2 Kings 17 34

2 Kings 17:34 kjv

Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;

2 Kings 17:34 nkjv

To this day they continue practicing the former rituals; they do not fear the LORD, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances, or the law and commandment which the LORD had commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel,

2 Kings 17:34 niv

To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the LORD nor adhere to the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel.

2 Kings 17:34 esv

To this day they do according to the former manner. They do not fear the LORD, and they do not follow the statutes or the rules or the law or the commandment that the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel.

2 Kings 17:34 nlt

And this is still going on today. They continue to follow their former practices instead of truly worshiping the LORD and obeying the decrees, regulations, instructions, and commands he gave the descendants of Jacob, whose name he changed to Israel.

2 Kings 17 verses

2 Kings 17 34 Meaning

2 Kings 17:34 describes the enduring spiritual compromise of the foreign peoples settled in Samaria after the Assyrian conquest. It highlights that "unto this day," these inhabitants continue their mixed religious practices, worshipping the God of Israel alongside their own idols, thus failing to genuinely revere Yahweh and failing to obey the comprehensive laws and commands given specifically to the descendants of Jacob, whom God renamed Israel. The verse emphasizes their persistent rejection of exclusive covenant obedience, mirroring the very disobedience that led to the exile of the northern kingdom.

2 Kings 17 34 Context

2 Kings chapter 17 provides a theological explanation for the Assyrian exile of the northern kingdom of Israel (Samaria). After detailing Israel's persistent idolatry and rejection of God's warnings (verses 7-18), the narrative shifts to the consequences: the Assyrians deported the Israelites and resettled foreign peoples in their cities (verses 24-33). These new inhabitants brought their own deities and traditions. When attacked by lions, they attributed it to not knowing "the manner of the God of the land," leading the Assyrian king to send a deported Israelite priest back to teach them. However, verse 34 reveals the outcome: a superficial adoption of Yahweh worship alongside their existing pagan practices, resulting in enduring syncretism. This verse emphasizes the Samaritans' fundamental failure to abandon their pagan ways and fully commit to the exclusive worship of the LORD and His covenant requirements, reflecting the author's critical perspective on their religious identity "unto this day."

2 Kings 17 34 Word analysis

• Unto this day: This phrase indicates the ongoing nature of the problem, signifying that at the time of the historical writing or compilation of Kings, the described religious syncretism of the Samaritans was still prevalent. It serves as a statement about historical continuity and reinforces the severity and longevity of their spiritual compromise.
• they do after the former manners: Refers to the customs, habits, and religious practices of the original foreign inhabitants who were resettled in Samaria. These "manners" include their traditional polytheistic worship, often involving idols and specific rituals. The Hebrew word for "manners" (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat) can also mean judgment or ordinance, suggesting established patterns of behavior and worship.
• they fear not the LORD: The Hebrew term for "fear" (יָרֵא, yare') goes beyond mere terror; it signifies a reverential awe, respect, obedience, and loyal devotion due to the Holy God. This phrase reveals their failure in true relationship with Yahweh. Their "fear" was superficial, driven by immediate threat (lions) rather than genuine reverence or submission. It's a central accusation against them, meaning they lacked the fundamental attitude required for true covenant relationship with God.
• neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment: This powerful enumeration highlights the comprehensive failure to obey God's divine revelation to Israel. It uses a quartet of terms, each carrying distinct nuances of divine instruction:
  • statutes (חֻקָּה, chuqqah): Refers to prescribed rules, often established by divine decree or custom, which are unalterable.
  • ordinances (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat): Relates to judicial rulings or judgments, implying fairness, justice, and the practical application of law.
  • law (תּוֹרָה, torah): The broadest term, referring to divine instruction, teaching, or specifically the Mosaic Law, encompassing the entire covenant.
  • commandment (מִצְוָה, mitzvah): A specific, direct order or precept from God.
  • This sequence underscores that their disobedience was total—it wasn't just a failure in one area, but across the entire spectrum of divine revelation given to Israel. It acts as a polemic against syncretism by emphasizing that God's law demands exclusive and complete adherence, allowing no room for partial observance or integration with foreign religious practices.
• which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel: This phrase grounds the preceding demands for obedience in God's specific covenant with His chosen people. It connects the current failure to observe God's laws directly back to the foundational identity of the Israelites, emphasizing that these laws were uniquely given to them by the covenant God. The renaming of Jacob to Israel (Gen 32:28, 35:10) marks a pivotal moment in the formation of the covenant people, establishing their special relationship with God and, by extension, their obligation to His exclusive laws. The foreign settlers in Samaria, though taught some aspects of Yahweh worship, failed to fully embrace this unique covenant relationship and its demands, treating God as just another territorial deity.

2 Kings 17 34 Bonus section

The chronicling of Samaria's persistent syncretism in 2 Kings 17:34 not only explains the historical origins of the Samaritans as a distinct ethno-religious group but also highlights a recurring biblical theme: the grave danger of divided loyalties in spiritual matters. This critique underscores that external religious practices, if not born from genuine fear and exclusive obedience to God's word, are rendered meaningless or even blasphemous. The rejection of the comprehensive "Torah and mitzvah" by these settlers established a religious identity for Samaria that was distinct and perpetually at odds with pure Yahwism in the eyes of subsequent Israelite/Judean generations, influencing inter-group tensions well into the New Testament period.

2 Kings 17 34 Commentary

2 Kings 17:34 acts as a critical theological judgment on the enduring syncretistic practices of the Samaritans, stemming from the Assyrian policy of population transfer. Despite exposure to Yahweh through an Israelite priest, their worship remained corrupted by their ancestral paganism. They performed outward religious rites to Yahweh, perhaps fearing His power as a regional deity (as implied by the lion attacks), yet fundamentally failed to genuinely "fear the LORD" in the covenantal sense—lacking true reverence, exclusive devotion, and heartfelt obedience. The verse meticulously lists the aspects of the covenant law they neglected (statutes, ordinances, law, and commandment), signifying a total disregard for God's comprehensive instruction. This profound spiritual failing stood in stark contrast to the original and exclusive covenant God established with the "children of Jacob, whom He named Israel," making clear that true faith demands singular allegiance and complete adherence to God's revealed will. Their superficial worship epitomizes the very disobedience for which the original Northern Kingdom had been exiled.