“Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or dismayed because of the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude who is with him; for there is a greater one with us than with him.
Parallel Translations
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“Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or dismayed because of the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude who is with him; for there is a greater one with us than with him.
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Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:
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'Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him; for there is a Greater with us than with him:
Cross-references (18)
Passages linked to 2 Chronicles 32:7 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 2 Kings 6:16 He answered, “Don’t be afraid; for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
- Romans 8:31 What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
- 2 Kings 18:30 Don’t let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, “Yahweh will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”
- 2 Chronicles 20:15 and he said, “Listen, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, king Jehoshaphat. Yahweh says to you, ‘Don’t be afraid, and don’t be dismayed because of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
- 1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.
- 1 Chronicles 28:20 David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed; for Yahweh God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of Yahweh’s house is finished.
- Isaiah 35:4 Tell those who have a fearful heart, “Be strong! Don’t be afraid! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution. He will come and save you.
- Daniel 10:19 He said, “Greatly beloved man, don’t be afraid. Peace be to you. Be strong. Yes, be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak; for you have strengthened me.”
- Zechariah 8:9 Yahweh of Armies says: “Let your hands be strong, you who hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets who were in the day that the foundation of the house of Yahweh of Armies was laid, even the temple, that it might be built.
- Deuteronomy 31:6-7 Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them; for Yahweh your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.” Moses called to Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which Yahweh has sworn to their fathers to give them; and you shall cause them to inherit it.
- Deuteronomy 31:23 He commissioned Joshua the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and courageous; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land which I swore to them. I will be with you.”
- Joshua 1:6-9 “Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”
- 2 Kings 19:6-7 Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master this: ‘Yahweh says, “Don’t be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Behold, I will put a spirit in him, and he will hear news, and will return to his own land. I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.” ’ ”
- Zechariah 8:23 Yahweh of Armies says: “In those days, ten men will take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, ‘We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’ ”
- 1 Chronicles 22:13 Then you will prosper, if you observe to do the statutes and the ordinances which Yahweh gave Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid, and don’t be dismayed.
- 1 Chronicles 28:10 Take heed now; for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it.”
- 2 Timothy 2:1 You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (9 sources)
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 2Ch 32:7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid…
2Ch 32:7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that [is] with him: for [there be] more with us than with him:
Ver. 7. Be strong and courageous.] His speech is short but pithy: very cordial and comfortable.
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Now for all the multitude that is with him.] Only go to Christ and say, as Isa 8:8, "The stretching out of his wings hath filled the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel."
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain With him is an arm of flesh,.... Only weak,…
With him is an arm of flesh,.... Only weak, frail, mortal men, not at all to be feared; nothing in comparison of the Lord:
but with us is the Lord our God, to help us, and to fight our battles; who is the Lord God Almighty, who has the host of heaven at his command, and with whom all the inhabitants of the earth are as nothing; the Targum is,"the Word of the Lord our God is for us to help us, and fight our battles:"
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and the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah; not upon his bare words, but on what was contained in them, on the strength and power of the Lord God he assured them was on their side; they believed what he said to be true, and trusted in the Lord that he would save them.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 7. There be more with us than with…
Verse 7. There be more with us than with him] We have more power than they have. (These words he quotes from the prophet Elisha, 2Kg 6:16.) This was soon proved to be true by the slaughter made by the angel of the Lord in the Assyrian camp.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On the language, compare the marginal references, for details,…
On the language, compare the marginal references, for details, see Isa 22:5-13; Isa 29:3.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain More: God and his angels, from whom he expected…
More: God and his angels, from whom he expected relief, and was not disappointed, 4 K. vi. 16., and xix. 35. C.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 7. and courageous] R.V. and of a good courage.
7. and courageous] R.V. and of a good courage.
there be moe] R.V. there is a greater.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (7) Be not afraid . . . the multitude.—Comp.…
(7) Be not afraid . . . the multitude.—Comp. 2Ch_20:15, “Be not afraid nor dismayed for this great multitude.” “Be strong and courageous, be not afraid” occurs in Deu_31:6 (Heb.).
For there be more with us than with him.—A reminiscence of 2Ki_6:16, “Be not thou afraid; for more are they that are with us than they that are with them.” It is not necessary to suppose that the chronicler professes to give the exact words of Hezekiah’s exhortation, but only the substance and spirit of it.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Several of the descriptive dramatic touches of Isa_22:4-14 are…
Several of the descriptive dramatic touches of Isa_22:4-14 are forcible and apt commentary to this verse.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain With him is an arm of flesh; but with…
2Ch_32:7-8
With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God.
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Hezekiah and the Assyrians
The story of Hezekiah and his preservation is one of the most vivid and thrilling. Rightly interpreted, it echoes the words of our text to all time. The king of Assyria is a representative character. The powers of this world are joined against the children of God, and they are variously commanded. Some Sennacherib rises from hour to hour and threatens, often with formidable front and fell purpose. But Gods people may always say, There be more with us than with him, etc. (Monday Club Sermons.)
We look too much to men
Oliver Cromwell was but a gentleman farmer, but the exigency of his time was such that he took up arms on behalf of his country. He was a man of prayer, and went to the battlefield from the prayer meeting. After one great victory, he writes to Parliament, God brought them into our hands God is not enough owned. We look too much to men and to visible helps. This hinders our success.
The arm of flesh
I. The character of our enemies described by an arm of flesh.
II. The source, of our support, and cause of victory. But with us is the Lord our God, to help us, and to fight our battles. This denotes--
1. Possession.
2. Presence.
3. Support.
4. Victory.
5. The Father is with us.
6. The Son is with us.
7. And the Holy Ghost is with us.
III. The result of Gods manifested presence. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah. (T. B. Baker.)
Conditions of victory
I. At the negative side.
1. Numbers are no surety. Gideons army had to be reduced before it could conquer the Amalekites.
2. Worldly wisdom, policy, shrewdness, enterprise, will not ensure success.
3. Unlimited creature resources of every kind are insufficient.
4. The most seemingly favourable outward circumstances, as to time, place, auspices, expectations, combinations, oftentimes but deceive into carnal security and insure the worst kind of defeat.
II. At the positive side--the assured, unfailing conditions of victory in the sense of Righteousness and Godliness.
1. We must have God on our side. There must be no doubt on this point.
2. We must be careful to be on Gods side.
3. This brings out the point which the Apostle John emphasises so strongly (1Jn_5:4-5). (J. M. Sherwood.)
And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah.--
Words to rest on
I. The kind of man whose words are likely to be rested on. He must be--
1. A great man.
2. A good man.
3. A courageous man.
4. A hearty man.
5. In such a case God will add His sanction by granting success and he will be a prosperous man.
6. A man who has respect for Gods word.
II. In the second place let us turn the other way and look at the kind of people who rest on such a mans word.
1. Children do so with their parents.
2. Illiterate people who cannot read.
3. Unconverted persons who have no spiritual discernment.
4. Persons who naturally run in a groove. Having attended at such a place of worship, and having been brought up in the midst of a certain set of godly people, they scarcely deviate one jot from the teaching that they have received. Almost by the necessity of their nature they rest on what they hear.
5. Persons who profess always to do their own thinking. If you will trace them home, they are in nine cases out of ten the veriest slaves that ever lived. They are the bondservants of some heretic or other who has put it into their heads that in following him they become free men.
III. The kind of words you may rest on. You may safely rest on--
1. Words which urge you to faith in God.
2. Words which are the words of God Himself.
3. Words which are sealed by the Lord Jesus.
4. Words which have been blessed to other men.
5. Words which breathe a sense of rest into the soul. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.