When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes
Parallel translations
- WEB When the king had heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.
- KJV And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.
- NKJV Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes.
- NASB When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.
- NLT When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair.
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
Upon hearing the words of the law, Josiah tears his clothes in grief. He responds with deep conviction and repentance.
Overview
Confronted by God's law, Josiah tears his garments, a sign of profound sorrow and contrition over the nation's sin. He takes the word seriously and is grieved by Judah's failure to keep it. His humble, repentant response models the right reaction to Scripture's exposure of sin, the brokenness that leads to grace in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 2 Chr 34:19When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes
- Joel 2:13So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.
- Jonah 3:6–7When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
- Josh 7:6Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown before the ark of the LORD until evening, as did the elders of Israel; and they all sprinkled dust on their heads.
- 2 Kgs 22:19because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its people, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you,’ declares the LORD.
- Jer 36:24Yet in hearing all these words, the king and his servants did not become frightened or tear their garments.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Amid the long decline toward exile, the promise to David's house refuses to die; the flickering lamp kept burning anticipates the coming King who will not fail or be cut off.
How 2 Kings 22:11 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.