And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.

JUDGES 2:17KJV
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Judges 2:17 (KJV)

What does Judges 2:17 mean?

Judges 2:17 says that the Israelites refused to listen to the leaders God gave them and instead chased after other gods, worshipping them. They quickly abandoned the faithful way their ancestors had followed, ignoring the LORD’s commandments.

This verse comes from a summary in the book of Judges, where the writer explains how, after Joshua’s generation died, the Israelites repeatedly turned away from God. The verse highlights the people’s pattern of disobedience: even when God raised up judges (leaders) to help them, they did not listen and instead adopted the religious practices of the surrounding nations.

The Hebrew behind Judges 2:17

  • "hearken" (שָׁמַע, shamaʿ): This word means more than just hearing; it carries the sense of listening with the intention to obey. The verse emphasizes that the people did not just fail to hear, but actively refused to follow the judges’ guidance.
  • "whoring" (זָנָה, zanah): This word is often used in the Hebrew Bible to describe unfaithfulness, especially in a spiritual sense. Here, it paints a vivid picture of the Israelites’ betrayal of God by pursuing other gods.
  • "bowed" (שָׁחָה, shachah): This word means to bow down or worship. It shows that the Israelites were not just curious about other gods, but were actively participating in their worship.
  • "way" (דֶּרֶךְ, derek): This word refers to a path or manner of living. The verse contrasts the faithful "way" of the ancestors with the new, disobedient path the people chose.

Why Judges 2:17 matters

  • Judges 2:17 clarifies that the Israelites’ problem was not just occasional mistakes but a deep pattern of rejecting God’s leadership and commands.
  • The verse uses strong language to show the seriousness of turning to other gods, making it clear that this was seen as a betrayal similar to unfaithfulness in a marriage.
  • This verse helps set up the main cycle of the book of Judges: disobedience, consequences, rescue, and then repeated failure, showing why Israel needed guidance and deliverance again and again.

Where else these words appear

“quickly” Hebrew H4118 · used in 17 verses

  • Exodus 32:8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
  • Deuteronomy 9:12 And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.
  • Psalms 69:17 And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.

“whoring” Hebrew H2181 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 34:31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?
  • 1 Chronicles 5:25 And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.
  • Ezekiel 16:31 In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;