2 Kings 22 17

2 Kings 22:17 kjv

Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.

2 Kings 22:17 nkjv

because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.' " '

2 Kings 22:17 niv

Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.'

2 Kings 22:17 esv

Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched.

2 Kings 22:17 nlt

For my people have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to pagan gods, and I am very angry with them for everything they have done. My anger will burn against this place, and it will not be quenched.'

2 Kings 22 verses

2 Kings 22 17 Meaning

This verse declares a divine judgment against the people of Judah and "this place" (Jerusalem and the land of Judah) because they have actively abandoned the Lord, worshipped other deities by burning incense to them, and thereby provoked God to a righteous anger through their own man-made idolatry. Consequently, God’s wrath will be irrevocably kindled against them, a fire that cannot be extinguished by any means. This pronouncement comes through the prophetess Huldah in response to Josiah’s discovery of the Book of the Law and his concern over the nation’s covenant violations.

2 Kings 22 17 Context

Chapter 22 of 2 Kings initiates during the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign. It describes the significant event of the discovery of the "Book of the Law" (likely a significant portion or all of Deuteronomy) in the Temple during repairs commissioned by Josiah. Upon hearing its words read, Josiah is deeply humbled, tearing his clothes in grief and fear, recognizing the vast disobedience of Judah’s ancestors and his own generation against the covenant commands. Distraught by the potential for God’s wrath, he sends his officials to inquire of the Lord. The prophecy in verse 17 comes through Huldah, the prophetess, in response to this inquiry. Her words reveal that despite Josiah’s personal righteousness and repentance, the nation's widespread and deeply entrenched idolatry and spiritual apostasy had passed a point of no return, making the announced judgment on "this place" (Jerusalem and Judah) inevitable and irreversible. This pronouncement sets the stage for the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile that would occur decades later.

2 Kings 22 17 Word analysis

• "Because" (כִּי - ki): This conjunction clearly indicates a causal relationship, establishing the direct reason for the forthcoming judgment. It implies a consequence, not an arbitrary act.
• "they have forsaken me" (עָזְבוּ אוֹתִי - 'azvū 'otī): The verb עזב (azav) means to "leave, abandon, reject, neglect." Here, it signifies a deliberate and active severance of relationship, a turning away from the covenant relationship with God. It speaks to a deep spiritual infidelity.
• "and burned incense" (וַיְקַטְּרוּ - vayqattərū): From the root קטר (qatar), "to burn sacrifice, make smoke." This refers to the act of offering incense, which in the Old Testament was an intimate act of worship, usually to the true God (e.g., Ex 30:7). Performing this sacred act for other gods represents a profound defilement and spiritual adultery.
• "to other gods" (לֵאלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים - lē'lōhîm 'ăḥērîm): Refers to false deities, not the one true God. This is a direct violation of the first commandment (Ex 20:3), the foundational law of the Mosaic covenant, highlighting their comprehensive rebellion. These "gods" are explicitly identified elsewhere as human creations and nothing more.
• "that they might provoke me to anger" (לְהַכְעִיסֵנִי - lehak'īsēni): The Hebrew כעס (ka'as) means "to vex, grieve, provoke to anger." This indicates that their actions were a direct, offensive challenge to God’s holiness and supremacy, rousing His just indignation. Their actions were an affront to His divine character.
• "with all the work of their hands" (בְּכֹל מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם - bəḵol ma'ăśēh yəḏêhem): This phrase commonly refers to idols made by human artisans (Dt 4:28, Ps 115:4, Isa 2:8). It underscores the irony and absurdity of worshipping objects they themselves created, demonstrating their utter spiritual blindness and deep depravity. It emphasizes the human origin and therefore inherent powerlessness of these false gods, highlighting the futility of their devotion.
• "therefore" (לָכֵן - lāḵēn): A crucial conjunction denoting a consequential, decisive, and inevitable outcome. It asserts divine justice – punishment follows directly from transgression.
• "my wrath will be kindled" (תִּבְעַר חֲמָתִי - tiḇ'ar ḥămāṯī): The word חֲמָת (ḥēmāh) signifies intense, hot anger or fury. The verb בער (ba'ar), "to burn, kindle, consume," evokes a powerful image of an ignited, consuming fire. It describes a deep, righteous indignation from God, already actively taking hold.
• "against this place" (בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה - bammāqôm hazzeh): Refers specifically to Jerusalem and by extension the land of Judah, where the widespread idolatry was rampant. This highlights the corporate nature of the judgment against the nation and its center.
• "and it will not be quenched" (וְלֹא תִכְבֶּה - wəlo' tikbveh): From the root כבה (kābâh), "to be extinguished, put out." This declares the absolute and irreversible nature of the coming judgment. No human effort, prayer, or sacrifice can turn it back. It will run its complete, devastating course. This confirms the judgment as divine and irresistible.

2 Kings 22 17 Bonus section

The message delivered by Huldah underscores several crucial biblical principles. Firstly, it clarifies the concept of corporate responsibility; the cumulative sin of previous generations, especially the prolonged reign of Manasseh (2 Kgs 21:1-16), had deeply corrupted the nation to an extent that even Josiah's righteous efforts could not entirely negate the coming judgment on "this place." While Josiah found personal favor due to his humility (2 Kgs 22:18-20), the societal tide of idolatry was too strong to be turned back from a complete purge. Secondly, Huldah’s prominence as a prophetess during this critical juncture, despite contemporaries like Jeremiah and Zephaniah, reinforces that God raises up and uses individuals based on their faithfulness, regardless of traditional societal roles. Her word was accepted as authoritative by the king and his court, validating its divine origin. Finally, the "unquenchable" nature of the wrath emphasizes the full and devastating scale of the Babylonian exile and the destruction of Jerusalem, which, though seemingly delayed for Josiah’s sake, was decreed by God and fulfilled later, demonstrating God's consistent nature as both merciful and just, upholding His covenant curses alongside His blessings.

2 Kings 22 17 Commentary

The prophetess Huldah’s oracle to Josiah encapsulates the irreversible trajectory of divine judgment against Judah. The nation's sustained and pervasive apostasy—characterized by an active "forsaking" of the one true God and devotion, expressed through incense burning, to powerless "other gods" fashioned by human hands—had amassed to such an extent that it directly provoked God's holy and righteous anger. This "work of their hands" underscores the audacity of their rebellion, worshipping idols rather than their living Creator. Therefore, God's wrath, pictured as an already kindled, consuming fire, would certainly descend upon "this place" (Jerusalem and Judah). The chilling phrase, "it will not be quenched," underscores the finality and inevitability of the impending destruction and exile, despite King Josiah's personal piety and reform efforts. While Josiah’s individual repentance would spare him from witnessing the full devastation (2 Kgs 22:20), the national covenant violation had crossed a point of no return, necessitating a severe and thorough purging that could not be averted or diminished by human means. This highlights both the unchanging justice of God and the profound seriousness of covenant breaking, serving as a solemn warning against idolatry and spiritual rebellion.