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In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.
2 Kings 8:20 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.
  • BSB In the days of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against the hand of Judah and appointed their own king.
  • NKJV In his days Edom revolted against Judah’s authority, and made a king over themselves.
  • NASB In his days Edom broke away from the rule of Judah, and appointed a king over themselves.
  • NLT During Jehoram’s reign, the Edomites revolted against Judah and crowned their own king.

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

During Jehoram's reign Edom rebelled and set up its own king, breaking free from Judah's control. The kingdom's decline brought loss of dominion.

Overview

Edom had been subject to Judah since David's day, but under unfaithful Jehoram it threw off that rule. Scripture often links political decline with covenant unfaithfulness, as the loss of God's blessing accompanies turning from Him. This fulfilled earlier warnings that disobedience would weaken the nation's standing among its neighbors.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 7

  • 1 Kgs 22:47There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king.
  • 2 Kgs 3:9So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.
  • 2 Kgs 3:27Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.
  • 2 Kgs 8:22Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.
  • 2 Sam 8:14And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
  • Gen 27:40And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.
  • 2 Chr 21:8–10In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 2 Kings videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 2 Kings 8:20YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 2 KingsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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 8:20 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.