Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.

2 KINGS 20:17KJV
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2 Kings 20:17 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 20:17 mean?

2 Kings 20:17 predicts that a time will come when everything in King Hezekiah’s palace, including treasures stored up by his ancestors, will be taken away to Babylon, leaving nothing behind. This is spoken as a certain declaration from the LORD.

In this verse, the prophet Isaiah is speaking to King Hezekiah of Judah after Hezekiah showed his wealth to Babylonian envoys. Isaiah warns Hezekiah that all his possessions and the royal treasures, which his ancestors had accumulated, will one day be carried off to Babylon. This prophecy sets the stage for the later Babylonian exile, showing the consequences of Hezekiah’s actions and foreshadowing a major turning point in Judah’s history.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 20:17

  • בָּבֶל (Bavel; "Babylon"): This word points specifically to the empire that would later conquer Judah. Naming Babylon here is significant because, at the time, Assyria was the main threat, so this prophecy looks ahead to a new power on the horizon.
  • נָשָׂא (nasa; "carried"): This verb often means to lift or carry away. Here, it emphasizes the complete removal of all valuables, not just a partial loss.
  • דָּבָר (davar; "thing" or "word"): Used here for "nothing," it underscores that not a single item will remain, stressing the totality of the coming loss.

Why 2 Kings 20:17 matters

  • 2 Kings 20:17 clarifies that the coming loss of Judah’s treasures is not just a random event but a direct result of God’s word, spoken through Isaiah.
  • The verse highlights the seriousness of Hezekiah’s actions in showing his wealth to Babylon, connecting personal choices to national consequences.
  • This prophecy connects to the broader biblical story by foreshadowing the Babylonian exile, helping readers understand how Judah’s downfall was foreseen long before it happened.

Where else these words appear

“store” Hebrew H686 · used in 5 verses

  • Nehemiah 13:13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.
  • Isaiah 23:18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.
  • Isaiah 39:6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.

“left” Hebrew H3498 · used in 101 verses

  • Genesis 30:36 And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.
  • Joshua 18:2 And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.
  • 1 Chronicles 6:77 Unto the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs: