2 Chronicles 26:23
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Even though King Uzziah was a successful ruler, his death is marked not by his achievements but by his affliction and the exclusion it brought, highlighting how leprosy marked even the highest in society. This detail underscores God's concern for holiness and the seriousness of Uzziah's prideful transgression that led to his isolation.
And Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the burial field that belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” And Jotham his son reigned in his place.
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Uzziah had a long and prosperous reign, expanding his kingdom's influence and military might. However, his success led to pride, and he audaciously entered the Temple to burn incense, an act reserved for priests, defying God's law. Struck with leprosy as divine judgment, Uzziah was then ostracized and lived in isolation until his death, with his son Jotham taking over the throne and the kingdom's affairs.
Even kings aren't exempt from the consequences of their actions. Uzziah's story takes a tragic turn, leading to a stark separation in his final days.
The King's Separate Burial
Uzziah was a powerful and prosperous king, even leading Judah to military victories and significant building projects. He was known for his strength and God's favor upon him. However, in his pride, he attempted to perform a priestly duty, a boundary God had clearly set. This act of defiance led to God striking him with leprosy.
Because of his leprosy, Uzziah was ostracized. The text states he lived in a separate house and, crucially, was buried not among his royal ancestors, but in a separate field. This physical separation mirrors the spiritual one his sin created, highlighting the loneliness that often accompanies pride and disobedience.
Uzziah’s reign ended not with glory, but with a disease that marked him as unclean. What does this tell us about true legacy?
A Stain on the Reign
Uzziah's reign was long and, for the most part, highly successful. He strengthened the kingdom, expanded its influence, and was praised for his innovations. The Bible even records that "the LORD helped him, so that he grew very strong" (2 Chron 26:15).
Yet, the final chapter of his life is dominated by his sin and its consequence: leprosy. This disease wasn't just a physical affliction; it was a visible sign of God's displeasure and a mark of uncleanness. His legacy, therefore, is twofold: a powerful king, but one who ultimately fell prey to pride and was separated from his people and even from the traditional royal burial place because of his sin.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
shakab · Hebrew Verb
A common biblical euphemism for death, particularly for the kings of Israel and Judah. It suggests that one has completed their life’s course and joined the ancestral line in the grave, awaiting the resurrection.
malak · Hebrew Verb
The exercise of royal authority, jurisdiction, and sovereign rule over a nation or territory. It denotes the formal possession of authority and the administration of a kingdom.
The account of Uzziah's leprosy and separate burial powerfully illustrates the severe consequences of pride and disobedience, even for a king who had otherwise achieved great success.
c. 790 BC
Uzziah Begins His Reign
Uzziah (also known as Azariah) became king of Judah at a young age, inheriting a kingdom that had seen spiritual and military resurgence under his father Amaziah.
c. 767 BC
Uzziah's Military and Building Successes
Uzziah achieved significant military victories, fortified Jerusalem, and invested heavily in agriculture and infrastructure, bringing prosperity to Judah.
c. 759 BC
Uzziah's Presumptuous Act
Driven by pride after his successes, Uzziah entered the Jerusalem Temple to burn incense, a task reserved only for priests. This act was a direct violation of God's law.
c. 759 BC— this verse
Uzziah Struck with Leprosy
Immediately after his transgression, the priests found Uzziah afflicted with leprosy. He was driven out of the Temple and forced to live apart due to his condition.
c. 740 BC
Death and Burial of Uzziah
Uzziah died after reigning for 52 years, still suffering from leprosy. He was buried in a field separate from the royal tombs because of his affliction, a stark consequence of his prideful disobedience.
c. 740 BC
Jotham Succeeds as King
Uzziah's son, Jotham, took over the responsibilities of kingship during his father's illness and continued to reign after his death, overseeing a period of relative peace and prosperity.
This verse lists David's sons born in Jerusalem, including several names that appear in the lineage of kings like Uzziah, highlighting the continuity of David's royal line.
Isaiah 6:1Isaiah's prophetic call happens in the year King Uzziah died, showing how significant Uzziah's reign was as a marker of time and stability in Judah.
Leviticus 13:46This passage details the isolation required for someone with a serious skin disease (leprosy), directly explaining the reason for Uzziah's segregation and burial outside the royal tombs mentioned in 2 Chronicles 26:23.
2 Chronicles 27:1-2This passage immediately follows Uzziah's death and describes his son Jotham taking the throne, showing the smooth transition of power and Jotham's own righteous rule.
Even though King Uzziah was a successful ruler, his death is marked not by his achievements but by his affliction and the exclusion it brought, highlighting how leprosy marked even the highest in society. This detail underscores God's concern for holiness and the seriousness of Uzziah's prideful transgression that led to his isolation.
King Uzziah had a long and prosperous reign, expanding his kingdom's influence and military might. However, his success led to pride, and he audaciously entered the Temple to burn incense, an act reserved for priests, defying God's law. Struck with leprosy as divine judgment, Uzziah was then ostracized and lived in isolation until his death, with his son Jotham taking over the throne and the kingdom's affairs.
King Uzziah had a long and prosperous reign, expanding his kingdom's influence and military might. However, his success led to pride, and he audaciously entered the Temple to burn incense, an act reserved for priests, defying God's law. Struck with leprosy as divine judgment, Uzziah was then ostracized and lived in isolation until his death, with his son Jotham taking over the throne and the kingdom's affairs.
"And Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the burial field that belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” And Jotham his son reigned in his place." — Even though King Uzziah was a successful ruler, his death is marked not by his achievements but by his affliction and the exclusion it brought, highlighting how leprosy marked even the highest in soc…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
