4
But in his distressוַ בַּצַּר לוֹhe turned backיָּשָׁבtoעַלYHWH,יְהוָהElohimאֱלֹהֵיof Israel;יִשְׂרָאֵלthey sought him,וַיְבַקְשֻׁהוּand he let himself be foundוַיִּמָּצֵאby them.לָהֶם
2 Chronicles 15:4
Study it in the app“But in his distress he turned back to YHWH, Elohim of Israel; they sought him, and he let himself be found by them.”
With the Hebrew beneath
2 Chronicles 15:4, word by word
- But in his distressצַּרtsar
distress
A tight situation from which one cannot escape.
Where else “tsar” appears- he turned backיָּשָׁבyashav
turn back
To go back to YHWH, or move away from him.
Where else “yashav” appears- YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- Elohimאֱלֹהֵיelohe
Elohim
The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.
Where else “elohe” appears- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael
Israel
Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.
Where else “yisrael” appears- they sought himיְבַקְשֻׁyevakshu
seek God
To turn to YHWH to find him: to come to him and long for his presence.
Where else “yevakshu” appears- and he let himself be foundיִּמָּצֵאyimatse
find
To come upon what one seeks, or something not expected.
Where else “yimatse” appears
The context
3Many days Israel was without the true Elohim, and without a priest who taught, and without instruction.
4 · This verse (above)
5In those times there was no peace for the one going out or for the one coming in, for great confusions were on all the inhabitants of the lands.