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Bible >2 Chronicles >Chapter 34 > Verse 1

◄ 2 Chronicles 34:1►

New International Version
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.

New Living Translation
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.

English Standard Version
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

Berean Standard Bible
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.

King James Bible
Josiahwas eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.

New King James Version
Josiahwas eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

New American Standard Bible
Josiahwas eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

NASB 1995
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

NASB 1977
Josiahwas eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

Legacy Standard Bible
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

Amplified Bible
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

Christian Standard Bible
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Josiah was eight years old when he became king and reigned 31 years in Jerusalem.

American Standard Version
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem.

Contemporary English Version
Josiah was 8 years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled 31 years from Jerusalem.

English Revised Version
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Josiah was 8 years old when he began to rule, and he was king for 31 years in Jerusalem.

Good News Translation
Josiah was eight years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled in Jerusalem for thirty-one years.

International Standard Version
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for 31 years in Jerusalem.

NET Bible
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

New Heart English Bible
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

Webster's Bible Translation
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.

Majority Text Translations

Majority Standard Bible
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.

World English Bible
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Josiah [is] a son of eight years in his reigning, and he has reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem,

Young's Literal Translation
A son of eight years is Josiah in his reigning, and thirty and one years he hath reigned in Jerusalem,

Smith's Literal Translation
The son of eight years was Josiah in his reigning, and thirty and one years he reigned in Jerusalem.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Josias was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one and thirty years in Jerusalem.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Josiah was eight years old when he had begun to reign, and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

New American Bible
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

New Revised Standard Version
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
JOSIAH was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Yoshiah was eight years old when he arose in the kingdom, and he reigned thirtyone years in Jerusalem.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Josias was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Josiah Reigns in Judah
1Josiah was eight years old when he became king,and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.2And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.…

Berean Standard Bible ·Download

Cross References

2 Kings 22:1-2
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. / And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

1 Kings 13:2
And he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD, “O altar, O altar, this is what the LORD says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David, and upon you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense upon you, and human bones will be burned upon you.’”

2 Chronicles 33:25
But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place.

2 Chronicles 35:1-2
Then Josiah kept the Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. / He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the house of the LORD.

2 Kings 23:25
Neither before nor after Josiah was there any king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, according to all the Law of Moses.

Jeremiah 1:2
The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah,

2 Chronicles 36:1-2
Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father. / Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months.

2 Kings 23:28-30
As for the rest of the acts of Josiah and all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? / During Josiah’s reign, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt marched up to help the king of Assyria at the Euphrates River. King Josiah went out to confront him, but Neco faced him and killed him at Megiddo. / From Megiddo his servants carried his body in a chariot, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in place of his father.

Matthew 1:10-11
Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, / and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

2 Chronicles 29:1-2
Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. / And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.

2 Chronicles 24:1-2
Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. / And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

2 Chronicles 26:1-4
All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. / Uzziah was the one who rebuilt Eloth and restored it to Judah after King Amaziah rested with his fathers. / Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. ...

2 Chronicles 27:1-2
Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok. / And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done. In addition, he did not enter the temple of the LORD. But the people still behaved corruptly.

2 Chronicles 28:1
Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. And unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 34:3-7
In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his father David, and in the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images. / Then in his presence the altars of the Baals were torn down, and he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them. He shattered the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images, crushed them to dust, and scattered them over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. / Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. ...

Treasury of Scripture

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.

2 Chronicles 33:25
But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

1 Kings 13:2
And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.

2 Kings 22:1
Josiahwas eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's namewas Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.

Josias

2 Chronicles 24:1
Joashwas seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name alsowas Zibiah of Beersheba.

2 Chronicles 26:1
Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, whowas sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.

