2 Kings 21:10 kjv
And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying,
2 Kings 21:10 nkjv
And the LORD spoke by His servants the prophets, saying,
2 Kings 21:10 niv
The LORD said through his servants the prophets:
2 Kings 21:10 esv
And the LORD said by his servants the prophets,
2 Kings 21:10 nlt
Then the LORD said through his servants the prophets:
2 Kings 21 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Amos 3:7 | "For the Lord God does nothing, without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets." | God's prior revelation through prophets |
| Jer 25:4 | "The Lord has sent to you all his servants the prophets again and again, but you have not listened..." | God repeatedly sent prophets |
| Zech 7:7 | "Were not these the words that the Lord proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited...?" | Prophets delivered God's explicit words |
| 2 Chr 36:15-16 | "The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion... But they kept scoffing..." | God's persistent warnings, Israel's rejection |
| Isa 55:11 | "so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish..." | God's word is effective and accomplished |
| Josh 21:45 | "Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed..." | God's faithfulness in fulfilling His word |
| Heb 1:1-2 | "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son..." | God's historical pattern of speaking |
| 2 Pet 1:21 | "For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along..." | Prophetic word is divinely inspired |
| Jer 7:25 | "From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to them..." | Continuous sending of prophets |
| Jer 15:4 | "I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem." | Manasseh's specific role in incurring judgment |
| Num 12:6 | "If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream." | God's methods of communicating with prophets |
| 1 Sam 3:20-21 | "And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord." | Lord revealing Himself through His word and prophets |
| Deut 18:18 | "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth..." | Prophetic office established by God |
| Eze 3:17 | "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me." | Prophets as watchmen |
| Isa 6:8-10 | "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.' And he said, 'Go, and say to this people...'" | Prophetic calling and commission |
| Ex 20:1 | "And God spoke all these words, saying..." | God's direct verbal communication |
| Prov 29:18 | "Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law." | Consequence of lack of prophetic guidance |
| Lk 11:49-51 | "Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill...'" | Divine wisdom in sending messengers |
| Rev 10:7 | "but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets." | God's mysteries announced to His servants |
| Acts 3:21 | "...whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago." | God speaking through His prophets throughout history |
| Neh 9:30 | "Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not listen..." | God's long-suffering and Spirit-empowered prophets |
| 1 Kgs 13:20 | "Then the word of the Lord came to the prophet..." | Direct delivery of God's word to the prophet |
| Isa 42:1 | "Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights..." | Concept of "servant" as chosen for divine purpose |
| Zeph 1:1 | "The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah..." | Standard prophetic book introduction, emphasizing divine source |
| Hag 1:1 | "In the second year of Darius the king...the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet..." | Emphasizes the prophet as the hand or agent of God's word |
2 Kings 21 verses
2 Kings 21 10 Meaning
2 Kings 21:10 introduces God's direct communication to Judah regarding the egregious sins of King Manasseh and the nation. It asserts that the divine message of impending judgment, detailed in the following verses, was delivered authentically and repeatedly by God's chosen messengers, the prophets. This signifies divine initiative, clear revelation, and a warning extended even amidst profound apostasy.
2 Kings 21 10 Context
Chapter 21 of 2 Kings details the exceptionally wicked reign of Manasseh, Hezekiah's son. Despite his righteous father, Manasseh reversed all his reforms, reinstituting idolatry, building altars for Baal and Asherah poles even in the temple courts, practicing child sacrifice, and consulting mediums. His sins were so profound that he led Judah to do "more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel" (2 Kgs 21:9). This verse (21:10) sets the stage, highlighting that God did not allow this apostasy to continue without repeated, clear warnings through His prophets, underscoring His justice and patience before bringing judgment, the details of which follow in verses 11-15. Historically, this period likely saw prophets like Micah or Isaiah perhaps near the beginning of Manasseh's reign, and possibly others not explicitly named in this context but known to exist.
