2 Chronicles 20:18 · Darby Translation

And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Jehovah, worshipping Jehovah.
2 Chronicles 20:18 in the Darby Translation reads: “And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Jehovah, worshipping Jehovah.”. Read it in the full context of 2 Chronicles 20, or compare how other translations render it below.

2 Chronicles 20:18 in Other Translations

KJV And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.
WEB Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Yahweh, worshiping Yahweh.
ASV And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Jehovah, worshipping Jehovah.
YLT And Jehoshaphat boweth—face to the earth—and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem have fallen before Jehovah, to bow themselves to Jehovah.
WBT And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with [his] face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.
DBY And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Jehovah, worshipping Jehovah.

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 20:18

Expositions from classic Bible commentators.

Matthew Henry · 2 Chronicles 20:14–19

We have here God's gracious answer to Jehoshaphat's prayer; and it was a speedy answer. While he was yet speaking God heard: before the congregation was dismissed they had assurance given them that they should be victorious; for it is never in vain to seek God. 1. The spirit of prophecy came upon a Levite that was present, not in any place of eminency, but in the midst of the congregation, Ch2 20:14. The Spirit, like the wind, blows where and on whom he listeth. He was of the sons of Asaph, and therefore one of the singers; on that office God would put an honour. Whether he was a prophet before this or no is uncertain, most probably he was, which would make him the more regarded. There needed no sign, the thing itself was to be performed the very next day, and that would be confirmation enough to his prophecy. 2. He encouraged them to trust in God, though the danger was very threatening (Ch2 20:15): "Be not afraid; you have admitted fear enough to bring you to God, do not now admit that which will drive you to God, do not now admit that which will drive you from him again. The battle is not yours; it is not in your own strength, not for your own cause, that you engage; the battle is God's: he does and will, as you have desired, interest himself in the cause." 3. He gives them intelligence of the motions of the enemy, and orders them to march towards them, with particular directions where they should find them. Tomorrow (the day after the fast) go you down against them, Ch2 20:16, Ch2 20:17. It is fit that he who commands the deliverance should command those for whom the deliverance is to be wrought, and give the necessary orders, both for time and place. 4. He assures them that they should be, not the glorious instruments, but the joyful spectators, of the total defeat of the enemy: "You shall not need to strike a stroke; the work shall be done to your hands; only stand still and see it," Ch2 20:17. As Moses said to Israel at the Red Sea (Exo 14:13), "God is with you, who is able to do his work himself, and will do it. If the battle be his, the victory shall be his too." Let but the Christian soldier go out against his spiritual enemies, and the God of peace will tread them under his feet and make him more than a conqueror. 5. Jehoshaphat and his people received these assurances with faith, reverence, and thankfulness. (1.) They bowed their heads, Jehoshaphat first, and then all the people, fell before the Lord, and worshipped, receiving with a holy awe and fear of God this token of his favour, and saying with faith, Be it unto us according to thy word. (2.) They lifted up their voices in praise to God, Ch2 20:19. An active faith can give thanks for a promise though it be not yet performed, knowing that God's bonds are as good as ready money. God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, Psa 60:5.

Read Matthew Henry's full commentary on 2 Chronicles 20 →

Adam Clarke · 2 Chronicles 20:17–19

For the Lord will be with you - "The Word of the Lord shall be your Helper." - Targum.

Read Adam Clarke's full commentary on 2 Chronicles 20 →

John Gill · 2 Chronicles 20:18

And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground,.... Not only in reverence of God, and his prophet, but as a token of his belief of what was said, and his thankfulness for it:

and all Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, fell before the Lord, worshipping him; adoring his goodness to them, in imitation of their king.

Read John Gill's full commentary on 2 Chronicles 20 →

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · 2 Chronicles 20:18

Jehoshaphat bowed his head . . . and all Judah, &c.--This attitude was expressive of reverence to God and His Word, of confidence in His promise, and thankfulness for so extraordinary a favor.

Read Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's full commentary on 2 Chronicles 20 →

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Cross References for 2 Chronicles 20:18

Related passages, ranked by how often readers connect them. Cross-reference data from openbible.info (CC-BY).

Questions about 2 Chronicles 20:18

What does 2 Chronicles 20:18 say?

2 Chronicles 20:18 in the Darby Translation reads: “And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Jehovah, worshipping Jehovah.” Read it in the full context of 2 Chronicles 20, alongside the classic commentary on this page.

Where is 2 Chronicles 20:18 found in the Bible?

2 Chronicles 20:18 is in the book of 2 Chronicles, chapter 20, verse 18, in the Old Testament.

What Bible translation is 2 Chronicles 20:18 shown in?

This is the Darby Translation (DBY), a public-domain translation. You can compare how other translations render 2 Chronicles 20:18 in the table on this page.

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