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2 Chronicles 12:14

But he did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the Lord.
2 Chronicles 12:14 · New American Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB He did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek Yahweh.
  • KJV And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.
  • BSB And Rehoboam did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.
  • NKJV And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.
  • NLT But he was an evil king, for he did not seek the Lord with all his heart.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Rehoboam did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD. The root of his failure was an undevoted heart.

Overview

The Chronicler diagnoses Rehoboam's sin at its source: he 'did not set his heart to seek the LORD.' Evil flowed from a heart not fixed on God, not merely from outward circumstance. This verse underscores the Chronicler's central call to wholehearted seeking of God, the very devotion fulfilled and enabled by Christ, who gives his people new hearts (Ezekiel 36:26).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 16

  • 2 Chr 19:3Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.”
  • Isa 55:6–7Seek Yahweh while he may be found. Call on him while he is near.
  • Isa 45:19I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I didn’t say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, Yahweh, speak righteousness. I declare things that are right.
  • Ezek 33:31They come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but don’t do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain.
  • 1 Cor 16:13Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong!
  • 1 Cor 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
  • 2 Chr 11:16After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, those who set their hearts to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
  • Ps 78:37For their heart was not right with him, neither were they faithful in his covenant.
  • Ps 105:3–4Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
  • 2 Chr 30:19who sets his heart to seek God, Yahweh, the God of his fathers, even if they aren’t clean according to the purification of the sanctuary.”
  • Ps 78:8and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that didn’t make their hearts loyal, whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
  • Matt 7:7“Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.
  • 1 Sam 7:3Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are returning to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”
  • Deut 5:29Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!
  • 1 Chr 29:18Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the heart of your people, and prepare their heart for you;
  • Ps 57:7My heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises.

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Christ at the center

Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.

How 2 Chronicles 12:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.