2 Kings 10:30 kjv
And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.
2 Kings 10:30 nkjv
And the LORD said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in doing what is right in My sight, and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation."
2 Kings 10:30 niv
The LORD said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation."
2 Kings 10:30 esv
And the LORD said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel."
2 Kings 10:30 nlt
Nonetheless the LORD said to Jehu, "You have done well in following my instructions to destroy the family of Ahab. Therefore, your descendants will be kings of Israel down to the fourth generation."
2 Kings 10 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Ki 9:7-10 | "...you shall strike down the house of Ahab your master..." | Fulfillment of prophetic judgment |
| 1 Ki 21:21-24 | "Behold, I will bring disaster upon you... and utterly sweep away..." | Elijah's original prophecy against Ahab |
| 1 Ki 14:10-11 | "I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam..." | God's judgment on other wicked dynasties |
| 1 Ki 16:3-4 | "I will consume the descendants of Baasha..." | Pattern of divine judgment on evil rulers |
| Deut 28:1 | "If you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God..." | Principle of blessings for obedience |
| Exo 20:6 | "...showing steadfast love to thousands of generations of those who love me" | God's long-term blessing for obedience |
| Psa 112:1-2 | "Blessed is the man who fears the LORD... His offspring will be mighty..." | Prosperity for the righteous's descendants |
| 1 Sam 2:30 | "For those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed." | Principle of divine honor for faithfulness |
| Hos 1:4 | "I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel..." | Later divine judgment for Jehu's house's actions/methods |
| 2 Ki 10:29 | "Nevertheless, Jehu did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam..." | Jehu's partial obedience/lingering sin |
| 2 Ki 10:31 | "But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD..." | Jehu's overall failure to wholeheartedly obey |
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | "...your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me." | Contrast: Davidic eternal covenant |
| Dan 2:21 | "...He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings..." | God's sovereignty over rulers |
| Isa 3:10-11 | "Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them... woe to the wicked!" | General principle of justice and recompense |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Moral consequence leading to ruin (Ahab) |
| Rom 2:5-6 | "...store up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and of God's righteous judgment." | God's righteous judgment on unrepentance |
| Job 34:24 | "He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry..." | God's absolute power and justice |
| Jer 25:9-11 | "...I am sending for all the tribes of the north... to bring them against this land." | God uses human instruments for judgment |
| Psa 75:6-7 | "For not from the east or from the west... does exaltation come... God is the judge;" | God is the source of all authority/power |
| Gen 15:16 | "...for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." | God waits for the measure of sin to be full |
| Rev 18:6 | "Pay her back as she has paid; render to her double for her deeds..." | Divine retribution for great wickedness |
| Zec 1:5 | "Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?" | Reminder of God's unchanging word |
2 Kings 10 verses
2 Kings 10 30 Meaning
2 Kings 10:30 signifies God's direct commendation of Jehu for his decisive actions in executing divine judgment against the house of Ahab. The LORD affirms that Jehu "did well" in fulfilling His specific command to annihilate Ahab's dynasty, carrying out God's "heart's desire" for righteous vengeance against the wicked lineage. In response to this obedience, God granted Jehu a limited dynastic promise, stating his sons would reign on the throne of Israel for four generations.
2 Kings 10 30 Context
This verse immediately follows Jehu's brutal and thorough purging of Ahab's descendants, including 70 royal sons in Samaria and all remaining family members in Jezreel, as well as the complete eradication of Baal worshipers. Jehu was anointed by a prophet, at Elisha's command, specifically to fulfill Elijah's earlier prophecy of judgment against the house of Ahab. Jehu carried out this task with zealous intensity, often resorting to deceptive and violent means. God here affirms His approval for the specific action of executing judgment upon Ahab's line, a task directly mandated by the LORD. Despite Jehu's subsequent failure to fully eradicate Jeroboam's calf worship (2 Ki 10:29), God honored his obedience in the particular matter of purging Ahab's wicked dynasty.
