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.

2 KINGS 17:26KJV
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2 Kings 17:26 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 17:26 mean?

2 Kings 17:26 describes how people relocated to the cities of Samaria told the king of Assyria that they were being attacked by lions because they did not know how to worship the God of that land. They believed the trouble came because they were unfamiliar with the local religious customs.

The verse is set after the Assyrians conquered Israel and moved other nations into Samaria. The new inhabitants, speaking to the Assyrian king, explain that they are suffering attacks from lions. They connect these attacks to their lack of knowledge about the "manner" (customs or laws) of the God worshiped in that region, suggesting a belief that each land had its own deity with specific expectations.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 17:26

  • "manner" (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat): This word often means "judgment," "custom," or "law." Here, it refers to the proper way to worship or serve the God of the land, not just general behavior.
  • "God" (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): This is a general word for God or gods in Hebrew. The people are not identifying the God of Israel by name (Yahweh), but using a more generic term, reflecting their outsider perspective.
  • "lions" (אֲרָיוֹת, arayot): The mention of lions is literal—wild animals attacking the settlers—but also signals that the people saw these attacks as a sign of divine displeasure.

Why 2 Kings 17:26 matters

  • This verse shows how ancient people often connected disasters or dangers to religious offenses, especially when living in a new land with unfamiliar customs.
  • The verse highlights the Assyrian policy of moving conquered peoples and the resulting mix of beliefs and misunderstandings about local gods.
  • It sets up the following verses, where the king of Assyria tries to solve the problem by sending a priest back to teach the newcomers how to worship the God of Israel, showing a practical response to what was seen as a spiritual problem.

Where else these words appear

“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 17:25 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.
  • 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.

“Samaria” Hebrew H8111 · used in 101 verses

  • 1 Kings 13:32 For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.
  • 2 Kings 10:36 And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.
  • 2 Chronicles 28:9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.

“Assyria” Hebrew H804 · used in 138 verses

  • Genesis 2:14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.
  • 2 Kings 23:29 In his days Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.
  • Isaiah 36:13 Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.