2 Chronicles 21:20Thirty-two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years: and he departed without being desired; and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
The setting
Jerusalem, 843 BC. Jehoram is buried in the City of David but denied the honor of the royal tombs. The phrase 'departed without being desired' captures a life completely wasted. Modern-day Jerusalem, Israel.
The emotion here: chronicler concluding a tragic tale with the saddest epitaph possible — a king nobody wanted
The original word
ḥemdāh (חֶמְדָּה) — being desired or valued, what Jehoram lacked at death
Why it matters
Royal tombs were carved chambers; being buried 'in the city' but not 'in the tombs' meant a pauper's grave
Read with care
What most readers miss in 2 Chronicles 21:20
He reigned only 8 years but the damage was so severe that no one wanted him to continue living
Common misconceptionThis isn't just about being unpopular — 'without being desired' means his own people were relieved when he died because of his cruelty.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 2 Chronicles 21:20
Bible Genome reading
2 Chronicles 21:20 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
2 Chronicles 21:20 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 10% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include legacy, rejection. Notable phrases: departed without being desired.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does 2 Chronicles 21:20 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "grieving"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.