The Meaning of 2 Chronicles 32:19 Explained

2 Chronicles 32:19

KJV: And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.

YLT: and they speak against the God of Jerusalem as against the gods of the peoples of the land -- work of the hands of man.

Darby: And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of man's hand.

ASV: And they spake of the God of Jerusalem, as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they spake  against  the God  of Jerusalem,  as against the gods  of the people  of the earth,  [which were] the work  of the hands  of man. 

What does 2 Chronicles 32:19 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Chronicles 32:16-23 - The Cry To Heaven Answered
Sennacherib's generals were even more insolent than himself. Their aim was to discourage the people and undermine their faith. To destroy confidence in God is the surest method of attack and victory. A significant description of their braggart boastfulness is given in 2 Chronicles 32:19. The only effect, however, was to drive the king and the prophet to prayer, 2 Chronicles 32:20. This is the talisman of victory. Isaiah tells how Hezekiah spread out the blasphemous letter of the invader before God, and challenged His help, that the kingdoms of the earth might know His power, inasmuch as His character was at stake before the heathen.
One angel sufficed for the work of deliverance and Sennacherib returned home a discredited man, to be murdered by his own children. The Lord not only saved Israel, but "guided them" on every side. Shall we not claim similar treatment? And when we are true to God, we may rely on Him to give us favor with men, and enrich our lives with His hid treasures. "Them that honor me, I will honor." [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Chronicles 32

1  Sennacherib invading Judah, Hezekiah fortifies himself, and encourages his people
9  Hezekiah and Isaiah pray against the blasphemies of Sennarchib
21  An angel destroys the host of the Assyrians
24  Hezekiah praying in his sickness, God gives him a sign of recovery
25  His proud heart is humbled by God
27  His wealth and works
31  His error in the ambassage of Babylon
32  He dying, Manasseh succeeds him

What do the individual words in 2 Chronicles 32:19 mean?

And they spoke against the God of Jerusalem as against the gods of the people of the earth the work of hands of men -
וַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּ אֶל־ אֱלֹהֵ֖י יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם כְּעַ֗ל אֱלֹהֵי֙ עַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֥י הָאָדָֽם ס

וַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּ  And  they  spoke 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
אֶל־  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אֱלֹהֵ֖י  the  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם  of  Jerusalem 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרוּשָׁלַםִ  
Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
כְּעַ֗ל  as  against 
Parse: Preposition-k
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
אֱלֹהֵי֙  the  gods 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
עַמֵּ֣י  of  the  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הָאָ֔רֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה  the  work 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
יְדֵ֥י  of  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
הָאָדָֽם  of  men 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation