is] gracious and merciful, and will not turn away [his] face from you, if ye return unto him.

For if ye turn again {H7725} unto the LORD {H3068}, your brethren {H251} and your children {H1121} shall find compassion {H7356} before {H6440} them that lead them captive {H7617}, so that they shall come again {H7725} into this land {H776}: for the LORD {H3068} your God {H430} is gracious {H2587} and merciful {H7349}, and will not turn away {H5493} his face {H6440} from you, if ye return {H7725} unto him.

For if you turn back to ADONAI, your kinsmen and children will find that those who took them captive will have compassion on them, and they will come back to this land. ADONAI your God is compassionate and merciful; he will not turn his face away from you if you return to him."

For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.โ€

For if ye turn again unto Jehovah, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that led them captive, and shall come again into this land: for Jehovah your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 30:9 is a powerful declaration of God's character and His readiness to respond to a repentant heart, delivered by King Hezekiah during his call for a nationwide Passover celebration.

Context

This verse is part of an urgent invitation sent by King Hezekiah to all Israel and Judah, urging them to come to Jerusalem for a renewed Passover observance. Following a period of great spiritual decline and the northern kingdom's partial captivity by the Assyrians, Hezekiah sought to unify the fractured people and restore their relationship with God. He appealed to those who had been scattered and those remaining in the land to return to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. This specific verse serves as a crucial motivation, promising divine compassion and restoration for their exiled brethren and children if they respond to the call for repentance.

Key Themes

  • Repentance and Divine Restoration: The central message is that turning back to God ("turn again unto the LORD") is the prerequisite for divine intervention and the restoration of what was lost. This includes the literal return of captives to their homeland, a profound promise of national and familial healing.
  • God's Gracious and Merciful Character: The verse highlights two core attributes of God: He is "gracious" (Hebrew: channun, showing favor and kindness) and "merciful" (Hebrew: rachum, indicating deep, compassionate love, often associated with a parent's tenderness). These qualities assure the people that God desires their return and will not reject them. This echoes God's self-revelation to Moses, emphasizing His enduring patience and love.
  • God's Enduring Presence and Favor: The phrase "will not turn away his face from you" signifies God's attentiveness, acceptance, and willingness to engage with His people when they seek Him. It contrasts with situations where God might hide His face due to sin, indicating His readiness to restore fellowship and provide divine favor.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words for "gracious" (ื—ึทื ึผื•ึผืŸ, channun) and "merciful" (ืจึทื—ื•ึผื, rachum) are often paired in the Old Testament to describe God's benevolent character. Channun emphasizes God's unmerited favor and willingness to give, while rachum speaks of deep, compassionate pity, much like a parent's love for a child. This dual description assures the Israelites of God's profound desire for their well-being and His readiness to forgive and restore. The idiom "will not turn away his face" implies God's full attention and acceptance, signifying that He is ready to hear and respond to their prayers.

Practical Application

This verse offers timeless encouragement for individuals and communities today. It reminds us that no matter how far we may feel from God, or how dire our circumstances, His character remains constant: He is gracious and merciful. A genuine turning to Him, whether from specific sin or general spiritual apathy, is met not with rejection but with His compassionate presence and the potential for restoration. It underscores the principle that when we draw near to God, He will draw near to us, bringing healing and hope even in seemingly impossible situations, just as He promised to the exiles.

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

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 55:7 (9 votes)

    Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

  • Micah 7:18 (8 votes)

    Who [is] a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth [in] mercy.

  • Psalms 106:46 (6 votes)

    He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.

  • Psalms 86:5 (6 votes)

    For thou, Lord, [art] good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

  • 1 Kings 8:50 (4 votes)

    And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:

  • Exodus 34:6 (4 votes)

    And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

  • Exodus 34:7 (4 votes)

    Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear [the guilty]; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth [generation].