2 Kings 10:21 kjv
And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another.
2 Kings 10:21 nkjv
Then Jehu sent throughout all Israel; and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. So they came into the temple of Baal, and the temple of Baal was full from one end to the other.
2 Kings 10:21 niv
Then he sent word throughout Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; not one stayed away. They crowded into the temple of Baal until it was full from one end to the other.
2 Kings 10:21 esv
And Jehu sent throughout all Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. And they entered the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was filled from one end to the other.
2 Kings 10:21 nlt
He sent messengers throughout all Israel summoning those who worshiped Baal. They all came ? not a single one remained behind ? and they filled the temple of Baal from one end to the other.
2 Kings 10 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Ki 9:7-10 | For the Lord may avenge the blood of His servants... and all the house of Ahab. | Jehu's divine commission to destroy Ahab/Baal. |
| 2 Ki 9:36-37 | So that the carcass of Jezebel shall be as dung... | Prophecy against Jezebel (Baal's patroness). |
| 1 Ki 16:31-33 | ...took as wife Jezebel... served Baal and worshiped him. | Ahab's initiation of widespread Baal worship. |
| 1 Ki 18:19 | ...prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty... | Scale of Baal's prophetic establishment. |
| 1 Ki 18:20 | So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel and gathered the prophets... | Similar mass gathering by Ahab for Baal. |
| 1 Ki 18:40 | ...seized the prophets of Baal... and Elijah slew them there. | Previous large-scale destruction of Baal prophets. |
| Ex 20:3 | You shall have no other gods before Me. | First commandment; direct prohibition of Baal. |
| Dt 12:2-3 | You shall utterly destroy all the places... where the nations served... gods. | Command to demolish pagan altars and worship. |
| Lev 26:30 | I will destroy your high places, and cut down your altars... | God's promise of judgment against idolatry. |
| Num 25:1-3 | ...joined himself to Baal-Peor... anger of the Lord was aroused... | Earlier Israelite defection to Baal leading to wrath. |
| Judg 2:13 | They forsook the Lord... and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. | Cycle of apostasy and serving Baal in Judges. |
| Jer 10:14-15 | Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols... for their molten images are a lie. | Impotence and deception of idols. |
| Isa 44:9-20 | ...who molds a god... can he save himself? | Denunciation of idol makers and worshipers. |
| Ezek 6:3-6 | I will destroy your high places. | Prophecy against idolaters and their places of worship. |
| 2 Chr 23:16-17 | Jehoiada made a covenant... Then all the people went to the house of Baal and broke it. | Similar temple destruction after righteous reform. |
| Zep 1:4 | I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place. | Prophetic warning of comprehensive judgment on idolatry. |
| Matt 13:41 | The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks. | Gathering for judgment (NT parallel). |
| 2 Cor 6:14-17 | What communion has light with darkness? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? | Call to separation from idolatry/false worship. |
| Gal 5:19-21 | Now the works of the flesh are evident... idolatry... those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom. | Idolatry as a work of the flesh; severe consequence. |
| Rev 18:4 | Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins... | Call to separate from spiritual Babylon (idolatry/apostasy). |
| 2 Ki 10:28 | Thus Jehu destroyed Baal from Israel. | Fulfillment: The ultimate outcome of this purge. |
| Josh 24:14 | Fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity... put away the gods your fathers served. | Exhortation to exclusive worship of the true God. |
2 Kings 10 verses
2 Kings 10 21 Meaning
The verse describes the thorough and deceptive call by Jehu throughout all Israel, commanding all worshipers of Baal to gather. It emphasizes the complete response to this summons, leaving no worshiper unrepresented, and their overwhelming presence filled the house (temple) of Baal to its utmost capacity, from one end to the other. This assembly was a strategic maneuver by Jehu, not for genuine worship of Baal, but as a trap for their systematic eradication.
