2 Chronicles 15:2

Authorized King James Version

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And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.

Original Language Analysis

וַיֵּצֵא֮ And he went out H3318
וַיֵּצֵא֮ And he went out
Strong's: H3318
Word #: 1 of 22
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
לִפְנֵ֣י to meet H6440
לִפְנֵ֣י to meet
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 2 of 22
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
אָסָ֖א Asa H609
אָסָ֖א Asa
Strong's: H609
Word #: 3 of 22
asa, the name of a king and of a levite
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר and said H559
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר and said
Strong's: H559
Word #: 4 of 22
to say (used with great latitude)
ל֔וֹ H0
ל֔וֹ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 5 of 22
שְׁמָע֕וּנִי unto him Hear H8085
שְׁמָע֕וּנִי unto him Hear
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 6 of 22
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אָסָ֖א Asa H609
אָסָ֖א Asa
Strong's: H609
Word #: 7 of 22
asa, the name of a king and of a levite
וְכָל H3605
וְכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 8 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יְהוּדָ֣ה and all Judah H3063
יְהוּדָ֣ה and all Judah
Strong's: H3063
Word #: 9 of 22
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
וּבִנְיָמִ֑ן and Benjamin H1144
וּבִנְיָמִ֑ן and Benjamin
Strong's: H1144
Word #: 10 of 22
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
יְהוָ֤ה The LORD H3068
יְהוָ֤ה The LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 11 of 22
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
עִמָּכֶם֙ H5973
עִמָּכֶם֙
Strong's: H5973
Word #: 12 of 22
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
בִּֽהְיוֹתְכֶ֣ם H1961
בִּֽהְיוֹתְכֶ֣ם
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 13 of 22
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
עִמּ֔וֹ H5973
עִמּ֔וֹ
Strong's: H5973
Word #: 14 of 22
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
וְאִֽם H518
וְאִֽם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 15 of 22
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
תִּדְרְשֻׁ֙הוּ֙ is with you while ye be with him and if ye seek H1875
תִּדְרְשֻׁ֙הוּ֙ is with you while ye be with him and if ye seek
Strong's: H1875
Word #: 16 of 22
properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship
יִמָּצֵ֣א him he will be found H4672
יִמָּצֵ֣א him he will be found
Strong's: H4672
Word #: 17 of 22
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
לָכֶ֔ם H0
לָכֶ֔ם
Strong's: H0
Word #: 18 of 22
וְאִם H518
וְאִם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 19 of 22
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יַֽעֲזֹ֥ב him he will forsake H5800
יַֽעֲזֹ֥ב him he will forsake
Strong's: H5800
Word #: 20 of 22
to loosen, i.e., relinquish, permit, etc
יַֽעֲזֹ֥ב him he will forsake H5800
יַֽעֲזֹ֥ב him he will forsake
Strong's: H5800
Word #: 21 of 22
to loosen, i.e., relinquish, permit, etc
אֶתְכֶֽם׃ H853
אֶתְכֶֽם׃
Strong's: H853
Word #: 22 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

Cross References

James 4:8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.2 Chronicles 24:20And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.2 Chronicles 15:4But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.1 Chronicles 28:9And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.Hebrews 10:38Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.2 Chronicles 15:15And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.Hebrews 12:25See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:2 Chronicles 20:20And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.2 Chronicles 13:12And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.Deuteronomy 20:1When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Analysis & Commentary

Azariah's prophetic word to King Asa 'The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you' establishes a crucial conditional principle. God's covenant presence ('the LORD is with you') depends on faithful response ('while ye be with him'). This isn't works-salvation but covenant stipulation - those who truly know God seek Him and experience His presence. Conversely, forsaking God results in divine abandonment. This sobering warning balances promises of God's faithfulness with calls to human responsibility. In Christ, believers have security because Christ never forsakes the Father, and we're united to Him.

Historical Context

Delivered during Asa's reforms (c. 895 BCE) after victory over Ethiopia, this prophecy encouraged continued faithfulness while warning against complacency. Asa's later failure to seek God (16:12) proved the warning's relevance.

Questions for Reflection