The Meaning of 2 Chronicles 21:4 Explained

2 Chronicles 21:4

KJV: Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.

YLT: And Jehoram riseth up over the kingdom of his father, and strengtheneth himself, and slayeth all his brethren with the sword, and also -- of the heads of Israel.

Darby: And Jehoram established himself over the kingdom of his father, and strengthened himself; and he slew all his brethren with the sword, and certain also of the princes of Israel.

ASV: Now when Jehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now when Jehoram  was risen up  to the kingdom  of his father,  he strengthened  himself, and slew  all his brethren  with the sword,  and [divers] also of the princes  of Israel. 

What does 2 Chronicles 21:4 Mean?

Chapter Summary: 2 Chronicles 21

1  Jehoram, succeeding Jehoshaphat, slays his brothers
5  His wicked reign
8  Edom and Libnah revolt
12  The prophecy of Elijah against him in writing
16  Philistines and Arabians oppress him
18  His incurable disease, infamous death, and burial

What do the individual words in 2 Chronicles 21:4 mean?

And when was established Joram over the kingdom of his father and he strengthened himself and killed - all his brothers with the sword and also [others] of the princes of Israel
וַיָּ֨קָם יְהוֹרָ֜ם עַל־ מַמְלֶ֤כַת אָבִיו֙ וַיִּתְחַזַּ֔ק וַיַּהֲרֹ֥ג אֶת־ כָּל־ אֶחָ֖יו בֶּחָ֑רֶב וְגַ֖ם מִשָּׂרֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

וַיָּ֨קָם  And  when  was  established 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
יְהוֹרָ֜ם  Joram 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹורָם 
Sense: son of king Jehoshaphat of Judah and himself king of Judah for 8 years; his wife was the wicked Athaliah who was probably the instigator for his returning the nation of Judah to the worship of Baal.
עַל־  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מַמְלֶ֤כַת  the  kingdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מַמְלָכָה  
Sense: kingdom, dominion, reign, sovereignty.
אָבִיו֙  of  his  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
וַיִּתְחַזַּ֔ק  and  he  strengthened  himself 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
וַיַּהֲרֹ֥ג  and  killed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָרַג  
Sense: to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֶחָ֖יו  his  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
בֶּחָ֑רֶב  with  the  sword 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.
וְגַ֖ם  and  also 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
מִשָּׂרֵ֥י  [others]  of  the  princes 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.