2 Kings 21:22 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 21:22 mean?

2 Kings 21:22 describes King Amon’s rejection of the God worshiped by his ancestors. The writer judges Amon’s rule not only by the gods he served but also by his failure to live according to the LORD’s way.

The verse follows the description of Amon serving the idols his father had served. “Walked not in the way” pictures a person’s conduct as a path: Amon’s choices took him away from the course associated with the LORD.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 21:22

• “forsook” — עָזַב (ʿazav): This word often means to leave or abandon. Here it presents Amon’s change of allegiance as turning away from someone to whom his family had belonged.
• “way” — דֶּרֶךְ (derekh): The word can mean a road or path. Here it is used for a course of conduct rather than a physical road.
• “LORD” — יהוה (YHWH): The KJV uses “LORD” in capital letters to represent God’s personal name. The repeated name identifies the God Amon abandoned with the one whose way he did not follow.

Why 2 Kings 21:22 matters

• Amon’s family history makes his conduct especially clear. “The LORD God of his fathers” connects him to earlier generations, even though verse 21 says he followed the example of his father Manasseh.
• The account gives a religious judgment on Amon’s reign. After describing his service to idols, the writer names that conduct as a departure from the LORD’s way.