The Meaning of 2 Chronicles 26:16 Explained

2 Chronicles 26:16

KJV: But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

YLT: And at his being strong his heart hath been high unto destruction, and he trespasseth against Jehovah his God, and goeth in unto the temple of Jehovah to make perfume upon the altar of perfume.

Darby: But when he became strong his heart was lifted up to his downfall; and he transgressed against Jehovah his God, and went into the temple of Jehovah to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

ASV: But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Jehovah his God; for he went into the temple of Jehovah to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But when he was strong,  his heart  was lifted up  to [his] destruction:  for he transgressed  against the LORD  his God,  and went  into the temple  of the LORD  to burn incense  upon the altar  of incense. 

What does 2 Chronicles 26:16 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Chronicles 26:16-23 - The Penalty Of Pride
The offices of priest and king were rigorously kept apart throughout the history of Israel. Melchizedek's dual office is typical of the priestly reign of Christ, and had no counterpart in the Mosaic and Levitical ritual. Zechariah's prediction indicated an absolutely new era, Zechariah 6:12-13. The rash act of Uzziah was resisted by the priests, and the issue was decided by the terrible brand of leprosy which appeared suddenly upon his forehead. As the result of his attempt to flout the solemn sanctions of divine origin and authority, he lost even the religious privileges which he had enjoyed before.
However great God's goodness, and whatever be the position of usefulness to which we may attain, there are prescribed limits beyond which we may not go. We must not cast ourselves in willful abandonment from the pinnacle of the Temple. God's dearest children must not presume on their familiarity, and take liberties with His rules and ways. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Chronicles 26

1  Uzziah succeeding, and reigning well in the days of Zechariah, prospers
16  Waxing proud, he invades the priest's office, and is smitten with leprosy
22  He dies, and Jotham succeeds him

What do the individual words in 2 Chronicles 26:16 mean?

But when he was strong was lifted up his heart to [his] destruction for he transgressed against Yahweh his God and by entering into the temple of Yahweh to burn incense on the altar of incense
וּכְחֶזְקָת֗וֹ גָּבַ֤הּ לִבּוֹ֙ עַד־ לְהַשְׁחִ֔ית וַיִּמְעַ֖ל בַּיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑יו וַיָּבֹא֙ אֶל־ הֵיכַ֣ל יְהוָ֔ה לְהַקְטִ֖יר עַל־ מִזְבַּ֥ח הַקְּטֹֽרֶת

וּכְחֶזְקָת֗וֹ  But  when  he  was  strong 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֶזְקָה  
Sense: strength, strong, being strong, force.
גָּבַ֤הּ  was  lifted  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גָּבַהּ  
Sense: to be high, be exalted.
לִבּוֹ֙  his  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
לְהַשְׁחִ֔ית  [his]  destruction 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁחַת  
Sense: to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay.
וַיִּמְעַ֖ל  for  he  transgressed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָעַל  
Sense: to act unfaithfully, act treacherously, transgress, commit a trespass.
בַּיהוָ֣ה  against  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהָ֑יו  his  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וַיָּבֹא֙  and  by  entering 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֶל־  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הֵיכַ֣ל  the  temple 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הֵיכָל  
Sense: palace, temple, nave, sanctuary.
יְהוָ֔ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְהַקְטִ֖יר  to  burn  incense 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: מֻקְטָר 
Sense: .
מִזְבַּ֥ח  the  altar 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
הַקְּטֹֽרֶת  of  incense 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: קְטֹרֶת  
Sense: incense, smoke, odour of (burning) sacrifice.