The Meaning of 2 Chronicles 20:21 Explained

2 Chronicles 20:21

KJV: And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.

YLT: And he taketh counsel with the people, and appointeth singers to Jehovah, and those giving praise to the honour of holiness, in the going out before the armed men, and saying, 'Give ye thanks to Jehovah, for to the age is His kindness.'

Darby: And he consulted with the people, and appointed singers to Jehovah, and those that should praise in holy splendour, as they went forth before the armed men, and say, Give thanks to Jehovah; for his loving-kindness endureth for ever!

ASV: And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed them that should sing unto Jehovah, and give praise in holy array, as they went out before the army, and say, Give thanks unto Jehovah; for his lovingkindness endureth for ever.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when he had consulted  with the people,  he appointed  singers  unto the LORD,  and that should praise  the beauty  of holiness,  as they went out  before  the army,  and to say,  Praise  the LORD;  for his mercy  [endureth] for ever. 

What does 2 Chronicles 20:21 Mean?

Chapter Summary: 2 Chronicles 20

1  Jehoshaphat, invaded by Moab, proclaims a fast
5  His prayer
14  The prophecy of Jahaziel
20  Jehoshaphat exhorts the people, and sets singers to praise the Lord
22  The great overthrow of his enemies
26  The people, having blessed God at Berachah, return in triumph
31  Jehoshaphat's reign
35  His convoy of ships, according to the prophecy of Eliezer, unhappily perishes

What do the individual words in 2 Chronicles 20:21 mean?

And when he had consulted with the people and he appointed those who should sing to Yahweh and who should praise the beauty of holiness as they went out before the army and were saying Praise Yahweh for ever His mercy [endures]
וַיִּוָּעַץ֙ אֶל־ הָעָ֔ם וַיַּעֲמֵ֤ד מְשֹֽׁרֲרִים֙ לַיהוָ֔ה וּֽמְהַֽלְלִ֖ים לְהַדְרַת־ קֹ֑דֶשׁ בְּצֵאת֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הֶֽחָל֔וּץ וְאֹֽמְרִים֙ הוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֔ה כִּ֥י לְעוֹלָ֖ם חַסְדּֽוֹ

וַיִּוָּעַץ֙  And  when  he  had  consulted 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄועֵץ 
Sense: to advise, consult, give counsel, counsel, purpose, devise, plan.
הָעָ֔ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וַיַּעֲמֵ֤ד  and  he  appointed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
מְשֹֽׁרֲרִים֙  those  who  should  sing 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural
Root: שִׁיר  
Sense: to sing.
לַיהוָ֔ה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וּֽמְהַֽלְלִ֖ים  and  who  should  praise 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
לְהַדְרַת־  the  beauty 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: הֲדָרָה  
Sense: adornment, glory.
קֹ֑דֶשׁ  of  holiness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
בְּצֵאת֙  as  they  went  out 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
לִפְנֵ֣י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הֶֽחָל֔וּץ  the  army 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: חָלַץ 
Sense: to remove, draw out, draw off, take off, withdraw, equip (for war), arm for war, rescue, be rescued.
וְאֹֽמְרִים֙  and  were  saying 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הוֹד֣וּ  Praise 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: יָדָה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast.
לַיהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְעוֹלָ֖ם  ever 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
חַסְדּֽוֹ  His  mercy  [endures] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.