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.

2 KINGS 15:28KJV
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2 Kings 15:28 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 15:28 mean?

2 Kings 15:28 says that the king being described did what was wrong in God’s eyes and continued the same sinful practices started by Jeroboam, who led Israel into sin. The verse highlights that this king did not turn away from those earlier wrongdoings, but kept following them.

This verse is part of a summary about the reign of Pekah, king of Israel. The writer is explaining to readers that, like many kings before him, Pekah did not change the pattern of disobedience set by Jeroboam son of Nebat. The focus is on Pekah’s failure to lead Israel back to faithfulness, instead allowing the same sins to continue.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 15:28

  • "Evil" (רַע, ra‘; H7451): This word means something morally bad or wicked. Here, it shows that Pekah’s actions were not just mistakes, but were considered truly wrong by God.
  • "Departed" (סוּר, sur; H5493): This word means to turn aside or move away from something. The verse uses it to stress that Pekah did not stop or turn away from the sinful ways started by Jeroboam.
  • "Sins" (חַטָּאָה, chatta’ah; H2403) and "sin" (חָטָא, chata’; H2398): Both words refer to wrongdoing, but the first is the noun (sins) and the second is the verb (to sin). The verse connects Pekah’s actions directly to the specific sinful behaviors Jeroboam introduced.

Why 2 Kings 15:28 matters

  • The verse makes clear that Pekah’s reign is judged by how he measured up to God’s standards, not just by political success or failure.
  • By linking Pekah’s sins to Jeroboam, the verse shows that the consequences of one leader’s choices can shape a nation’s future for generations.
  • The verse helps explain why Israel faced ongoing trouble and decline during this period, connecting it to a pattern of repeated disobedience.

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 15:18 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not all his days 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 15:1 In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.