2 Kings 17:40 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 17:40 mean?

2 Kings 17:40 describes how the people did not listen to warnings or instructions but continued behaving as they always had. Even after being told what was right, they stuck to their old ways instead of changing.

This verse comes as part of a summary about the people living in the northern kingdom of Israel after many Israelites had been taken away. The writer is explaining that, despite God’s repeated calls to change, the people kept following their previous customs and practices, ignoring the guidance given to them.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 17:40

• The word “hearken” (שָׁמַע, shama‘) means to listen or pay attention, often with the sense of responding or obeying. Here, it shows that the people were not just failing to hear, but were choosing not to respond or change.
• The word “former” (רִאשׁוֹן, rishon) points to what came before—specifically, their earlier behaviors and traditions. This highlights that their actions were not new mistakes but a stubborn return to old patterns.
• The word “manner” (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat) usually means judgment, custom, or ordinance. In this verse, it refers to their established way of living or their usual practices, underlining that they kept following their old rules rather than adopting new ones.

Why 2 Kings 17:40 matters

• This verse clarifies that the people’s problem was not ignorance but stubbornness—they knew what was expected but chose not to change.
• It emphasizes the continuity of disobedience, showing that warnings and instructions alone were not enough to bring about real change in their behavior.
• In the context of the chapter, it helps explain why the northern kingdom faced judgment: the people’s refusal to listen and their persistence in old, unhealthy patterns made consequences inevitable.