2 Chronicles 33:1
Manassehwas twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:

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Eight Jerusalem Josiah Josi'ah Reign Reigned Reigning Ruling Thirty Thirty-One

2 Chronicles 34

1.Josiah's good reign
3.He destroys idolatry
8.He takes order for the repair of the temple
14.Hilkiah, having found a book of the law,
21.Josiah sends to Huldah to enquire of the Lord
23.Huldah prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem, but respite thereof in Josiah's time
29.Josiah, causing it to be read in a solemn assembly, renews the covenant with God

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

Josiah was eight years old when he became king
Josiah's ascension to the throne at such a young age highlights the vulnerability and potential for divine intervention in leadership. His father, Amon, was assassinated, leading to Josiah's early coronation. This reflects the instability in Judah's monarchy during this period. The young age of Josiah emphasizes the importance of guidance and mentorship, likely from figures like Hilkiah the priest. This situation parallels other young leaders in the Bible, such as Joash, who also became king at a young age (2 Kings 11:21). Josiah's reign is a testament to God's ability to use anyone, regardless of age, to fulfill His purposes.

and he reigned in Jerusalem
Jerusalem, the political and spiritual center of Judah, was the focal point of Josiah's reforms. His reign in this city underscores the significance of Jerusalem as the heart of Jewish worship and governance. The city housed the Temple, which Josiah would later purify and restore, aligning with the centralization of worship that Deuteronomy prescribes. Jerusalem's role as the capital is crucial, as it connects Josiah's reforms to the broader narrative of Israel's covenant relationship with God.

thirty-one years
Josiah's thirty-one-year reign was marked by significant religious reform and a return to the worship of Yahweh. This period allowed for substantial changes, including the repair of the Temple and the rediscovery of the Book of the Law. His reign is often seen as a final attempt to restore Judah before the Babylonian exile. The length of his reign provided stability and continuity, enabling the implementation of long-term religious and social reforms. Josiah's efforts are reminiscent of the reforms of Hezekiah, another king who sought to bring Judah back to the worship of the true God.

Persons / Places / Events

1.Josiah
The central figure in this verse, Josiah became king of Judah at the tender age of eight. His reign is noted for significant religious reforms and a return to the worship of Yahweh.

2.Jerusalem
The capital city of Judah, where Josiah reigned. It was the spiritual and political center of the kingdom.

3.Reign of Thirty-One Years
Josiah's reign was marked by a commitment to restoring the covenant with God, which included repairing the temple and rediscovering the Book of the Law.

Teaching Points

Godly Leadership at a Young Age
Josiah's account demonstrates that age is not a barrier to being used by God. Young people can have a significant impact when they commit to following God's ways.

The Importance of Spiritual Reformation
Josiah's reign highlights the need for continual reformation and renewal in our spiritual lives. Just as he sought to restore true worship, we must regularly evaluate and align our lives with God's Word.

The Influence of a Godly Heritage
Despite the ungodly reigns of his predecessors, Josiah chose a different path. This teaches us that we can break free from negative influences and choose to follow God wholeheartedly.

The Power of God's Word
The rediscovery of the Book of the Law was pivotal in Josiah's reforms. This underscores the transformative power of Scripture in guiding and correcting our lives.

Bible Study Questions and Answers

1.What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 34:1?

2.How does Josiah's age highlight God's ability to use anyone for His purpose?

3.What leadership qualities can we learn from Josiah's early reign in 2 Chronicles 34:1?

4.How does Josiah's reign connect to God's promises in Deuteronomy 17:18-20?

5.How can we encourage young believers to lead like Josiah in today's world?

6.What steps can we take to seek God wholeheartedly as Josiah did?

7.How did Josiah become king at such a young age according to 2 Chronicles 34:1?

8.What does Josiah's reign at eight years old signify about God's plan in 2 Chronicles 34:1?

9.How does Josiah's early kingship challenge modern views on leadership and maturity?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Chronicles 34?

11.Who was Josiah in the Bible?

12.How do we reconcile the timeline of Josiah’s reign in 2 Kings 22:1 with other historical and biblical sources referencing his lineage and age?

13.Why does 2 Chronicles 28:19 say God directly punishes an entire nation for one king’s actions?

14.(2 Chronicles 34:22-28) Why would King Josiah consult the prophetess Huldah instead of better-known prophets like Jeremiah, if both were contemporaries?

What Does 2 Chronicles 34:1 Mean

Josiah

• “Josiah” means “The LORD supports.” Scripture presents him as the fulfillment of the unnamed reformer foretold three centuries earlier (1 Kings 13:2).

