And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.

2 KINGS 13:11KJV
Know the Bible

2 Kings 13:11 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 13:11 mean?

2 Kings 13:11 says that the king did what was wrong in God’s eyes, continuing in the same sinful ways started by Jeroboam, who led Israel into wrongdoing, and he did not turn away from those actions. The verse highlights that this king followed the established pattern of disobedience rather than changing course.

The verse is about Jehoash (also called Joash), king of Israel, and it is part of a summary of his reign. The writer of 2 Kings is explaining to readers that Jehoash, like many kings before him, did not stop the practices that Jeroboam son of Nebat had introduced—practices that caused Israel to sin against God. This sets the stage for understanding why Israel continued to face trouble during this period.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 13:11

  • "Evil" (רַע, raʿ): This word means something harmful, bad, or morally wrong. Here, it shows that Jehoash’s actions were not just mistakes but were considered deeply wrong by God.
  • "Departed" (סוּר, sur): This word means to turn aside or move away from something. The verse stresses that Jehoash did not turn away from the sinful ways of Jeroboam, showing a deliberate choice to continue in them.
  • "Walked" (הָלַךְ, halakh): This word means to walk or to live in a certain way. Saying Jehoash "walked" in these sins means he lived according to these wrong practices, not just occasionally but as a way of life.

Why 2 Kings 13:11 matters

  • The verse clarifies that the problem was not just with Jeroboam but with later kings who kept following his example, showing a pattern of ongoing disobedience in Israel’s leadership.
  • It helps explain why Israel faced ongoing difficulties and judgment in the chapters that follow, connecting the nation’s troubles with its leaders’ choices.
  • The verse emphasizes personal responsibility, showing that each king had a choice to change direction but often chose to stick with what was wrong.

Where else these words appear

“Nebat” Hebrew H5028 · used in 25 verses

  • 1 Kings 11:26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.
  • 1 Kings 22:52 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:
  • 2 Kings 15:24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

“Jeroboam” Hebrew H3379 · used in 95 verses

  • 1 Kings 11:26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.
  • 1 Kings 14:30 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.
  • 2 Kings 15:8 In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.