So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.

2 KINGS 17:41KJV
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2 Kings 17:41 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 17:41 mean?

2 Kings 17:41 says that the nations who settled in Israel after the exile both respected the LORD and continued to worship their own carved idols, passing these mixed religious practices down through their families. The verse points out that this pattern of divided worship, started by their ancestors, was still happening at the time the book was written.

This verse comes at the end of a section explaining what happened after the people of Israel were taken away by the Assyrians and new groups from other nations were brought in. The writer is describing how these new settlers tried to honor the LORD (the God of Israel) but did not give up their old religious customs. The verse highlights the ongoing problem of mixing worship of the LORD with the worship of other gods, which was a key reason for Israel’s troubles earlier in the chapter.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 17:41

  • "Nations" (גּוֹיִם, goyim): This word refers to non-Israelite peoples, emphasizing that these were foreign groups brought into the land, not descendants of Israel.
  • "Feared" (יָרֵא, yare): In this context, "feared" often means to show respect or reverence, but it does not necessarily mean full devotion or exclusive worship.
  • "Served" (עָבַד, avad): This word means to worship or perform religious service, and here it is used for their actions toward their own idols, showing a split in their loyalties.
  • "Images" (פֶּסֶל, pesel): This term means carved or graven images, making it clear that the worship involved physical idols, which was forbidden in Israelite law.

Why 2 Kings 17:41 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the new inhabitants of Israel did not fully turn to the LORD, but instead blended their old religious practices with some respect for the God of Israel.
  • It highlights a recurring theme in the book: that divided or half-hearted worship leads to ongoing problems, and that true worship of the LORD requires exclusivity.
  • The verse connects the behavior of these nations to the earlier failures of Israel, showing that the same issues continued even after the exile.

Where else these words appear

“images” Hebrew H6456 · used in 23 verses

  • Deuteronomy 7:5 But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.
  • 2 Chronicles 34:3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.
  • Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

“feared” 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.