And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.
Parallel translations
- WEB He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, and walked in all the way of David his father, and didn’t turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
- KJV And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
- NKJV And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
- NASB He did what was right in the sight of the Lord and walked entirely in the way of his father David, and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.
- NLT He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.
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
Josiah does what is right in God's eyes and walks in the way of David, not turning aside. He is commended as a wholly faithful king.
Overview
Josiah receives the highest praise, walking in David's righteous path and refusing to swerve to the right or left. His steadfast obedience stands in stark contrast to his predecessors. He embodies the godly king Judah longed for, yet even his faithfulness points beyond himself to the perfect Son of David, Jesus Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Josh 1:7Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go.
- Deut 5:32So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left.
- 2 Kgs 18:3And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.
- 1 Kgs 3:6Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
- 2 Chr 29:2And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.
- 2 Kgs 16:2Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. And unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God.
- 1 Kgs 11:38If you listen to all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight in order to keep My statutes and commandments as My servant David did, then I will be with you. I will build you a lasting dynasty just as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.
- Prov 4:27Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
- Prov 20:11Even a young man is known by his actions—whether his conduct is pure and upright.
- 2 Chr 17:3Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek out the Baals,
- 1 Kgs 15:5For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD and had not turned aside from anything the LORD commanded all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
- Ezek 18:14–17Now suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, considers them, and does not do likewise:
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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 22:2 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
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