2 Chronicles 26 · Verse 16

2 Chronicles 26:16

But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
2 Chronicles 26:16, King James Version

2 Chronicles 26:16 in other translations

BSBBut when Uzziah grew powerful, his arrogance led to his own destruction. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
WEBBut when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly and he trespassed against the LORD his God, for he went into the LORD’s temple to burn incense on the altar of incense.
ASVBut when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Jehovah his God; for he went into the temple of Jehovah to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
YLTAnd at his being strong his heart hath been high unto destruction, and he trespasseth against Jehovah his God, and goeth in unto the temple of Jehovah to make perfume upon the altar of perfume.
DARBYBut when he became strong his heart was lifted up to his downfall; and he transgressed against Jehovah his God, and went into the temple of Jehovah to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
BBEBut when he had become strong, his heart was lifted up in pride, causing his destruction; and he did evil against the Lord his God; for he went into the Temple of the Lord for the purpose of burning perfumes on the altar of perfumes.
WebsterBut when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

What does 2 Chronicles 26:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Chronicles 26:16-21
16-21. he transgressed against the Lord, &c.--(See on 2Ki 15:5). This daring and wicked act is in both records traced to the intoxicating influence of overweening pride and vanity. But here the additional circumstances are stated, that his entrance was opposed, and strong remonstrances made (1Ch 6:10) by the high priest, who was accompanied by eighty inferior priests. Rage and threats were the only answers he deigned to return, but God took care to vindicate the sacredness of the priestly office. At the moment the king lifted the censer, He struck him with leprosy. The earthquake mentioned (Am 1:1) is said to have been felt at the moment [Josephus].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 He transgressed against the Lord - "He sinned against the Word of the Lord his God." - T. Went into the temple to burn incense - Thus assuming to himself the priest's office. See this whole transaction explained in the notes on 2Kgs 15:5 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Chronicles 26:16-23
The transgression of the kings before Uzziah was, forsaking the temple of the Lord, and burning incense upon idolatrous altars. But his transgression was, going into the holy place, and attempting to burn incense upon the altar of God. See how hard it is to avoid one extreme, and not run into another. Pride of heart was at the bottom of his sin; a lust that ruins many. Instead of lifting up the name God in gratitude to him who had done so much for him, his heart was lifted up to his hurt. Men's pretending to forbidden knowledge, and seeking things too high for them, are owing to pride of heart. The incense of our prayers must be, by faith, put into the hands of our Lord Jesus, the great High Priest of our profession, else we cannot expect it to be accepted by God, Re 8:3. Though Uzziah strove with the priests, he would not strive with his Maker. But he was punished for his transgression; he continued a leper to his death, shut out from society. The punishment answered the sin as face to face in a glass. Pride was at the bottom of his transgression, and thus God humbled him, and put dishonour upon him. Those that covet forbidden honours, forfeit allowed ones. Adam, by catching at the tree of knowledge which he might not eat of, debarred himself of the tree of life which he might have eaten of. Let all that read say, The Lord is righteous. And when the Lord sees good to throw prosperous and useful men aside, as broken vessels, if he raises up others to fill their places, they may rejoice to renounce all worldly concerns, and employ their remaining days in preparation for death.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Chronicles 26:16 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וּכְחֶזְקָת֗וֹu.khe.chez.ka.Toand according to strengthening hisH2393
גָּבַ֤הּga.Vahit was haughtyH1361
לִבּוֹ֙li.Boheart hisH3820
עַד\־'ad-untilH5704
לְהַשְׁחִ֔יתle.hash.Chit<to> behaved corruptlyH7843
וַיִּמְעַ֖לvai.yim.'Aland he acted unfaithfullyH4603
בַּיהוָ֣הba.Yah.wehagainst YahwehH3068
אֱלֹהָ֑יו'e.lo.HavGod hisH430
וַיָּבֹא֙vai.ya.Vo'and he wentH935
אֶל\־'el-intoH413
הֵיכַ֣לhei.Khal[the] temple ofH1964
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
לְהַקְטִ֖ירle.hak.Tirto make smokeH6999
עַל\־'al-onH5921
מִזְבַּ֥חmiz.Bach[the] altar ofH4196
הַקְּטֹֽרֶת\׃ha.ke.To.ret<the> incenseH7004

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Chronicles 26:16

  • 2 Chronicles 32:25

    But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

  • 2 Chronicles 25:19

    Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?

  • Habakkuk 2:4

    Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

  • Proverbs 16:18

    Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

  • Deuteronomy 8:14

    Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

  • Deuteronomy 8:17

    And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

  • Colossians 2:18

    Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

  • 2 Kings 16:12-13

    And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar.

  • Deuteronomy 32:13-15

    He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock; Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape. But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

  • Numbers 16:18

    And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.

  • Numbers 16:7

    And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.

  • Numbers 16:1

    Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
when he was.
25:19; 32:25; De 8:14,17; 32:13-15; Pr 16:18; Hab 2:4; Col 2:18
went into.
2Ki 16:12,13
to burn.
Nu 16:1,7,18,35; 1Ki 12:33; 13:1-4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Chronicles 26:15

    And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.

  • 2 Chronicles 26:16

    But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

  • 2 Chronicles 26:17

    And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the Lord, that were valiant men:

Read all of 2 Chronicles 26

2 Chronicles 26:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Mas cuando fué fortificado, su corazón se enalteció hasta corromperse; porque se rebeló contra Jehová su Dios, entrando en el templo de Jehová para quemar sahumerios en el altar del perfume.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Mais quand il fut devenu fort, son cœur s’éleva jusqu’à le perdre, et il pécha contre l’ Éternel, son Dieu, et entra dans le temple de l’ Éternel pour faire fumer l’encens sur l’autel de l’encens.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und als er stark geworden war, erhob sich sein Herz, bis er verderbt handelte; und er handelte treulos gegen Jehova, seinen Gott, und trat in den Tempel Jehovas, um auf dem Räucheraltar zu räuchern.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Sed cum roboratus esset, elevatum est cor ejus in interitum suum, et neglexit Dominum Deum suum: ingressusque templum Domini, adolere voluit incensum super altare thymiamatis.