2 Chronicles 16:9

God's presence Strength and help in weakness Faithfulness and loyalty Faith

⁷ And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.

⁸ Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

¹⁰ Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.

¹¹ And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”
KJV: For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
WEB: For the LORD’s eyes run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. You have done foolishly in this; for from now on you will have wars.”
ASV: For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly; for from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
DARBY: For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro through the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly; for from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
BLB: For YHWH—His eyes go to and fro in all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart [is] perfect to Him. You have acted foolishly regarding this; therefore from now on there will be wars with you.”

ÅB: For Herrens øyne farer over all jorden for at han med sin kraft kan støtte dem hvis hjerte er helt med ham. Du har båret deg uforstandig at i dette; for fra nå av skal du alltid ha krig.
OTB: For Herrens øyne farer over hele jorden for å styrke dem som helhjertet holder seg til ham. Du har handlet uklokt i dette; fra nå av vil du møte kriger."
B1930: For Herrens øine farer over all jorden forat han med sin kraft kan støtte dem hvis hjerte er helt med ham. Du har båret dig uforstandig at i dette; for fra nu av skal du alltid ha krig.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
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Proverbs 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
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Jeremiah 16:17
For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.
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Proverbs 5:21
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
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Psalms 34:15
The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
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Job 34:21
For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
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Hebrews 4:13
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
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Zechariah 4:10
For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
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