2 chronicles 26:16 - But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Yahweh his God; for he went into Yahweh’s temple to burn incense on the altar of incense.

Generated Verse: 2 chronicles 26:16

What does "2 chronicles 26:16" mean?


This verse from 2 Chronicles 26:16 describes King Uzziah's downfall. Here's a breakdown of what it means:

"But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up...": Uzziah had a very successful reign. He was a powerful and victorious king, attributed to God's blessing. However, his success led to pride. "His heart was lifted up" suggests arrogance and a sense of self-importance, forgetting that his strength came from God.

"...so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Yahweh his God...": This means Uzziah's pride led him to act wickedly and violate God's law. He took actions that were forbidden and displeasing to God.

"...for he went into Yahweh’s temple to burn incense on the altar of incense.": This is the specific act of transgression. According to the Law of Moses, only priests, specifically the descendants of Aaron, were permitted to offer incense in the Temple. King Uzziah, though king, was not a priest. By entering the Holy Place and attempting to burn incense, he was usurping the priestly role and directly disobeying God's commands.

In essence, the verse is saying:

King Uzziah, after experiencing great power and success, became arrogant. This pride led him to disregard God's law and attempt to perform a ritual (burning incense) that was reserved solely for the priests. This act of defiance demonstrated a disrespect for God's established order and was a direct act of disobedience.

Why this was a big deal:

Violation of Divine Order: God had established a specific order for worship, including who could perform certain duties. Uzziah's actions challenged this divine order.
Pride and Arrogance: His actions stemmed from pride, believing he was above the law and could do whatever he pleased.
Disrespect for God's Authority: Uzziah's actions showed a lack of reverence for God's holiness and authority.

The consequences of Uzziah's actions are described later in the chapter: he was struck with leprosy and lived in isolation until his death. This served as a stark reminder that even a successful and powerful king was accountable to God.

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