2 Kings 17 16

2 Kings 17:16 kjv

And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.

2 Kings 17:16 nkjv

So they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, made for themselves a molded image and two calves, made a wooden image and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.

2 Kings 17:16 niv

They forsook all the commands of the LORD their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal.

2 Kings 17:16 esv

And they abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal.

2 Kings 17:16 nlt

They rejected all the commands of the LORD their God and made two calves from metal. They set up an Asherah pole and worshiped Baal and all the forces of heaven.

2 Kings 17 verses

2 Kings 17 16 Meaning

This verse details the specific acts of apostasy and rebellion committed by the Northern Kingdom of Israel that led to their eventual downfall and exile. It describes a comprehensive abandonment of Yahweh's commandments, a return to the foundational idolatry established by Jeroboam (the golden calves), and the adoption of widespread pagan practices such as the worship of celestial bodies ("host of heaven") and the prominent Canaanite deity Baal. These actions illustrate a complete turning away from their covenant with the LORD and embracing the abominations of the nations around them.

2 Kings 17 16 Context

2 Kings chapter 17 provides a theological explanation for the collapse of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the subsequent Assyrian exile (722 BCE). This chapter, often seen as a summary judgment by the Deuteronomistic historian, highlights Israel's persistent disobedience to the LORD's covenant as the direct cause of their punishment. Leading up to verse 16, the text describes how the LORD repeatedly warned Israel through prophets, urging them to turn from their wicked ways (2 Kgs 17:13). Despite these warnings and the testimony of God's statutes, Israel remained stiff-necked (2 Kgs 17:14), refusing to listen and instead pursuing emptiness (2 Kgs 17:15). Verse 16 specifically details the core components of their spiritual defection, explaining how they rebelled, thereby setting the stage for the fulfillment of the curses of the covenant (Dt 28) outlined in subsequent verses leading to their complete displacement from the land. This historical context underlines the gravity of breaking the divine covenant and adopting the very pagan practices from which God had originally delivered them and against which He had so sternly warned.

2 Kings 17 16 Word analysis

• And they abandoned (וַיַּעַזְבוּ, wayya'azvu): From the verb עָזַב ('azav), meaning "to forsake, leave, neglect, abandon." This verb signifies a deliberate and complete withdrawal of allegiance or connection, suggesting a wilful choice to separate from what was rightfully theirs (the covenant and its commands). It indicates not just passive drifting, but an active decision to cast aside God's requirements.
• all the commandments (כָּל־מִצְוֹת, kol-mitzvot): "Commandments" (mitzvot) refers to the precepts, statutes, and laws given by God, particularly those outlined in the Mosaic Law. The use of "all" (kol) emphasizes the comprehensiveness of their rejection – it was not merely neglecting some laws, but a complete dismissal of God's entire divine instruction and ethical framework for life. This rejection encompassed moral, social, and cultic aspects of their covenant relationship.
• of the LORD their God: This phrase highlights the covenantal relationship. The LORD (YHWH, the personal name of God, revealing His faithfulness to His covenant) was "their God" specifically because He had chosen Israel, delivered them from slavery, and established a covenant with them. Their abandonment was a direct betrayal of their specific God.
• and made for themselves: Emphasizes the proactive and self-willed nature of their idolatry. They were not merely being led astray but actively constructing their own objects of worship, exercising their free will to sin.
• metal images (מַסֵּכָה, massekah): Often translated "molten images" or "cast images," referring to idols shaped by pouring molten metal into a mold. This term appears in Ex 32:4 (the golden calf incident) and Dt 9:16, directly connecting to a violation of the second commandment against idolatry.
• of two calves: This is a direct, polemical reference to the idolatry instituted by Jeroboam I immediately after the division of the kingdom (1 Kgs 12:28-30). He set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan, purporting them to be the "gods who brought Israel out of Egypt," in an attempt to divert worship from Jerusalem. This phrase reveals that Israel's apostasy was not a new development but a continuation and solidification of a systemic sin, foundational to the Northern Kingdom's history.
• and they worshiped (וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲוּוּ, wayyishtachawu): From the verb שָׁחָה (shachah), meaning "to bow down, prostrate oneself, do homage, worship." It describes the act of religious devotion, indicating the transfer of loyalty and adoration from YHWH to other entities.
• all the host of heaven (כָּל־צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם, kol-tzava' hashshamayim): Refers to the sun, moon, stars, and other celestial bodies, worshipped as deities in various ancient Near Eastern religions (e.g., Assyria, Babylon). This was strictly forbidden in Israelite law (Dt 4:19; 17:3). Its inclusion demonstrates syncretism, combining Israelite beliefs with pagan astral worship. It was a rejection of the Creator in favor of the created.
• and served Baal (וַיַּעַבְדוּ אֶת־הַבַּעַל, wayya'avdu et-haBa'al): "Served" (עָבַד, 'avad) implies rendering service or worship, becoming a slave or devotee. Baal, meaning "lord" or "master," was the chief Canaanite storm and fertility god, worshipped widely in the land of Israel prior to and during the monarchy. His worship often involved cultic prostitution and child sacrifice, deeply abhorrent to Yahwistic religion. This represents the ultimate allegiance switch, from the LORD to the very deities the surrounding nations worshipped.

• "abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God": This phrase encapsulates a complete theological break. It signifies not just minor infractions, but a full rejection of divine authority and the established covenant. It is the root of their spiritual decline, demonstrating a preference for self-rule and foreign practices over God's holy and life-giving instructions.
• "made for themselves metal images of two calves": This reveals a specific and deep-seated sin originating from the very foundation of the Northern Kingdom. It points to a structural idolatry embedded in their religious practices, mimicking a perceived legitimate form of worship that was, in fact, an affront to God's prohibition against images. This was the initial deviation that paved the way for more widespread apostasy.
• "worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal": This phrase denotes the extent of Israel's syncretism and outright paganism. Worship of the "host of heaven" often indicated Assyrian/Babylonian religious influence, while "serving Baal" was endemic to Canaanite religion. Together, these represent a composite adoption of the most prominent forms of idolatry of their time, directly violating the First and Second Commandments and fundamentally undermining their monotheistic identity and covenant with Yahweh.

2 Kings 17 16 Bonus section

The progressive nature of Israel's sin in this verse is crucial. It begins with the passive "abandoned" (rejecting what was given), then shifts to the active "made for themselves" (creating their own worship), and culminates in full "worshiped" and "served" (devoting themselves entirely to false gods). This illustrates how unfaithfulness often spirals from subtle neglect to overt rebellion. This verse serves as a theological statement asserting that Israel's political and military defeats were ultimately consequences of their covenant breach, serving as a divine verdict on a people who deliberately exchanged their living God for worthless idols, confirming the warnings given in the Mosaic Law concerning blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.

2 Kings 17 16 Commentary

2 Kings 17:16 stands as a pivotal summary, succinctly itemizing the grave offenses that sealed the Northern Kingdom's fate. It reveals a progressive descent into spiritual apostasy, starting with a fundamental rejection of God's explicit commands and covenant. This deliberate abandonment was compounded by an institutionalized idolatry symbolized by the golden calves, linking the later generations back to the initial sin of Jeroboam. Furthermore, their defection was made manifest in widespread syncretism, adopting foreign cults such as astral worship (host of heaven) and the pervasive worship of Baal. These acts were not minor deviations but comprehensive acts of spiritual rebellion, demonstrating a full repudiation of Yahweh as their unique God. This verse therefore explains why the exile was not merely a political or military consequence but a divine judgment for chronic and profound spiritual unfaithfulness.