2 Kings 21 10 Word analysis
- And: Hebrew Wa-yehi (וַיְהִי) - often translates to "And it came to pass" or "Then." Here, it connects the narrative directly to Manasseh's previous actions, indicating a causal link: because of Manasseh's evil, the Lord then spoke. It implies continuity and consequence.
- the Lord: Hebrew YHWH (יהוה) - The covenant name of God, revealing His personal, faithful, and holy nature. The use of YHWH emphasizes that the message originates from the God who has a covenant relationship with Israel, implying their accountability to Him. This is a deliberate polemic against the numerous foreign deities Manasseh worshipped.
- spoke: Hebrew dāḇar (דָּבַר) - Signifies an authoritative declaration, an act of intentional and verbal communication. It's not a mere thought or feeling, but an uttered, active word that carries power and consequence. It asserts God's active involvement in the unfolding events.
- by: Hebrew bə-yad (בְּיַד) - Literally "by the hand of" or "through the hand of." This preposition indicates instrumentality or agency. It means God used the prophets as His instruments, through whom His word passed, maintaining their role as faithful intermediaries.
- his servants: Hebrew ʿăḇādāw (עֲבָדָיו) - Emphasizes a relationship of service, loyalty, and often humble submission. In this context, it speaks of the prophets as those specially chosen, commissioned, and empowered by God to carry out His will. They are not independent agents but messengers faithful to their Master.
- the prophets: Hebrew han-nəḇîʾîm (הַנְּבִיאִים) - Refers to the recognized institution of prophecy in Israel. A navi' (prophet) is someone called by God, His spokesperson, who receives and communicates divine messages. Their authority derived entirely from God's sending and speaking through them. The definite article "the" indicates this well-known office.
- saying: Hebrew lēʾmōr (לֵאמֹר) - A common introductory phrase in biblical Hebrew, introducing direct speech. It signals that the following words (in verses 11-15) are the precise, authoritative message God delivered through His prophets.
Words-group analysis:
- And the Lord spoke: This opening firmly establishes the divine origin and authority of the message. It is YHWH, the sovereign and covenant-keeping God, who is taking action and speaking directly.
- by his servants the prophets: This phrase identifies the human channels God consistently used to communicate with His people. It highlights divine revelation coming through human instruments, validating their ministry as God's chosen mouthpieces against the backdrop of false prophets and pagan soothsayers. The specificity emphasizes that this was a legitimate prophetic warning, not an uninspired human opinion. It also implicitly highlights God's long-suffering and grace, as He continuously sends warnings rather than immediate judgment.
2 Kings 21 10 Bonus section
The repeated emphasis throughout Kings and Chronicles on God speaking through "His servants the prophets" highlights a core pattern of divine interaction with Israel: communication precedes accountability. This serves as a significant polemic against the notion that Judah's destruction was arbitrary or without divine forewarning. Manasseh's wickedness was so pervasive and influential that it irrevocably set Judah on a path to exile, illustrating that prolonged and unrepentant national sin can reach a tipping point where judgment becomes unavoidable. Even then, God ensured His word was clearly articulated, demonstrating His justice and upholding His covenant faithfulness by continually providing clear boundaries and consequences through His appointed spokesmen.
2 Kings 21 10 Commentary
2 Kings 21:10 acts as a pivotal turning point in the narrative of Judah under King Manasseh. Despite Manasseh's extreme apostasy, detailed in the preceding verses—which includes the re-establishment of pagan worship, child sacrifice, and a pervasive rejection of the covenant with YHWH—God did not remain silent. This verse emphasizes His faithfulness in upholding His covenant by issuing clear, unmistakable warnings. By specifying "the Lord spoke by his servants the prophets," the text underscores that God's forthcoming judgment (detailed in 2 Kings 21:11-15) was not arbitrary or sudden. Instead, it was the predictable, just consequence of generations of sin, continuously illuminated and called out by His chosen messengers. This validates the prophetic ministry as God's primary vehicle for revealing His will, His character, and His just requirements to His people, holding them accountable to the covenant standards they persistently violated. It speaks to God's patience, giving ample opportunity for repentance before the inevitable implementation of judgment.