• He steps onto the scene after the disastrous reigns of Manasseh and Amon (2 Chron 33). Though born into spiritual wreckage, God raises him up for renewal—much like He lifted Samuel amid Eli’s corrupt household (1 Samuel 3:1).

•2 Kings 22:2 confirms, “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David.” From the outset, the Spirit frames Josiah as a David-like king who will steer Judah back to covenant faithfulness.

was eight years old

• An eight-year-old monarch sounds improbable, yet God often delights in choosing the unlikely (1 Corinthians 1:27; cf. young David in1 Samuel 16:11-13).

• Youth did not hinder divine purposes; instead, it highlighted the LORD’s sufficiency. Jeremiah, called as “a youth” (Jeremiah 1:6-7), and Timothy, exhorted not to let anyone despise his youth (1 Timothy 4:12), echo the same lesson: age is no barrier when God commissions.

• Josiah’s tender years emphasize parental and communal responsibility; because the king was a child, guardians, priests, and scribes had to shape his early convictions (Proverbs 22:6).

when he became king

• His accession was neither accident nor mere politics; “there is no authority except from God” (Romans 13:1). Even the throne of Judah, though marred by sin, remained an instrument of the LORD’s redemptive storyline.

• The people “made his son Josiah king in his place” (2 Chron 33:25), but behind that decision stood the sovereign hand that “controls the course of rivers” and “directs the heart of the king” (Proverbs 21:1).

• A throne inherited through bloodline becomes a platform for covenant obedience, showcasing how the LORD can reclaim what earlier generations squandered.

and he reigned in Jerusalem

• Jerusalem is more than geography; it is “the city the LORD has chosen” (2 Chron 6:6). Reigning there links Josiah to God’s promise to David of an enduring dynasty (2 Samuel 7:12-16).

• The city had witnessed idolatrous defilement—Manasseh even set an image in the temple (2 Chron 33:7). Josiah’s presence in Jerusalem signals God’s intent to cleanse His dwelling place and restore true worship (Psalm 48:1-2).

• His reforms would radiate outward from Zion, fulfilling the vision that “instruction will go out of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3).

thirty-one years

• Thirty-one years of steady leadership allowed comprehensive reform: repairing the temple (2 Chron 34:8-13), renewing covenant vows (34:29-33), and reinstating Passover with unmatched fervor (35:18-19).

• The length of his reign underscores God’s blessing: “Fear the LORD your God…so that you may live long” (Deuteronomy 5:33). Unlike kings cut short for rebellion, Josiah enjoyed a significant tenure, reflecting divine favor.

• Yet even thirty-one years have an end; his premature death in battle (2 Chron 35:22-24) reminds us that obedience does not negate life’s brevity (James 4:14), but it does ensure a legacy that endures in God’s record.

summary

2 Chronicles 34:1 packs a wealth of truth into a single sentence. It introduces a boy-king named and appointed by God, highlights the LORD’s power to use youth for mighty purposes, affirms divine sovereignty over earthly thrones, anchors Josiah’s mission in the covenantal heart of Jerusalem, and signals a prolonged season of grace under his thirty-one-year rule. The verse sets the stage for a life that demonstrates how wholehearted devotion can reverse generations of decay and lead a nation back to the living God.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(1, 2) Length and character of the reign.

(1)Josiah was eight years old.--So2Kings 22:1, which adds, "and his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath."

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 1. - Again the name of the mother is omitted. From the parallel we learn she was "Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath."

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Josiah
יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ(yō·šî·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2977:Josiah -- 'Yah supports', two Israelites

was eight
שְׁמוֹנֶ֥ה(šə·mō·w·neh)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 8083:A cardinal number, eight, eighth

years old
בֶּן־(ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121:A son

when he became king,
בְמָלְכ֑וֹ(ḇə·mā·lə·ḵōw)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4427:To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel

and he reigned
מָלַ֖ךְ(mā·laḵ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4427:To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel

in Jerusalem
בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃(bî·rū·šā·lim)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389:Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

thirty-one
וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים(ū·šə·lō·šîm)
Conjunctive waw | Number - common plural
Strong's 7970:Thirty, thirtieth

years.
שָׁנָ֔ה(šā·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8141:A year

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OT History: 2 Chronicles 34:1 Josiah was eight years old when he (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)