2 Kings 17 23

2 Kings 17:23 kjv

Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.

2 Kings 17:23 nkjv

until the LORD removed Israel out of His sight, as He had said by all His servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away from their own land to Assyria, as it is to this day.

2 Kings 17:23 niv

until the LORD removed them from his presence, as he had warned through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.

2 Kings 17:23 esv

until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had spoken by all his servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled from their own land to Assyria until this day.

2 Kings 17:23 nlt

until the LORD finally swept them away from his presence, just as all his prophets had warned. So Israel was exiled from their land to Assyria, where they remain to this day.

2 Kings 17 verses

2 Kings 17 23 Meaning

This verse encapsulates the culmination of God's righteous judgment against the Northern Kingdom of Israel, detailing the reason for their complete removal from the promised land and dispersion. It underscores that this drastic event was not accidental but was a direct, sovereign act of the LORD, in perfect fulfillment of the warnings repeatedly delivered by His prophets throughout centuries. It signifies the end of God's forbearance and the unwavering certainty of His spoken word when rejected.

2 Kings 17 23 Context

The verse, 2 Kings 17:23, functions as a concluding theological explanation for the historical account of the Northern Kingdom of Israel's fall and exile. In 2 Kings 17, the Assyrians, under Shalmaneser V and then Sargon II, captured Samaria in 722 BCE, taking the ten northern tribes into exile. Verses 7-23 provide the divine rationale for this catastrophic event. This context explains that Israel's removal was not simply a result of geopolitical weakness, but a direct consequence of their systemic idolatry, covenant breaking, and persistent rejection of the LORD's commands and prophetic warnings. Since Jeroboam I, the Northern Kingdom had embraced calf worship, built high places, and adopted pagan practices, repeatedly ignoring the calls to repentance delivered by God's messengers. Thus, this verse signifies the inevitable fulfillment of curses foretold in the Mosaic covenant (e.g., Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28) for national apostasy.

2 Kings 17 23 Word analysis

• until (עַד, ʿad):
  • Signifies a culmination point, a threshold crossed where God's long-suffering ended, and His predetermined judgment began. It marks the precise timing of divine intervention.
• the LORD (יהוה, Yahweh):
  • Emphasizes that this was not merely a natural consequence of political weakness or historical circumstance, but the sovereign act of the covenant-keeping God of Israel. It asserts His active role in the affairs of nations, particularly His people.
• removed (הֵסִיר, hēsīr):
  • Hiphil perfect form of סוּר (sûr), meaning "to turn aside," "to take away," "to abolish." Here, it signifies a decisive and active causation by the LORD, who personally caused Israel's departure and expulsion. It denotes divine agency, not passive allowance.
• Israel:
  • Refers specifically to the ten northern tribes, the Northern Kingdom, which had continually strayed from the LORD's ways, unlike Judah, which also experienced judgment but had a distinct covenant with David.
• out of His sight:
  • An anthropomorphic expression, signifying complete rejection and removal from divine favor, presence, and protection. It denotes being cast away from God's personal oversight and care, reflecting profound judgment and disinheritance from the land He had given them. This echoes passages like Genesis 3:24.
• as He had said (כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר, kaʾašer dibber):
  • Underscores the absolute certainty and reliability of God's prophetic word. It confirms that the exile was not arbitrary, but a pre-announced consequence, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His declarations, whether of blessing or judgment.
• by all His servants (בְּכָל־עֲבָדָיו, bəḵol-ʿăḇāḏāyw):
  • Emphasizes the comprehensiveness and consistency of God's warnings. No stone was left unturned; numerous prophets throughout generations had faithfully delivered the same message, removing any excuse for Israel's ignorance or lack of repentance.
• the prophets (הַנְּבִאִים, han·nəḇîʾîm):
  • These were divinely appointed spokesmen, whose words were God's own words to His people. Their messages were clear, persistent, and specific in detailing the consequences of disobedience, underscoring Israel's accountability.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "until the LORD removed Israel out of His sight": This phrase precisely defines the act, the agent, the recipient, and the outcome. It highlights God's sovereignty and Israel's tragic separation from His protecting presence and their divinely given land. It is the culmination of patience leading to punitive judgment.
• "as He had said by all His servants the prophets": This phrase serves as the theological justification and affirmation of divine justice. It links the historical event directly to the preceding divine revelation, emphasizing that God's word is consistently true and powerful enough to bring about what it proclaims. It also vindicates the long-suffering and often persecuted prophets.

2 Kings 17 23 Bonus section

The destruction of the Northern Kingdom as described in 2 Kings 17 marks a significant theological point in Old Testament history, distinguishing Israel from Judah and setting the stage for Judah's later, though temporary, exile and restoration. This verse, with its definitive statement of Israel's "removal," highlights the conditional nature of their residency in the promised land, established since the time of Moses. Unlike the Abrahamic covenant which was unconditional regarding the land for Abraham's descendants, the Mosaic covenant included conditions for continued occupancy of the land. The comprehensive nature of "all His servants the prophets" underscores a recurring theme in prophetic literature: the accountability of God's people to the constant stream of divine revelation, which included both calls to repentance and clear warnings of impending judgment for idolatry.

2 Kings 17 23 Commentary

2 Kings 17:23 stands as a pivotal statement regarding the righteous character of God and the certainty of His word. The complete removal of the Northern Kingdom of Israel was the divinely ordained consequence of centuries of spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness. God's actions were not impulsive but perfectly aligned with His prior declarations through "all His servants the prophets." This highlights divine integrity; what God promises or threatens, He faithfully performs. Israel's rebellion, expressed in their idolatry, moral decay, and rejection of covenant responsibilities, finally exhausted divine forbearance. The phrase "out of His sight" vividly depicts their complete expulsion from the place of divine blessing and protection, a stark warning to all generations about the gravity of covenant disobedience. It is a powerful theological message: divine judgment, though long delayed by mercy, is inevitable when grace is consistently spurned and prophetic warnings ignored. This historical event thus becomes an enduring testimony to the truth that God's justice is as certain as His love, and His word will never return void. For example, a persistent warning about a danger ignored always leads to its fulfillment; similarly, persistent rejection of God's truth leads to spiritual consequences.