2 Kings 14 24

2 Kings 14:24 kjv

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

2 Kings 14:24 nkjv

And he did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.

2 Kings 14:24 niv

He did evil in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.

2 Kings 14:24 esv

And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.

2 Kings 14:24 nlt

He did what was evil in the LORD's sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.

2 Kings 14 verses

2 Kings 14 24 Meaning

The verse states that Jeroboam II, King of Israel, continuously engaged in actions displeasing to the Lord. It specifically identifies his principal spiritual failing as adhering to, and not turning away from, the established idolatrous practices initiated by Jeroboam I, the son of Nebat, which led the entire nation of Israel into sin. This standard indictment marks his reign as spiritually corrupt despite any potential political or military successes.

2 Kings 14 24 Context

This verse appears during the description of the reign of Jeroboam II in Israel. Historically, Jeroboam II's reign (c. 793–753 BC) was one of great political and economic prosperity for the Northern Kingdom. He expanded Israel's borders, reclaiming territory previously lost to Aram (2 Kgs 14:25). However, this military and economic success was not accompanied by spiritual fidelity. The broader context of the Book of Kings is a theological history, assessing each king's reign primarily on their obedience or disobedience to the covenant with the Lord, as outlined in the Deuteronomic law. The phrase "did what was evil in the sight of the Lord" is the standard verdict for kings who led the nation into idolatry and covenant transgression. The repeated reference to "the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat" serves as a continuous lament throughout the Books of Kings, highlighting the deep-seated idolatry that plagued the Northern Kingdom from its inception. These "sins" fundamentally involved setting up golden calves in Bethel and Dan for worship, establishing a false religious system contrary to God's command to worship only at Jerusalem, effectively making the worship of YHWH indistinguishable from Canaanite idolatry in practice, if not in explicit intention.

2 Kings 14 24 Word analysis

• And he: Refers to Jeroboam II, the son of Joash, King of Israel (mentioned in the preceding verse, 2 Kgs 14:23). This highlights his personal responsibility for his actions, despite the prevailing patterns of his predecessors.
• did what was evil: Hebrew: ʿāśāh hā-rāʿ (עָשָׂה הָרָע). This is a standard judgmental phrase throughout Kings and Chronicles. It indicates a clear moral and spiritual transgression as defined by God's covenant standards, not by human ethical codes or political success. It contrasts with "did what was right" (ʿāśāh hay-yāšār), emphasizing a deliberate choice against God's will.
• in the sight of the Lord: Hebrew: bĕʿêynê Yᵊhōwâ (בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה). This stresses that God's omnipresent gaze and ultimate divine judgment are the supreme measure. The verdict on the king's reign comes directly from God, indicating an absolute moral standard. It's a polemical statement against any notion that human prosperity or political success equals divine approval.
• and did not depart: Hebrew: wĕ-lōʾ sār (וְלֹא סָר). This signifies stubbornness, a persistent unwillingness to turn away or repent from sinful practices. It implies that there was an opportunity or expectation to change, but it was actively rejected. It highlights a conscious choice to continue a path known to be against God's will.
• from all the sins: Hebrew: mi-kol ḥaṭṭōʾwt (מִכֹּל חַטֹּאות). "Sins" (ḥaṭṭōʾwt) signifies missing the mark, moral failing, transgression. "All" (kol) emphasizes the complete adherence to, and continuation of, the full range of established apostasy, without exception.
• of Jeroboam the son of Nebat: This specific appellation (yārāḇəʿām ben nəḇāṭ) is a loaded term. Jeroboam I is consistently presented as the archetypal idolater in the Northern Kingdom, the "man who made Israel sin." His legacy was the institutionalization of false worship, particularly the golden calves at Bethel and Dan, designed to prevent his people from returning to Jerusalem for worship (1 Kgs 12:26-33). This phrase serves as a literary device, linking all subsequent Israelite kings to the original sin that initiated the kingdom's spiritual downfall. It acts as a continuous polemic against the Northern Kingdom's religious practices as being fundamentally corrupted from their inception.
• which he made Israel to sin: Hebrew: ʾăšer heḥĕṭîʾ ʾeṯ yiśrāʾēl (אֲשֶׁר הֶחֱטִיא אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל). This uses a causative verb form, "he caused Israel to sin." This points to the profound negative impact of leadership. The king's personal sins were not isolated but became a national calamity, as his decisions and example led the entire populace away from true worship of the Lord and into idolatry. It emphasizes the corporate nature of Israel's sin, largely attributable to the policies and precedents set by their kings.

2 Kings 14 24 Bonus section

• The Deuteronomic Historian's Verdict: This verse perfectly encapsulates the evaluative framework of the Deuteronomic historian (the presumed author/editor of Joshua through 2 Kings). The consistent application of the phrase "did what was evil/right in the sight of the Lord" linked to "the sins of Jeroboam" reveals a theological agenda to demonstrate how Israel's history of decline and ultimate exile was a direct consequence of their consistent covenant disobedience and idolatry, beginning with the foundational sin of the Northern Kingdom's first king.
• Contrasting Blessings and Judgments: The contrast between Jeroboam II's political success (as highlighted in the surrounding verses) and his spiritual condemnation (in 2 Kings 14:24) serves as a potent theological message. It highlights that temporal blessings (like extended borders or wealth) do not automatically indicate God's spiritual approval for unrighteous actions, but rather His patience or fulfillment of a prior promise (2 Kgs 14:27), even while the people are still committing grievous sin. This teaches that true blessing comes from walking in righteousness before the Lord.
• Intergenerational Sin Patterns: The constant repetition of "sins of Jeroboam" emphasizes how institutionalized sin and the examples set by leaders can perpetuate ungodly practices through generations. This highlights the weight of spiritual heritage, both positive and negative, and implicitly calls for radical breaking from such patterns.

2 Kings 14 24 Commentary

2 Kings 14:24 offers a concise theological evaluation of Jeroboam II's reign, mirroring the standard verdict applied to most kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Despite the material prosperity and territorial expansion achieved during his long rule, the divine judgment recorded here is stark: his actions were evil in God's eyes because he maintained the very idolatry that had infected Israel since Jeroboam I's initial rebellion against the Davidic line. This persistent refusal to turn away from the "sins of Jeroboam" – primarily the calf worship – signifies a fundamental covenant infidelity. The repeating phrase underscores that God's standard of kingship and national righteousness was uncompromised; no amount of political success could mitigate spiritual disobedience. This persistent pattern illustrates the grave responsibility of leaders to guide their people toward, rather than away from, God. It warns that outward prosperity does not equate to inward spiritual health, and deeply embedded sinful practices can continue through generations unless decisively confronted and repented of.