· Translation: KJV

2 Chronicles 21:18After all this Yahweh struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

The setting

Jerusalem, 845 BC. King Jehoram has murdered his brothers, led Judah into idolatry, and received Elijah's warning letter. Now divine judgment begins with a painful bowel disease. Modern-day Jerusalem, Israel.

The emotion here: soberly recording divine justice while grieving human tragedy

The original word

nākāh (נָכָה) — to strike down with force, often in divine judgment

Why it matters

Bowel diseases in ancient times were excruciatingly painful with no medical relief available

Read with care

What most readers miss in 2 Chronicles 21:18

This follows immediately after Elijah's prophetic letter — God's judgment was precisely timed

Common misconceptionPeople think this shows God is cruel, but Jehoram had murdered his own brothers and led a nation into idol worship that included child sacrifice.

Bible Genome reading

2 Chronicles 21:18 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerNarrator
EraDivided Kingdom
Primary emotiongrieving
Literary typenarrative

Emotional genome

Comfort power30%
Quotability50%
Memorability60%
Crisis relevance60%
Standalone40%
Themes:divine judgmentprophecy fulfilled

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open 2 Chronicles 21

2 Chronicles 21:18 comes from the book of 2 Chronicles, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine judgment, prophecy fulfilled. Notable phrases: After all this; Yahweh struck him; incurable disease.

Your reflection

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