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 to sin.

2 KINGS 14:24KJV
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2 Kings 14:24 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 14:24 mean?

2 Kings 14:24 says that King Jeroboam II of Israel did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD, continuing in the sinful ways started by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who led Israel into sin. The verse highlights that Jeroboam II did not turn away from these established wrongdoings.

This verse is part of a summary of Jeroboam II’s reign in the northern kingdom of Israel, written by the author of Kings for later readers. The focus is not on specific actions but on Jeroboam II’s failure to break from the idolatrous practices introduced by the earlier king, Jeroboam son of Nebat, which had become a pattern for Israel’s kings.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 14:24

  • "Evil" (רַע, raʿ): This word means something morally bad or wicked. In this context, it signals that Jeroboam II’s actions were not just mistakes but were seen as serious wrongdoing by God.
  • "Departed" (סוּר, sur): This word means to turn aside or move away from something. The verse uses it to stress that Jeroboam II did not leave behind the sinful ways of his predecessor, showing a deliberate continuation.
  • "Sins" (חַטָּאָה, chatta’ah): This word refers to offenses or wrongdoings, especially in a religious sense. The verse links Jeroboam II’s reign directly to the earlier sins that had set Israel on a problematic path.
  • "Sin" (חָטָא, chata’): This verb means to miss the mark or to do wrong. The phrase “who made Israel to sin” emphasizes that Jeroboam son of Nebat’s actions had a lasting, corrupting influence on the whole nation.

Why 2 Kings 14:24 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the biblical evaluation of kings in Israel was based not on political success but on faithfulness to God’s standards, especially regarding worship practices.
  • It connects Jeroboam II’s reign to a larger pattern of disobedience that began with Jeroboam son of Nebat, helping readers see the continuity of spiritual problems in Israel.
  • The verse helps explain why, despite periods of outward prosperity under kings like Jeroboam II, Israel was still viewed negatively by the biblical writers and ultimately faced judgment.