2 Kings 21:10 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 21:10 mean?

2 Kings 21:10 states that the LORD spoke through his servants, the prophets, to deliver a message. This verse sets up the idea that God is about to communicate something important to the people, using prophets as his chosen messengers.

The verse comes during the reign of King Manasseh of Judah, a time marked by widespread disobedience and idol worship. Here, the writer is emphasizing that God did not remain silent in the face of wrongdoing; instead, God actively sent prophets—his "servants"—to speak on his behalf. This introduces the warnings and judgments that follow in the next verses.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 21:10

• LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, highlighting that the message comes from Israel’s covenant God, not a generic deity.
• spake (דָּבַר, dabar): This word means "to speak" or "to declare," and often carries the sense of an authoritative or official pronouncement, underscoring the seriousness of the message.
• by (בְּיַד, b’yad): Literally "by the hand of," this phrase often means "through the agency of." It stresses that the prophets are instruments or representatives, not the originators, of the message.
• servants (עֶבֶד, eved): This word means "servant" or "slave," and here it refers to the prophets as those who serve God by carrying out his instructions.
• prophets (נָבִיא, navi’): This term means "prophet," someone who speaks on behalf of God. The use of the plural suggests that more than one prophet was involved in delivering God’s warnings.
• saying (אָמַר, amar): This is the common word for "say" or "declare," introducing the content of God’s message in the following verses.

Why 2 Kings 21:10 matters

• This verse clarifies that God’s warnings and judgments were not sudden or without warning; God repeatedly reached out through his prophets.
• It highlights the role of prophets as faithful servants who deliver messages that may be unpopular or ignored, especially in times of widespread disobedience.
• The verse connects to the broader narrative by showing that God’s communication is ongoing, and that the coming judgment is a response to persistent rejection of his guidance.