And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.

2 KINGS 13:2KJV
Know the Bible

2 Kings 13:2 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 13:2 mean?

2 Kings 13:2 says that the king did what was wrong in God’s eyes, continuing the same sinful actions started by Jeroboam, and did not stop leading Israel into wrongdoing. The verse highlights that the king followed a pattern of disobedience that had serious consequences for the nation.

This verse is part of a summary about Jehoahaz, king of Israel, describing his reign from the perspective of the biblical writer. The focus is on Jehoahaz’s failure to turn away from the sins introduced by Jeroboam, who led Israel into idol worship and practices that broke their covenant with God. The verse sets the stage for understanding why Israel faced ongoing troubles during this period.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 13:2

  • "evil" (רַע, ra‘): This word means something harmful, bad, or morally wrong. Here, it emphasizes that Jehoahaz’s actions were not just mistakes but were seen as truly wrong by God.
  • "sins" (חַטָּאָה, chattā’āh): This word refers to offenses or wrongdoings, especially those that break God’s law. The verse stresses that these were not isolated incidents but a pattern of behavior.
  • "departed" (סוּר, sur): This word means to turn aside or move away from something. The verse points out that Jehoahaz did not turn away from the sinful path set by Jeroboam, showing a deliberate choice to continue in those ways.

Why 2 Kings 13:2 matters

  • The verse clarifies that the problems Israel faced were not random but were connected to the ongoing disobedience of its leaders, especially in following Jeroboam’s example.
  • It highlights how one leader’s choices (Jeroboam’s) had a lasting impact on the nation, shaping the actions of later kings like Jehoahaz.
  • The verse connects to the larger story in Kings, where the spiritual state of Israel’s leaders is a key reason for the nation’s struggles and eventual downfall.

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.