2 Chronicles 34:19
New International Version
When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes.

New Living Translation
When the king heard what was written in the Law, he tore his clothes in despair.

English Standard Version
And when the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes.

Berean Standard Bible
When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes

King James Bible
And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.

New King James Version
Thus it happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes.

New American Standard Bible
When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes.

NASB 1995
When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.

NASB 1977
And it came about when the king heard the words of the law that he tore his clothes.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened that when the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.

Amplified Bible
When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes.

Christian Standard Bible
When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.

American Standard Version
And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.

Contemporary English Version
When Josiah heard what was in The Book of God's Law, he tore his clothes in sorrow.

English Revised Version
And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When the king heard what the Teachings said, he tore his clothes [in distress].

Good News Translation
When the king heard the book being read, he tore his clothes in dismay

International Standard Version
As soon as he heard what the Law said, he tore his clothes.

Majority Standard Bible
When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes

NET Bible
When the king heard the words of the law scroll, he tore his clothes.

New Heart English Bible
It happened, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he tore his clothes.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.

World English Bible
When the king had heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it comes to pass, at the king’s hearing the words of the Law, that he tears his garments,

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, at the king's hearing the words of the law, that he rendeth his garments,

Smith's Literal Translation
And it will be when the king heard the words of the law, and he will rend his garments.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he had heard the words of the law, he rent his garments:

Catholic Public Domain Version
and he had heard the words of the law, he tore his garments.

New American Bible
When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his garments.

New Revised Standard Version
When the king heard the words of the law he tore his clothes.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it came to pass when the king had heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And it was that when the King heard the words of the Law, he tore his garments.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the Law, that he rent his clothes.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the law, that he rent his garments.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law
18Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king. 19 When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes 20and commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king:…

Cross References
2 Kings 22:11
When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes

Jeremiah 36:24
Yet in hearing all these words, the king and his servants did not become frightened or tear their garments.

2 Kings 22:13
“Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah concerning the words in this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book by doing all that is written about us.”

2 Kings 23:2-3
And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the prophets—all the people small and great—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD. / So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.

Deuteronomy 31:24-26
When Moses had finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end, / he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD: / “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you.

Nehemiah 8:9
Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law.

2 Kings 22:19
because 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.

2 Kings 23:21-23
The king commanded all the people, “Keep the Passover of the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” / No such Passover had been observed from the days of the judges who had governed Israel through all the days of the kings of Israel and Judah. / But in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, this Passover was observed to the LORD in Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 26:18-19
“Micah the Moreshite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and told all the people of Judah that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge.’ / Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did Hezekiah not fear the LORD and seek His favor, and did not the LORD relent of the disaster He had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great harm on ourselves!”

2 Kings 18:6
He remained faithful to the LORD and did not turn from following Him; he kept the commandments that the LORD had given Moses.

2 Kings 23:25
Neither before nor after Josiah was there any king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, according to all the Law of Moses.

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Acts 13:15
After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.”

Matthew 5:17-18
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. / For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.


Treasury of Scripture

And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.

the words

Romans 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 7:7-11
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet…

Galatians 2:19
For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

that he rent

2 Kings 19:1
And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.

2 Kings 22:11,19
And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes…

Jeremiah 36:22-24
Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him…

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Clothes Garments Grief Hands Heard Hearing King's Law Parting Rendeth Rent Robe Robes Sign Tore Violently Words
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Clothes Garments Grief Hands Heard Hearing King's Law Parting Rendeth Rent Robe Robes Sign Tore Violently Words
2 Chronicles 34
1. Josiah's good reign
3. He destroys idolatry
8. He takes order for the repair of the temple
14. Hilkiah, having found a book of the law,
21. Josiah sends to Huldah to enquire of the Lord
23. Huldah prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem, but respite thereof in Josiah's time
29. Josiah, causing it to be read in a solemn assembly, renews the covenant with God














When the king heard the words of the Law
This phrase refers to King Josiah of Judah, who reigned from approximately 640 to 609 BC. The "words of the Law" likely refer to the Book of the Law, which was discovered in the temple during renovations. This book is generally considered to be a form of Deuteronomy or a collection of Mosaic laws. The discovery signifies a pivotal moment in Judah's history, as it highlights the neglect of God's commandments and the need for reform. The hearing of the Law underscores the importance of Scripture in guiding the moral and spiritual direction of the nation. This moment is reminiscent of the rediscovery of God's Word in other biblical narratives, such as the reading of the Law by Ezra in Nehemiah 8.

he tore his clothes
Tearing one's clothes is a traditional expression of grief, repentance, or distress in ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Israel. This act by King Josiah signifies his deep sorrow and alarm upon realizing how far the nation had strayed from God's commandments. It is a physical manifestation of his inner turmoil and repentance. This response is consistent with other biblical figures who tore their garments in times of crisis or mourning, such as Job (Job 1:20) and King Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:1). Josiah's reaction also prefigures the call to repentance found in the New Testament, where true repentance involves a heartfelt turning back to God, as seen in the ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. King Josiah
The king of Judah who initiated religious reforms and sought to restore the worship of Yahweh. His response to the reading of the Law demonstrates his humility and reverence for God.

2. Hilkiah the High Priest
The priest who found the Book of the Law in the temple. His discovery was pivotal in sparking the religious reforms under Josiah.

3. Shaphan the Scribe
The royal secretary who read the Book of the Law to King Josiah, leading to the king's dramatic reaction.

4. The Book of the Law
Likely a portion of Deuteronomy, this sacred text was rediscovered during temple repairs and played a crucial role in the revival of Judah's covenant with God.

5. Jerusalem
The capital city of Judah, where the temple was located and where these events took place.
Teaching Points
The Power of God's Word
God's Word has the power to convict and transform hearts. Josiah's reaction to the Law demonstrates the profound impact Scripture can have when it is read and understood.

The Importance of Repentance
Tearing one's clothes was a sign of deep mourning and repentance in ancient Israel. Josiah's response is a model for how believers should react to the conviction of sin.

Leadership and Spiritual Renewal
Josiah's leadership in seeking God and reforming the nation underscores the role of godly leadership in guiding others toward spiritual renewal.

Rediscovering God's Word
The rediscovery of the Book of the Law reminds us of the importance of regularly engaging with Scripture, which can be neglected or forgotten in our lives.

Personal and Communal Reformation
Josiah's personal response led to communal reform. Our personal spiritual renewal can have a ripple effect, influencing our families, churches, and communities.Verse 19. - With one insignificant exception (the omission here of the word סֶפֶר), the words of this verse are identical with the parallel in its ver. 11. The same, to all purposes, may be said of our twelve succeeding verses, compared with the parallel in its ver. 12 - 2 Chronicles 23:3. The king rent his clothes, in grief that the practice of his nation had diverged so terribly from their ever-to-be-venerated Law.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When the king
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

heard
כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ (kiš·mō·a‘)
Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

the words
דִּבְרֵ֣י (diḇ·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of the Law,
הַתּוֹרָ֑ה (hat·tō·w·rāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

he tore
וַיִּקְרַ֖ע (way·yiq·ra‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7167: To rend

his clothes
בְּגָדָֽיו׃ (bə·ḡā·ḏāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 899: A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 34:19 It happened when the king had heard (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 34:18
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