2 Kings 17:2 kjv
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.
2 Kings 17:2 nkjv
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel who were before him.
2 Kings 17:2 niv
He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.
2 Kings 17:2 esv
And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him.
2 Kings 17:2 nlt
He did what was evil in the LORD's sight, but not to the same extent as the kings of Israel who ruled before him.
2 Kings 17 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 12:28-30 | ...Jeroboam made two calves of gold... and said... "Behold your gods, O Israel!" | Origin of Northern Kingdom idolatry |
| 1 Kgs 14:22 | Judah did what was evil in the sight of the Lord... | Common judgment formula, general |
| 1 Kgs 15:26 | He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of Jeroboam... | Common judgment formula, Israelite kings |
| 1 Kgs 16:30 | Ahab... did more evil in the sight of the Lord than all who were before him. | Precedent for comparing kings' evil |
| 2 Kgs 17:7-8 | ...people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God... walked in the customs of the nations... | Israel's long history of sin |
| 2 Kgs 17:10-12 | ...set up pillars and Asherim... and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. | Specific idolatry continued by the people |
| 2 Kgs 17:18 | ...the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence... | Divine judgment for consistent evil |
| Judg 2:11 | And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord... | Pattern of sin and judgment in Israel's history |
| Prov 21:2 | Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. | God's ultimate standard of judgment |
| Jer 7:30-31 | ...sons of Judah have done evil in my sight... have built the high places of Topheth... | God's specific condemnation of idolatry |
| Psa 5:4 | For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. | God's holy character opposes evil |
| Isa 5:20 | Woe to those who call evil good and good evil... | Misguided moral judgment contrasted with God's |
| Eze 36:17-19 | ...house of Israel was living in their own land, they defiled it by their ways and their deeds. | Connection between sin, defilement, and exile |
| Rom 1:18 | For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men... | God's revelation of wrath against all sin |
| Rom 3:23 | For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. | Universal sinfulness, none are without evil |
| 1 Cor 10:6-10 | ...these things took place as examples for us... not be idolaters as some of them were... | Old Testament examples as warnings for new covenant believers |
| Eph 5:11 | Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. | Exhortation against participation in evil deeds |
| Tit 1:16 | They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works... | Actions revealing inner spiritual state |
| Jas 2:10 | For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. | Even "lesser" evil is still condemnation-worthy |
| Heb 4:13 | No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. | God's omniscient judgment of all actions |
2 Kings 17 verses
2 Kings 17 2 Meaning
Second Kings 17:2 describes King Hoshea's spiritual evaluation according to divine standards. It states that his reign was characterized by actions displeasing to the Lord. While his conduct was deemed evil, the verse specifically notes that his wickedness did not reach the same extreme level or exhibit the exact characteristics as the idolatry and sin of the kings who had ruled Israel before him. This indicates a comparative, nuanced assessment of his specific offenses within the broader pattern of Northern Kingdom apostasy.
2 Kings 17 2 Context
This verse introduces Hoshea, the last king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He reigned for nine years (732-722 BC) during a tumultuous period marked by Assyrian dominance. The immediately preceding verses (2 Kgs 15:29-30) describe Tiglath-pileser III's conquest of much of Israelite territory and the assassination of Hoshea's predecessor, Pekah. Hoshea's reign thus begins under the shadow of foreign power and national decline. The larger context of 2 Kings 17 details Israel's final judgment and exile, explaining that this catastrophic event was a direct consequence of generations of spiritual unfaithfulness, idolatry, and covenant breaking, which Hoshea’s reign culminated. His evil, even if nuanced, contributes to the accumulation of national guilt that leads to the ultimate dispersion.
2 Kings 17 2 Word analysis
- He: Refers to Hoshea, specifically identified in 2 Kings 17:1 as the son of Elah. This establishes individual responsibility and evaluation within the line of kings.
- did: Implies intentional action and moral choice. The king’s reign is defined not just by what happened to him, but by what he did.
- what was evil: The Hebrew ra' (רַע), meaning bad, evil, wickedness. It denotes anything contrary to God's righteous character and commands. This term is foundational to biblical morality and refers to actions, character, and spiritual state.
- in the sight of the Lord: The Hebrew b'einei YHWH (בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה). This frequently used formula in the Books of Judges and Kings signifies that God is the ultimate standard and judge of human actions. It underscores divine omnipresence and perfect discernment, meaning human deeds are not judged by human opinion or political success, but solely by God's holiness and His covenant law.
- though not like: The Hebrew rak lo k' (רַק לֹא כְּ) introduces a crucial distinction or qualification. This implies a comparative judgment, acknowledging a difference in the degree or nature of evil compared to others.
- the kings of Israel: Refers to the succession of monarchs in the Northern Kingdom (Israel, as distinct from Judah), starting from Jeroboam I. These kings consistently maintained the golden calf worship and often promoted Baalism, leading the nation into idolatry.
- who preceded him: This directly references the entire line of his predecessors in the Northern Kingdom. It frames Hoshea's actions within a continuum of Israel's spiritual decline but highlights a qualitative difference.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord": This is a standard and strong condemnation. It states that Hoshea’s leadership and personal conduct failed God’s moral test. His actions were contrary to divine law and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord, demonstrating a fundamental breach of the covenant with Yahweh. This judgment comes from a sovereign, all-knowing God.
- "though not like the kings of Israel who preceded him": This is the nuanced part. It does not negate that he did evil, but indicates that his evil might have been less extreme in active promotion of gross idolatry (like Ahab’s fervent Baal worship) or perhaps less entrenched in state-sponsored Jeroboamic cult (golden calves). This doesn't mean he was "good" or that he repented; rather, his sin might have been characterized by a more passive allowance of evil or strategic political betrayals rather than zealous propagation of new false worship. Yet, despite this lesser degree of wickedness compared to some, the accumulated sin still resulted in the ultimate divine judgment and the nation's fall.
2 Kings 17 2 Bonus section
The specific nuance of Hoshea's evil ("though not like") has led some scholars to consider the possibility that his reign was so politically and economically constrained by Assyria that he lacked the ability or will to enforce aggressive state-sponsored idolatry like some predecessors. He was a vassal king, perhaps more preoccupied with survival through geopolitical maneuvering than with religious policy. However, this does not diminish his own accountability for allowing the established syncretistic practices of Israel to continue. His reign ultimately highlights that Israel's fall was not due to one specific king's singular wickedness, but rather a long, consistent pattern of disobedience that permeated the leadership and the populace, regardless of the intensity or type of their specific sins against God. The collective guilt over generations finally brought about the long-forewarned covenant curses.
2 Kings 17 2 Commentary
2 Kings 17:2 offers a concise yet potent assessment of Hoshea's reign, laying the groundwork for the impending judgment on the Northern Kingdom. His evil was not identical to his predecessors; perhaps he did not vigorously promote state idolatry or persecute Yahweh prophets to the extent of an Ahab or Jezebel. Some interpret this as his allowing existing evils to continue without active reformation, or perhaps his greater sin lay in political treachery and misjudgment rather than fervent religious apostasy, aligning himself with Egypt against Assyria. Regardless of the precise nature of the differentiation, the verse makes it unequivocally clear that he was still characterized as one who "did what was evil in the sight of the Lord." His evil, in combination with the pervasive idolatry and sin of the people he ruled, further cemented Israel's doom. This distinction, while appearing merciful, serves to highlight that even a lesser degree of deviation from God's commands is still deemed evil by the divine standard and contributes to accountability, leading ultimately to severe consequences for the nation. It reinforces the biblical principle that while there are degrees of sin, all sin alienates from God and warrants His judgment.