The Meaning of 2 Chronicles 32:21 Explained

2 Chronicles 32:21

KJV: And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.

YLT: and Jehovah sendeth a messenger, and cutteth off every mighty one of valour -- both leader and head -- in the camp of the king of Asshur, and he turneth back with shame of face to his land, and entereth the house of his god, and those coming out of his bowels have caused him to fall there by the sword.

Darby: And Jehovah sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the princes and the captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. And he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels made him fall there with the sword.

ASV: And Jehovah sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains, in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth from his own bowels slew him there with the sword.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  sent  an angel,  which cut off  all the mighty men  of valour,  and the leaders  and captains  in the camp  of the king  of Assyria.  So he returned  with shame  of face  to his own land.  And when he was come  into the house  of his god,  they that came forth  of his own bowels  slew  him there with the sword. 

What does 2 Chronicles 32:21 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 32:21 mean?

And sent Yahweh an angel and who cut down every mighty man of valor and leader and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria So he returned in shame shamefaced to his own land And when he had gone into the temple of his god - they who came forth some of his own offspring there struck him down with the sword
וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יְהוָה֙ מַלְאָ֔ךְ וַיַּכְחֵ֞ד כָּל־ גִּבּ֥וֹר חַ֙יִל֙ וְנָגִ֣יד וְשָׂ֔ר בְּמַחֲנֵ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיָּשָׁב֩ בְּבֹ֨שֶׁת פָּנִ֜ים לְאַרְצ֗וֹ וַיָּבֹא֙ בֵּ֣ית אֱלֹהָ֔יו [ומיציאו] (וּמִֽיצִיאֵ֣י) מֵעָ֔יו שָׁ֖ם הִפִּילֻ֥הוּ בֶחָֽרֶב

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח  And  sent 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מַלְאָ֔ךְ  an  angel 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַלְאָךְ  
Sense: messenger, representative.
וַיַּכְחֵ֞ד  and  who  cut  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּחַד  
Sense: to hide, conceal, cut off, cut down, make desolate, kick.
כָּל־  every 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
גִּבּ֥וֹר  mighty  man 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: גִּבֹּור  
Sense: strong, mighty.
חַ֙יִל֙  of  valor 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חַיִל 
Sense: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army.
וְנָגִ֣יד  and  leader 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָגִיד  
Sense: leader, ruler, captain, prince.
וְשָׂ֔ר  and  captain 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
בְּמַחֲנֵ֖ה  in  the  camp 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: מַחֲנֶה  
Sense: encampment, camp.
מֶ֣לֶךְ  of  the  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אַשּׁ֑וּר  of  Assyria 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַשּׁוּר  
Sense: the second son of Shem, eponymous ancestor of the Assyrians.
וַיָּשָׁב֩  So  he  returned 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
בְּבֹ֨שֶׁת  in  shame 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בֹּשֶׁת  
Sense: shame.
פָּנִ֜ים  shamefaced 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
לְאַרְצ֗וֹ  to  his  own  land 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וַיָּבֹא֙  And  when  he  had  gone 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
בֵּ֣ית  into  the  temple 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אֱלֹהָ֔יו  of  his  god 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
[ומיציאו]  - 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
(וּמִֽיצִיאֵ֣י)  they  who  came  forth 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: יָצִיא  
Sense: coming forth.
מֵעָ֔יו  some  of  his  own  offspring 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מֵעֶה  
Sense: internal organs, inward parts, bowels, intestines, belly.
הִפִּילֻ֥הוּ  struck  him  down 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural, third person masculine singular
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
בֶחָֽרֶב  with  the  sword 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.