The Meaning of 2 Chronicles 30:18 Explained

2 Chronicles 30:18

KJV: For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one

YLT: for a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, have not been cleansed, but have eaten the passover otherwise than it is written; but Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, 'Jehovah, who is good, doth receive atonement for every one

Darby: For a multitude of the people, many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, and they ate the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them saying, Jehovah, who is good, forgive every one

ASV: For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it is written. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, The good Jehovah pardon every one

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For a multitude  of the people,  [even] many  of Ephraim,  and Manasseh,  Issachar,  and Zebulun,  had not  cleansed  themselves, yet did they eat  the passover  otherwise than it was written.  But Hezekiah  prayed  for them, saying,  The good  LORD  pardon  every one 

What does 2 Chronicles 30:18 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Chronicles 30:13-27 - Whole-Hearted Seeking Of God
As necessary preliminary to the right observance of the approaching feast, the removal of the altars erected by Ahaz was resolved upon. The feast and its antitype can be observed only as the leaven of evil is put away, 1 Corinthians 5:7. So great was the zeal of the people, that it shamed the priests and Levites into a new earnestness. There were irregularities in the celebration, as, for instance, the Levites slaughtered the paschal victims for every one that had not passed through the usual process of ceremonial cleansing. But the intention of the crowds was right, and in answer to Hezekiah's prayer, no penalty was inflicted for these violations of the prescribed ritual. Another proof is thus afforded that the main thing with God is the attitude of the heart, Psalms 69:31.
When spiritual captivities are turned, there is an outburst of singing. Each great revival has had its Gregorian chants, its Luther's hymns, its Charles Wesley, its Havergal, its Sankey.
The immense numbers of slaughtered beasts were necessitated by the presence of vast multitudes of people, who needed to be supported while at Jerusalem. Only a small portion of the animal was presented on the altar, the remainder being eaten by the offerers. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Chronicles 30

1  Hezekiah proclaims a solemn passover on the second month for Judah and Israel
13  The assembly, having destroyed the altars of idolatry, keep the feast fourteen days
27  The priests and Levites bless the people

What do the individual words in 2 Chronicles 30:18 mean?

For a multitude of the people many from Ephraim and Manasseh Issachar and Zebulun not had cleansed themselves yet they ate - the Passover otherwise contrary to what was written But prayed Hezekiah for them saying Yahweh the good May provide atonement for everyone
כִּ֣י מַרְבִּ֣ית הָעָ֡ם רַ֠בַּת מֵֽאֶפְרַ֨יִם וּמְנַשֶּׁ֜ה יִשָּׂשכָ֤ר וּזְבֻלוּן֙ לֹ֣א הִטֶּהָ֔רוּ כִּֽי־ אָכְל֥וּ אֶת־ הַפֶּ֖סַח בְּלֹ֣א כַכָּת֑וּב כִּי֩ הִתְפַּלֵּ֨ל יְחִזְקִיָּ֤הוּ עֲלֵיהֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְהוָ֥ה הַטּ֖וֹב יְכַפֵּ֥ר בְּעַֽד

מַרְבִּ֣ית  a  multitude 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מַרְבִּית  
Sense: increase, great number, multitude, greatness.
הָעָ֡ם  of  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
רַ֠בַּת  many 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular construct
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
מֵֽאֶפְרַ֨יִם  from  Ephraim 
Parse: Preposition-m, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶפְרַיִם  
Sense: second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh.
וּמְנַשֶּׁ֜ה  and  Manasseh 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְנַשֶּׁה  
Sense: the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh.
יִשָּׂשכָ֤ר  Issachar 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשָּׂשׂכָר  
Sense: the 9th son of Jacob and the 5th by Leah his first wife and the progenitor of a tribe by his name.
וּזְבֻלוּן֙  and  Zebulun 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: זְבוּלוּן  
Sense: the 0th of the sons of Jacob, 6th and last of Leah; progenitor of Zebulun.
הִטֶּהָ֔רוּ  had  cleansed  themselves 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: טָהֵר  
Sense: to be clean, be pure.
כִּֽי־  yet 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
אָכְל֥וּ  they  ate 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
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.
הַפֶּ֖סַח  the  Passover 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּסַח  
Sense: passover.
בְּלֹ֣א  otherwise 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
כַכָּת֑וּב  contrary  to  what  was  written 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
הִתְפַּלֵּ֨ל  prayed 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּלַל 
Sense: to intervene, interpose, pray.
יְחִזְקִיָּ֤הוּ  Hezekiah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: חִזְקִיָּה 
Sense: 2th king of Judah, son of Ahaz and Abijah; a good king in that he served Jehovah and did away with idolatrous practices.
עֲלֵיהֶם֙  for  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
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.
לֵאמֹ֔ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֥ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הַטּ֖וֹב  the  good 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
יְכַפֵּ֥ר  May  provide  atonement  for 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּפַר 
Sense: to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation, cover over with pitch.
בְּעַֽד  everyone 
Parse: Preposition
Root: בַּעַד 
Sense: behind, through, round about, on behalf of, away from, about.