The Meaning of 2 Kings 12:8 Explained

2 Kings 12:8

KJV: And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.

YLT: And the priests consent not to receive money from the people, nor to strengthen the breach of the house,

Darby: And the priests consented to receive no money of the people, and that they should only repair the breaches of the house.

ASV: And the priests consented that they should take no more money from the people, neither repair the breaches of the house.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the priests  consented  to receive  no  [more] money  of the people,  neither  to repair  the breaches  of the house. 

What does 2 Kings 12:8 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 12:1-16 - Money For The Lord's House
So long as the good priest lived, the young king did well. How much we owe to the presence of wise, strong men to advise and assist us! But neither king nor priest dared to go to the furthest limit of reform, 2 Kings 12:3. This failure bore disastrous fruit in after-years. It is a mistake to cut off weeds on the surface; they will sprout again and give trouble. If thy right hand cause thee to offend, cut it off.
The Temple had suffered terribly under Athaliah, 2 Chronicles 24:7. The king might well take an interest in its reconstruction, because of the shelter it had afforded him from his enemies. The first attempt to raise a renovation fund was a failure. It was in the wrong hands. The priests appear to have appropriated for their own use offerings intended for Temple repair. A change was therefore required, and their receipts were limited to the sin-offerings. As soon as a clear chance was given to the people, their free-will gifts totaled a large amount, which justified the resumption of the work. Certainly the promptness and integrity of the men who did the work put to shame the lethargy and peculation of the priests. Trust the people! This is not the last time that the heart of the masses was more to be trusted than the priestly caste. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 12

1  Jehoash reigns well all the days of Jehoiada
4  He gives order for the repair of the temple
17  Hazael is diverted from Jerusalem by a present of the hallowed treasures
19  Jehoash being slain, Amaziah succeeds him

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 12:8 mean?

And agreed the priests neither that they would receive [more] money from the people nor repair - the damages of the temple
וַיֵּאֹ֖תוּ הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֑ים לְבִלְתִּ֤י קְחַת־ כֶּ֙סֶף֙ מֵאֵ֣ת הָעָ֔ם וּלְבִלְתִּ֥י חַזֵּ֖ק אֶת־ בֶּ֥דֶק הַבָּֽיִת

וַיֵּאֹ֖תוּ  And  agreed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אוּת  
Sense: (Niphal) to consent, agree.
הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֑ים  the  priests 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
לְבִלְתִּ֤י  neither 
Parse: Preposition-l
Root: בִּלְתִּי  
Sense: not, except adv.
קְחַת־  that  they  would  receive 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
כֶּ֙סֶף֙  [more]  money 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֶּסֶף  
Sense: silver, money.
הָעָ֔ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וּלְבִלְתִּ֥י  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l
Root: בִּלְתִּי  
Sense: not, except adv.
חַזֵּ֖ק  repair 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בֶּ֥דֶק  the  damages 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֶּדֶק  
Sense: fissure, rent, breach, leak (in a building).
הַבָּֽיִת  of  the  temple 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.

What are the major concepts related to 2 Kings 12:8?

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