וְיֶ֛תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י יֹאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ וַחֲסָדָ֑יו כַּכָּת֖וּב בְּתֹורַ֥ת יְהוָֽה׃
(2 Chronicles 35:26)
And the rest of the acts of Yoshiyahu and his deeds of kindness, they are written in the Torah of YHWH.
Word-by-Word Explanation
- וְיֶתֶר – “and the rest”Noun. From the root י־ת־ר, meaning “what remains,” “surplus,” or “rest.”
Often used in historical books to introduce material not covered in detail. - דִּבְרֵי – “the words of” or “the acts of”Construct noun plural of דָּבָר (“word,” “matter,” “event”).
Here, idiomatically: “the acts/deeds of.” - יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ – “Yoshiyahu”Proper name. Refers to King Josiah of Judah, known for his reforms and piety.
- וַחֲסָדָיו – “and his deeds of kindness”Noun חֶסֶד = kindness, loyal love, or covenant faithfulness.
– The plural חֲסָדִים + suffix ָיו = “his kindnesses.”
The וַ prefix means “and.” - כַּכָּתוּב – “as written” or “according to what is written”Preposition + passive verb.
– כַּ = “as” or “according to”
– כָּתוּב = “written” (passive participle of כָּתַב, “to write”). - בְּתֹורַת – “in the Torah of”Preposition + noun in construct:
– בְּ = “in”
– תּוֹרָה = “law,” “instruction,” or “Torah”
In construct form: “in the Torah of…” - יְהוָה – “YHWH”Divine name. The Torah is described here as belonging to YHWH—His revealed will and instruction.
Word Order and Sentence Flow
This verse follows a classic Biblical Hebrew summarizing formula often found at the end of a king’s life:
- Begins with וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי… – “And the rest of the acts of…”
- Lists a particular virtue – וַחֲסָדָיו – “and his kindnesses”
- Refers to a written record – כַּכָּתוּב
- Specifies the source – בְּתֹורַת יְהוָה
It’s notable that here, the Torah of YHWH is mentioned as the place where these deeds are written—possibly meaning prophetic records guided by divine instruction, or a theological affirmation that Josiah’s legacy is aligned with God’s law.
Visual Breakdown: A King’s Deeds Remembered
| Hebrew Phrase | Literal Meaning | Function |
|---|---|---|
| וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ | And the rest of the acts of Josiah | Introduction to the closing record |
| וַחֲסָדָיו | And his kindnesses | Highlighting his virtues |
| כַּכָּתוּב | As written | Refers to the official record |
| בְּתֹורַת יְהוָה | In the Torah of YHWH | Source or divine context |
Now You See the Structure
“You’ve just read a royal closing line in Hebrew—and seen how the Bible honors the memory of the righteous.”
This verse taught you:
- How Biblical Hebrew uses formulas for historical transitions
- How construct chains like תֹורַת יְהוָה carry deep meaning
- How kings’ legacies are measured not just by their acts—but by their kindness and alignment with Torah
One sentence, many treasures. And you read them in Hebrew.
