And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them.

2 KINGS 17:25KJV
Know the Bible

2 Kings 17:25 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 17:25 mean?

2 Kings 17:25 says that when new people first settled in the land of Israel after the original Israelites were taken away, they did not honor or respect the LORD, so the LORD sent lions among them, and some of the settlers were killed. This verse explains a direct consequence for their lack of reverence toward the God of Israel.

The setting is after the Assyrian conquest, when the king of Assyria brought people from other nations to live in the cities of Samaria. The verse is part of a narrative showing that these new inhabitants did not know or fear the God worshiped in Israel. The appearance of lions is described as a sign of divine displeasure and a warning to the new settlers.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 17:25

  • "beginning" (תְּחִלָּה, tĕchillāh): This word points to the very start of the new settlers' time in the land, emphasizing that the problem arose right away, not after a long period.
  • "feared" (יָרֵא, yārē’): This word often means to have reverence or respect, not just to be afraid. Here, it highlights that the new people did not show proper honor to the LORD, not just that they lacked fear in a general sense.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the specific name for the God of Israel, making it clear that the issue was about honoring Israel’s God, not just any deity.
  • "lions" (אֲרָיוֹת, ’ărāyōt): The use of actual lions as a consequence is unusual and memorable, underlining the seriousness of ignoring the LORD in this context.

Why 2 Kings 17:25 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the new inhabitants of Samaria were not simply ignorant but were held responsible for not respecting the God of the land, even though they were outsiders.
  • It connects to the larger story showing why the Assyrian king later sends a priest to teach the settlers about the LORD, highlighting the importance of honoring the God associated with a particular land in ancient thinking.
  • The mention of lions as a consequence makes the warning tangible and immediate, showing that the LORD’s presence and expectations continued in the land even after the exile of Israel’s original people.

Where else these words appear

“beginning” Hebrew H8462 · used in 21 verses

  • Genesis 13:3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;
  • Ruth 1:22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
  • Ecclesiastes 10:13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

“lions” Hebrew H738 · used in 72 verses

  • Genesis 49:9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
  • 2 Kings 17:26 Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.
  • Jeremiah 2:30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.