2 Kings 10 30 Word analysis
- The LORD: Hebrew
YHWH(Yahweh), the personal, covenantal name of God. It signifies His absolute sovereignty and faithful execution of His purposes, especially in judgment and covenant. - said to Jehu: A direct divine communication, validating Jehu's specific mission as divinely authorized.
- Because you have done well: Hebrew
hētībōtā(הֵטִיבֹתָ), meaning to act well, to do right, to make good. This specific commendation refers to his successful and complete execution of God's directive, not necessarily his overall character or all his methods. - in carrying out what is right in my eyes: Emphasizes God's perspective and standard. Jehu's actions aligned with God's justice, irrespective of human evaluation or Jehu's potential motives. This "right" refers to the specific command given to Jehu.
- done to the house of Ahab:
bēṯ-’aḥab(בֵּית־אַחְאָב), meaning "the family/dynasty of Ahab." The focus is on the complete extermination of this wicked lineage as decreed by God due to their grievous sins and idolatry. - all that was in my heart:
kol-’ăsher bɪliḇaḇī(כֹּל אֲשֶׁר בִּלְבָבִי), expressing God's resolute and comprehensive will for judgment to be executed. This underscores God's deep abhorrence for the rampant idolatry and wickedness promoted by Ahab's house. - your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel: A divine promise of a dynastic succession. God grants legitimacy and longevity to Jehu's lineage.
- to the fourth generation: Hebrew
‘ad dōr rəḇî‘î(עַד דּוֹר רְבִיעִי). This specific number indicates a limited promise. Unlike the eternal covenant with David's house, Jehu's dynasty has a defined end, foreshadowing the eventual judgment on Jehu's own failures and sins.
Words-group analysis:
- "The LORD said to Jehu, 'Because you have done well... in my eyes'": Highlights divine approval for a specific task. God recognized Jehu's zealous obedience to the particular command of purging Ahab's line.
- "and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in my heart": This emphasizes God's sovereign plan of judgment. Jehu was an instrument, bringing to fruition the divine decree against a thoroughly corrupt dynasty that had exceeded God's patience.
- "your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation": This segment outlines the divinely ordained consequence and reward for Jehu's obedience in this specific task. The stated limitation of four generations is crucial, as it contrasts with God's eternal promise to David's line and hints at future issues or imperfections within Jehu's own reign that would prevent a more enduring dynasty.
2 Kings 10 30 Bonus section
The limited dynastic promise ("to the fourth generation") for Jehu, as opposed to an enduring one, strongly alludes to his incomplete obedience. Though he zealously purged Baal worship, he did not remove the calf worship introduced by Jeroboam, which was politically expedient for the northern kingdom. This selective obedience likely impacted the long-term favor shown to his lineage. Furthermore, Hosea 1:4 later states God will "punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel." Scholars debate if this condemns Jehu's excessive violence or his dynasty's subsequent unfaithfulness. However, it indicates that while God approved the initial act of judgment, the methods and subsequent spiritual failures of Jehu's house ultimately incurred further divine judgment beyond this temporary blessing. God utilizes imperfect individuals to fulfill His righteous decrees, but His full favor and blessing rest on complete and sustained obedience.
2 Kings 10 30 Commentary
2 Kings 10:30 showcases God's sovereign justice and His selective approval of human actions. While Jehu's overall character and some of his methods could be questioned (e.g., his reliance on cunning, and his subsequent failure to abolish the golden calves in Dan and Bethel), this verse focuses exclusively on his successful and thorough execution of God's judgment against the house of Ahab. God acknowledges Jehu's role as a divine instrument for eradicating a particularly wicked regime that had filled the measure of its sin. The reward, a four-generation dynasty, reveals God's faithfulness to honor obedience, even if partial. It also highlights the transient nature of northern Israel's dynasties, contrasting with God's steadfast covenant with David. This divine commendation is specific, recognizing a significant, obedient act in the context of a wider reign marked by continued sin (2 Ki 10:29, 31).