Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;

2 KINGS 17:34KJV
Know the Bible

2 Kings 17:34 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 17:34 mean?

2 Kings 17:34 says that the people living in Israel after the exile continued to follow their old customs and did not truly worship or obey the LORD, nor did they keep His laws and commands that were given to the descendants of Jacob, whom God renamed Israel. The verse highlights their ongoing disobedience and lack of genuine reverence for the LORD, despite being in the land once promised to Jacob’s family.

This verse is part of a historical account explaining why Israel fell to Assyria. The writer is describing the behavior of the new inhabitants brought into Israel by the Assyrians after the original Israelites were exiled. The verse emphasizes that these people did not adopt the LORD’s ways, even though they lived in the land associated with God’s covenant with Jacob (Israel).

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 17:34

  • "manners" (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat): This word often means "judgments" or "ordinances," referring to established rules or customs. Here, it stresses that the people kept following their previous ways rather than God’s instructions.
  • "fear" (יָרֵא, yare): This word means to have reverence or awe, often in the sense of worship. The verse points out that the people did not truly revere or worship the LORD.
  • "statutes" (חֹק, choq): These are specific decrees or laws. The verse distinguishes between general customs and the particular laws God gave to Israel.
  • "law" (תּוֹרָה, torah): This word means "instruction" or "teaching," often referring to the whole body of God’s law given through Moses. The verse uses it to show the full scope of what the people were neglecting.

Why 2 Kings 17:34 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the new inhabitants of Israel did not become true followers of the LORD, even though they lived in the land and may have practiced some outward forms of worship.
  • The verse helps explain the spiritual condition of the land after the exile, showing that the covenant relationship with God was not restored simply by living in Israel.
  • It connects to the larger theme of 2 Kings 17, which is about the consequences of turning away from God’s commands and the importance of faithful obedience to His ways.

Where else these words appear

“fear” Hebrew H3373 · used in 63 verses

  • Genesis 22:12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
  • Psalms 22:23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
  • Psalms 128:1 A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

“statutes” Hebrew H2708 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
  • Leviticus 26:43 The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.
  • 2 Kings 23:3 And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.