2 Chronicles 29:34
New International Version
The priests, however, were too few to skin all the burnt offerings; so their relatives the Levites helped them until the task was finished and until other priests had been consecrated, for the Levites had been more conscientious in consecrating themselves than the priests had been.

New Living Translation
But there were too few priests to prepare all the burnt offerings. So their relatives the Levites helped them until the work was finished and more priests had been purified, for the Levites had been more conscientious about purifying themselves than the priests had been.

English Standard Version
But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished—for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in consecrating themselves.

Berean Standard Bible
However, since there were not enough priests to skin all the burnt offerings, their Levite brothers helped them until the work was finished and until the priests had been consecrated. For the Levites had been more diligent in consecrating themselves than the priests had been.

King James Bible
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

New King James Version
But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brethren the Levites helped them until the work was ended and until the other priests had sanctified themselves, for the Levites were more diligent in sanctifying themselves than the priests.

New American Standard Bible
But the priests were too few, so that they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was finished and the other priests had consecrated themselves. For the Levites were more conscientious to consecrate themselves than the priests.

NASB 1995
But the priests were too few, so that they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was completed and until the other priests had consecrated themselves. For the Levites were more conscientious to consecrate themselves than the priests.

NASB 1977
But the priests were too few, so that they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was completed, and until the other priests had consecrated themselves. For the Levites were more conscientious to consecrate themselves than the priests.

Legacy Standard Bible
But the priests were too few, so that they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was completed and until the other priests had set themselves apart as holy. For the Levites were more upright of heart to set themselves apart as holy than the priests.

Amplified Bible
But there were too few priests and they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; so until the other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers, the Levites, helped them until the work was done. For the Levites were more upright in heart and more conscientious than the priests in consecrating themselves.

Christian Standard Bible
However, since there were not enough priests, they weren’t able to skin all the burnt offerings, so their Levite brothers helped them until the work was finished and until the priests consecrated themselves. For the Levites were more conscientious to consecrate themselves than the priests were.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
However, since there were not enough priests, they weren’t able to skin all the burnt offerings, so their Levite brothers helped them until the work was finished and until the priests consecrated themselves. For the Levites were more conscientious to consecrate themselves than the priests were.

American Standard Version
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt-offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Only the Priests were few and were not able to serve up all the sacrifices, and their brethren the Levites helped them until all the work was finished, and after these things Priests were hallowed, because the Levites were humbled in their heart to be made holier than Priests.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But the priests were few, and could not flay the whole-burnt-offering, so their brethren the Levites helped them, until the work was finished, and until the priests had purified themselves: for the Levites more zealously purified themselves than the priests.

Contemporary English Version
There were not enough priests to skin all these animals, because many of the priests had not taken the time to go through the ceremony to make themselves clean. However, since all the Levites had made themselves clean, they helped the priests until the last animal was skinned.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But the priests were few, and were not enough to flay the holocausts: wherefore the Levites their brethren helped them, till the work was ended, and priests were sanctified, for the Levites are sanctified with an easier rite than the priests.

English Revised Version
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But the priests needed more help to skin all the burnt offerings. So their relatives, the Levites, helped them until the work was completed and the priests could make themselves holy. The Levites were more diligent in making themselves holy than the priests were.

Good News Translation
Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. (The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were.)

International Standard Version
Because there weren't enough priests, they were unable to prepare all the burnt offerings until other priests came forward after having consecrated themselves, so their descendant of Levi relatives assisted them until the services were complete. (The descendants of Levi had been more conscientious in consecrating themselves than had been the priests.)

JPS Tanakh 1917
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt-offerings; wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

Literal Standard Version
Only, the priests have become few, and have not been able to strip the whole of the burnt-offerings, and their brothers the Levites strengthen them until the completion of the work, and until the priests sanctify themselves, for the Levites [are] more upright of heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

Majority Standard Bible
However, since there were not enough priests to skin all the burnt offerings, their Levite brothers helped them until the work was finished and until the priests had been consecrated. For the Levites had been more diligent in consecrating themselves than the priests had been.

New American Bible
Since there were too few priests to skin all the victims for the burnt offerings, their fellow Levites assisted them until the task was completed and the priests had sanctified themselves. The Levites, in fact, were more careful than the priests to sanctify themselves.

NET Bible
But there were not enough priests to skin all the animals, so their brothers, the Levites, helped them until the work was finished and the priests could consecrate themselves. (The Levites had been more conscientious about consecrating themselves than the priests.)

New Revised Standard Version
But the priests were too few and could not skin all the burnt offerings, so, until other priests had sanctified themselves, their kindred, the Levites, helped them until the work was finished—for the Levites were more conscientious than the priests in sanctifying themselves.

New Heart English Bible
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: therefore their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

Webster's Bible Translation
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt-offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites helped them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

World English Bible
But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings. Therefore their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves, for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

Young's Literal Translation
Only, the priests have become few, and have not been able to strip the whole of the burnt-offerings, and their brethren the Levites strengthen them till the completion of the work, and till the priests sanctify themselves, for the Levites are more upright of heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Hezekiah Restores Temple Worship
33And the consecrated offerings were six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep. 34However, since there were not enough priests to skin all the burnt offerings, their Levite brothers helped them until the work was finished and until the priests had been consecrated. For the Levites had been more diligent in consecrating themselves than the priests had been. 35Furthermore, the burnt offerings were abundant, along with the fat of the peace offerings and the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. So the service of the house of the LORD was established.…

Cross References
2 Chronicles 29:5
"Listen to me, O Levites," he said. "Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove from the Holy Place every impurity.

