Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.

2 KINGS 22:17KJV
Know the Bible

2 Kings 22:17 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 22:17 mean?

2 Kings 22:17 means that God is declaring judgment on the people of Judah because they have abandoned Him and worshipped other gods, making offerings to them and provoking His anger through their actions. As a result, God’s anger will burn against their land, and this judgment will not be stopped.

In this verse, God is speaking through a prophet to King Josiah’s officials, explaining why disaster is coming upon Jerusalem and Judah. The people have "forsaken" God and turned to idol worship, which in the context of ancient Israel was seen as a serious betrayal. The verse emphasizes that their deliberate choices and actions—especially making offerings to other gods—have led to consequences that are now unavoidable.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 22:17

  • "forsaken" (עָזַב, azav): This word means to abandon or leave behind. Here, it highlights the people’s active decision to turn away from God, not just a passive drifting.
  • "incense" (קָטַר, qatar): This refers to burning incense as part of worship rituals. In the ancient world, burning incense was a key act of devotion, so doing this for other gods showed deep disloyalty.
  • "wrath" (חֵמָה, chemah): This word often means a burning or fierce anger. It stresses the intensity and seriousness of God’s response to their actions.
  • "kindled" (יִצָּת, yitzat): This verb means to ignite or set on fire. It paints a picture of God’s anger being set ablaze, not just a passing irritation but a consuming response.

Why 2 Kings 22:17 matters

  • This verse makes clear that the judgment coming on Judah is not random or unfair; it is directly tied to their choices to abandon God and worship other gods.
  • The language used shows that idol worship was not just a minor mistake but a deep betrayal, provoking a strong and lasting response from God.
  • In the wider story, this verse explains why King Josiah’s reforms were so urgent—he was trying to turn the people back to God before it was too late, but this verse shows that some consequences were already set in motion.

Where else these words appear

“quenched” Hebrew H3518 · used in 24 verses

  • Leviticus 6:12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.
  • Proverbs 26:20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
  • Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

“kindled” Hebrew H3341 · used in 28 verses

  • Joshua 8:8 And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. See, I have commanded you.
  • Isaiah 33:12 And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.
  • Jeremiah 46:19 O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.

“anger” Hebrew H3707 · used in 53 verses

  • Deuteronomy 4:25 When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:
  • 1 Kings 22:53 For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.
  • Ecclesiastes 7:9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

“incense” Hebrew H6999 · used in 112 verses

  • Exodus 29:13 And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul that is above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar.
  • Leviticus 9:20 And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:
  • 2 Chronicles 28:4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.