2 Kings 10 21 Context
2 Kings 10 details Jehu's ruthless purge of the house of Ahab and the complete eradication of Baal worship from Israel, acting as an agent of divine judgment. After destroying Ahab's male heirs and Jezebel, Jehu turned his attention to Baal worship, which had been deeply ingrained in Israel under Ahab and Jezebel. Verse 21 occurs as Jehu initiates the final phase of this purge against the false religion. He employed a strategic deception, proclaiming a great sacrifice for Baal, thereby gathering all Baal worshipers under the pretense of devotion to their deity, setting the stage for their swift and decisive destruction described in subsequent verses. The historical context reveals the pervasive nature of Baal worship in the Northern Kingdom and the necessity, from a divine perspective, of such a comprehensive cleansing to restore exclusive worship of the Lord.
2 Kings 10 21 Word Analysis
And Jehu sent through all Israel:
Jehu (יֵהוּא, Yehu): Means "He is Yahweh" or "Yahweh is He." His name itself stood in contrast to Baal worship, though he employed cunning and violence.sent (וַיִּשְׁלַח, vayiysh-lakh): From the root shalach, "to send," indicating a deliberate and far-reaching decree or messenger dispatch.all Israel (כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, kol-Yisra'el): Emphasizes the wide geographical scope and the comprehensive nature of the summons. This implies Baal worship had spread across the entire northern kingdom.
and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not.
worshipers of Baal (עֹבְדֵי הַבַּעַל, 'ovedey habBa'al): Literally, "servants of Baal." This highlights their active devotion and subservience to the false deity, Baal (בַּעַל), meaning "lord" or "master," the chief Canaanite fertility god. This direct designation highlights the polemic: they served a false "master," not the true Lord.came (וַיָּבֹאוּ, vayyavo'u): Repeated, signifying a willing and complete gathering.not a man left that came not: A strong Hebrew idiomatic double negative emphasizing absolute completeness. No Baal worshiper in Israel was missed, or failed to respond. This attests to the efficacy of Jehu's summons and the extent of Baal's following.
And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another.
house of Baal (בֵּית הַבַּעַל, Beyt habBa'al): The temple or sanctuary dedicated to Baal, likely a significant structure in Samaria.full from one end to another: Conveys the vast number of people gathered and the physical capacity of the temple being entirely utilized. This imagery stresses the sheer prevalence of Baal worship.
Words-group analysis:
- "Jehu sent through all Israel... so that there was not a man left that came not": This entire phrase underscores Jehu's strategic brilliance and effectiveness in gathering his targets. It sets up the impending purge with dramatic tension.
- "worshipers of Baal came... into the house of Baal... full from one end to another": This sequence graphically illustrates the extent of Baal's following in Israel and their unwitting readiness for judgment. The false house being 'full' for its final 'sacrifice' before destruction is a powerful, ironic image.
2 Kings 10 21 Bonus Section
Jehu's zeal for the Lord in destroying Baal worship (2 Ki 10:16) is highly commended. However, the use of deception, while divinely utilized for this specific judgment, should not be generalized as a template for all righteous action. Scripture primarily commends truthfulness. The depth of Baal worship evidenced by the verse’s description ('full from one end to another') reflects how significantly the nation had departed from the covenant, making such a comprehensive, if ruthless, purging operation the specific divine will at that time. It underscores the severity with which God views idolatry as spiritual adultery against Him.
2 Kings 10 21 Commentary
2 Kings 10:21 presents a critical juncture in Jehu's divinely mandated mission to cleanse Israel of Ahab's lineage and, crucially, Baal worship. Jehu's method here is a masterstroke of deceptive strategy, demonstrating a cunning resolve to completely eradicate the pervasive pagan cult. By declaring a "solemn assembly for Baal" (as mentioned in verse 20), he cleverly co-opted the language of sacred ritual to lure every last adherent. The verse's emphasis on "all" and "not a man left" highlights the systematic nature of this purge. The image of the "house of Baal" being "full from one end to another" conveys the sheer depth to which idolatry had infiltrated Israelite society, confirming the extent of the religious compromise and the necessity of such drastic divine judgment. This event serves as a stark testament to God's zeal for exclusive worship and His ultimate sovereignty over even the most entrenched forms of apostasy, preparing the way for spiritual reformation. Practically, it illustrates the decisive actions sometimes needed to confront widespread spiritual deviation, rooting out corrupting influences.