God’s Word Translation
2 Kings 17:33
33They worshiped the Lord but also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had come.
2 Kings 17:33 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.
- New International Version (NIV)They worshiped the Lord, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So they feared the Lord but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.
- New King James Version (NKJV)They feared the Lord, yet served their own gods—according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away.
Context of 2 Kings 17:33
31The people from Avva made Nibhaz and Tartak. The people from Sepharvaim burned their children for Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 32So while these people were worshiping the Lord, they also appointed all kinds of people to serve as priests for the shrines at their illegal places of worship. They worshiped the Lord but also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had come. 34Today they are still following their customs, as they’ve done from the beginning. They don’t fear the Lord or live by the decrees, customs, teachings, or commands that the Lord gave to the descendants of Jacob (whom he named Israel). 35When the Lord made a promise to Israel, he commanded, “Never worship other gods, bow down to them, serve them, or sacrifice to them.
Read all of 2 Kings 172 Kings 17:33 word by word
אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה הָי֣וּ יְרֵאִ֑ים וְאֶת־אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶם֙ הָי֣וּ עֹֽבְדִ֔ים כְּמִשְׁפַּט֙ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־הִגְל֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם מִשָּֽׁם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- They fearedיָרֵאyârê' · afraidH3373
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- and servedעָבַד‛âbad · to serve: ministerH5647
- their own godsאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- after the mannerמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: customH4941
- of the nationsגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
- whom they carried awayגָּלָהgâlâh · to reveal: removeH1540
Cross-references for 2 Kings 17:33
- 2 Kings 17:41These ⌞other⌟ nations worshiped the Lord but also served their own idols. So did their children and their grandchildren. They still do whatever their ancestors did.
- 1 Kings 18:21Elijah stood up in front of all the people and asked them, “How long will you try to have it both ways? If the Lord is God, follow him; if Baal is God, follow him.” The people didn’t say a word.
- Hosea 10:2They are hypocrites. Now they must take their punishment. God will tear down their altars and destroy their stone markers.
- Zephaniah 1:5I will remove those who worship all the stars in the sky on their rooftops and those who worship by swearing loyalty to the Lord while also swearing loyalty to the god Milcom.
- Matthew 6:24“No one can serve two masters. He will hate the first master and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the second. You cannot serve God and wealth.
- Luke 16:13“A servant cannot serve two masters. He will hate the first master and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the second. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
Commentaries on 2 Kings 17:33
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 33They feared the Lord, and served their own gods - They did not relinquish their own idolatry but incorporated the worship of the true God with that of their idols. They were afraid of Jehovah, who had sent lions among them; and therefore they offered him a sort of worship that he might not thus afflict them: but they served other gods, devoted themselves affectionately to them, because their worship was such as gratified their grossest passions, and most…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 33Understand the passage thus: “They (the colonists) served their own gods after the manner of the nations from which they (the government) removed them,” i. e., after the manner of their own countrymen at home.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24-41Verses 24-41 The terror of the Almighty will sometimes produce a forced or feigned submission in unconverted men; like those brought from different countries to inhabit Israel. But such will form unworthy thoughts of God, will expect to please him by outward forms, and will vainly try to reconcile his service with the love of the world and the indulgence of their lusts. May that fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, possess our hearts, and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 32-34They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods: The Hebrew faith, already mixed with Jeroboam I's religion, now included many foreign customs. Genuine worship of the Lord nearly vanished. Only a few faithful Israelites responded to Hezekiah’s later invitation to come to Judah for the Passover celebration (2 Chronicles 30:10–19).Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 17:33
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Kings 17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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