2 Chronicles 29:33
And the consecrated offerings were six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep.

2 Chronicles 30:3
since they had been unable to observe it at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not been gathered in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 30:15
And on the fourteenth day of the second month they slaughtered the Passover lamb. The priests and Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 30:17
Since there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves, the Levites were in charge of slaughtering the Passover lambs for every unclean person to consecrate the lambs to the LORD.

2 Chronicles 30:24
For Hezekiah king of Judah contributed a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for the assembly, and the officials contributed a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep for the assembly, and a great number of priests consecrated themselves.

2 Chronicles 35:11
And they slaughtered the Passover lambs, while the priests sprinkled the blood handed to them and the Levites skinned the animals.


Treasury of Scripture

But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: why their brothers the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

2 Chronicles 20:5
And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,

2 Chronicles 30:16,17
And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites…

their brethren

2 Chronicles 35:11
And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them.

Numbers 8:15,19
And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering…

Numbers 18:3,6,7
And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die…

did help them [heb] strengthened them

2 Chronicles 30:3
For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.

upright

1 Chronicles 29:17
I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

Psalm 7:10
My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

Psalm 26:6
I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:

Jump to Previous
Burnt Burnt-Offerings Ended Few Flay Heart Help Helped Levites Offerings Priests rings Sanctified Sanctify Skin Themselves Unable Upright Wherefore Work
Jump to Next
Burnt Burnt-Offerings Ended Few Flay Heart Help Helped Levites Offerings Priests rings Sanctified Sanctify Skin Themselves Unable Upright Wherefore Work
2 Chronicles 29
1. Hezekiah's good reign.
3. He restores religion
5. He exhorts the Levites
12. They sanctify themselves, and cleanse the house of God
20. Hezekiah offers solemn sacrifices,
24. wherein the Levites are more forward than the priests














(34) Flay all the burnt offerings.--In private offerings this was done by the worshipper himself (Leviticus 1:6). In national sacrifices it appears to have been the duty of the priests.

Did help them.--See margin; and Ezra 6:22.

Until the other priests had sanctified.--Began to sanctify themselves, as a body.

For the Levites . . . in heart.--The priests, as a class, were probably more deeply involved in the corruption of the last reign.

Verse 34. - Originally, the worshipper who was moved to sacrifice was enjoined to slay, flay, and cut in pieces the victim (Leviticus 1:2-6). Later the Levites performed these duties, and on great public occasions, at any rate, the priests themselves. The simple tale of this verse speaks volumes of the state of the ecclesiastical profession and of the ecclesiastical heart at this very time. Into the dishonoured sepulchre already two or three unsuspected and apparently unacknowledged chinks had let in reproving light as to this, and very lately the almost unavoidable inferences respecting Urijah (see note on our ver. 1, and on 2 Chronicles 28:24, compared with 2 Kings 16:10-16) served the same purpose. How true to nature and to history, both secular and ecclesiastical also, the superiority, in sincerity and life and preparation for work, of the subordinates (the Levites), to those who fed on dignity rather than maintained it, in the highest sense, by religious life and conscientious practice!

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
However,
רַ֤ק (raq)
Adverb
Strong's 7535: But, even, except, howbeit howsoever, at the least, nevertheless

since there were
הָי֣וּ (hā·yū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

not enough
לִמְעָ֔ט (lim·‘āṭ)
Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 4592: A little, fewness, a few

priests
הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ (hak·kō·hă·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

to skin
לְהַפְשִׁ֖יט (lə·hap̄·šîṭ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6584: To strip off, make a dash, raid

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the burnt offerings,
הָעֹל֑וֹת (hā·‘ō·lō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5930: Whole burnt offering

their Levite
הַלְוִיִּ֗ם (hal·wî·yim)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

brothers
אֲחֵיהֶ֣ם (’ă·ḥê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 251: A brother, )

helped
וַֽיְּחַזְּק֞וּם (way·yə·ḥaz·zə·qūm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

them until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

the work
הַמְּלָאכָה֙ (ham·mə·lā·ḵāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4399: Deputyship, ministry, employment, work, property

was finished
כְּל֤וֹת (kə·lō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent

and until
וְעַ֣ד (wə·‘aḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

the priests
הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֔ים (hak·kō·hă·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

had been consecrated.
יִתְקַדְּשׁ֣וּ (yiṯ·qad·də·šū)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated

For
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the Levites
הַלְוִיִּם֙ (hal·wî·yim)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

had been more diligent
יִשְׁרֵ֣י (yiš·rê)
Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3477: Straight, right

in consecrating themselves
לְהִתְקַדֵּ֖שׁ (lə·hiṯ·qad·dêš)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated

than the priests had been.
מֵֽהַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃ (mê·hak·kō·hă·nîm)
Preposition-m, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest


Links
2 Chronicles 29:34 NIV
2 Chronicles 29:34 NLT
2 Chronicles 29:34 ESV
2 Chronicles 29:34 NASB
2 Chronicles 29:34 KJV

2 Chronicles 29:34 BibleApps.com
2 Chronicles 29:34 Biblia Paralela
2 Chronicles 29:34 Chinese Bible
2 Chronicles 29:34 French Bible
2 Chronicles 29:34 Catholic Bible

OT History: 2 Chronicles 29:34 But the priests were too few so (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 29:33
Top of Page
Top of Page