2 Kings 17:32
2 Kings 17:32 in Multiple Translations
So the new residents worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed for themselves priests of all sorts to serve in the shrines of the high places.
So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
So they feared Jehovah, and made unto them from among themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
So they went on worshipping the Lord, and made for themselves, from among all the people, priests for the high places, to make offerings for them in the houses of the high places.
While they worshiped the Lord, they also appointed priests from all kinds of their own people to offer sacrifices for them in the shrines of the high places.
Thus they feared the Lord, and appoynted out Priestes out of them selues for the hie places, who prepared for them sacrifices in the houses of the hie places.
And they are fearing Jehovah, and make to themselves from their extremities priests of high places, and they are acting for them in the house of the high places.
So they feared the LORD, and also made from among themselves priests of the high places for themselves, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
So they feared the LORD, and made to themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
And nevertheless they worshipped the Lord. And they made to themselves, of the lowest of the people, priests of the high places, and they placed them in the temples of the high places.
But those people also worshiped Yahweh, and they appointed from among their own groups many people to be priests at the shrines on the tops of the hills, in order that those priests could offer sacrifices for them there.
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Kings 17:32
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
2 Kings 17:32 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יִּהְי֥וּ
יְרֵאִ֖ים
אֶת
יְהוָ֑ה
וַ/יַּעֲשׂ֨וּ
לָ/הֶ֤ם
מִ/קְצוֹתָ/ם֙
כֹּהֲנֵ֣י
בָמ֔וֹת
וַ/יִּהְי֛וּ
עֹשִׂ֥ים
לָ/הֶ֖ם
בְּ/בֵ֥ית
הַ/בָּמֽוֹת
וַ/יִּהְי֥וּ
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
יְרֵאִ֖ים
yârêʼ
H3372
to fear
Adj
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
יְהוָ֑ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
וַ/יַּעֲשׂ֨וּ
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
לָ/הֶ֤ם
Prep | Suff
מִ/קְצוֹתָ/ם֙
qâtsâh
H7098
end
Prep | N-cp | Suff
כֹּהֲנֵ֣י
kôhên
H3548
priest
N-mp
בָמ֔וֹת
bâmâh
H1116
high place
N-fp
וַ/יִּהְי֛וּ
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
עֹשִׂ֥ים
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
V-Qal
לָ/הֶ֖ם
Prep | Suff
בְּ/בֵ֥ית
bayith
H1004
place
Prep | N-ms
הַ/בָּמֽוֹת
bâmâh
H1116
high place
Art | N-fp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Kings 17:32
וַ/יִּהְי֥וּ
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
יְרֵאִ֖ים
yârêʼ
H3372
"to fear"
Adj
This Hebrew word means to fear or revere, and is used to describe being afraid or standing in awe of something, like God's power. It appears in the Bible to convey a sense of respect or reverence. In the KJV, it's translated as 'affright' or 'reverence'.
Definition: : frightening(DANGER) 1) to fear, revere, be afraid 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to fear, be afraid 1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed 1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared 1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe 1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe 1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify 2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour
Usage: Occurs in 318 OT verses. KJV: affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in) fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), [idiom] see, terrible (act, -ness, thing). See also: Genesis 3:10; 1 Samuel 12:18; Psalms 3:7.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
יְהוָ֑ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
וַ/יַּעֲשׂ֨וּ
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
לָ/הֶ֤ם
""
Prep | Suff
מִ/קְצוֹתָ/ם֙
qâtsâh
H7098
"end"
Prep | N-cp | Suff
In the book of Isaiah, this word means the end or termination of something. It can also refer to a corner or edge of a territory. This word is used to describe the limits of God's creation.
Definition: 1) end, extremity 1a) end 1b) from the whole of, from among (of what is included between extremities)
Usage: Occurs in 31 OT verses. KJV: coast, corner, (selv-) edge, lowest, (uttermost) participle See also: Exodus 25:18; Exodus 39:18; Psalms 19:7.
כֹּהֲנֵ֣י
kôhên
H3548
"priest"
N-mp
In the Bible, a priest is a person who serves God and leads others in worship, like the Levitical priests in Exodus. They were responsible for making sacrifices and following God's laws. This term is also used to describe Jesus as a priest-king.
Definition: 1) priest, principal officer or chief ruler 1a) priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah) 1b) pagan priests 1c) priests of Jehovah 1d) Levitical priests 1e) Zadokite priests 1f) Aaronic priests 1g) the high priest Aramaic equivalent: ka.hen (כָּהֵן "priest" H3549)
Usage: Occurs in 653 OT verses. KJV: chief ruler, [idiom] own, priest, prince, principal officer. See also: Genesis 14:18; Leviticus 13:33; Numbers 17:2.
בָמ֔וֹת
bâmâh
H1116
"high place"
N-fp
A high place or elevation, often referring to a cultic platform or mountain. In the Bible, it can also refer to battlefields or funeral mounds, as seen in various passages.
Definition: 1) high place, ridge, height, bamah (technical name for cultic platform) 1a) high place, mountain 1b) high places, battlefields 1c) high places (as places of worship) 1d) funeral mound?
Usage: Occurs in 92 OT verses. KJV: height, high place, wave. See also: Leviticus 26:30; 1 Chronicles 16:39; Psalms 18:34.
וַ/יִּהְי֛וּ
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
עֹשִׂ֥ים
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
V-Qal
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
לָ/הֶ֖ם
""
Prep | Suff
בְּ/בֵ֥ית
bayith
H1004
"place"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Definition: nm place, origin, between
Usage: Occurs in 1712 OT verses. KJV: court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). See also: Genesis 6:14; Exodus 8:5; Numbers 1:45.
הַ/בָּמֽוֹת
bâmâh
H1116
"high place"
Art | N-fp
A high place or elevation, often referring to a cultic platform or mountain. In the Bible, it can also refer to battlefields or funeral mounds, as seen in various passages.
Definition: 1) high place, ridge, height, bamah (technical name for cultic platform) 1a) high place, mountain 1b) high places, battlefields 1c) high places (as places of worship) 1d) funeral mound?
Usage: Occurs in 92 OT verses. KJV: height, high place, wave. See also: Leviticus 26:30; 1 Chronicles 16:39; Psalms 18:34.
Study Notes — 2 Kings 17:32
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- 2 Kings 17:32 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 2 Kings 17:32
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 17:32
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Kings 17:32
- Trapp's Commentary on 2 Kings 17:32
- Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Kings 17:32
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Kings 17:32
- Cambridge Bible on 2 Kings 17:32
- Barnes' Notes on 2 Kings 17:32
- Whedon's Commentary on 2 Kings 17:32
Context — Samaria Resettled
30The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,
31the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim.
32So the new residents worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed for themselves priests of all sorts to serve in the shrines of the high places.
33They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away. 34To this day they are still practicing their former customs. None of them worship the LORD or observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom He named Israel.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Kings 12:31 | Jeroboam also built shrines on the high places and appointed from every class of people priests who were not Levites. |
| 2 | 2 Kings 17:29 | Nevertheless, the people of each nation continued to make their own gods in the cities where they had settled, and they set them up in the shrines that the people of Samaria had made on the high places. |
| 3 | 1 Kings 13:33 | Even after these events, Jeroboam did not repent of his evil ways, but again he appointed priests for the high places from every class of people. He ordained anyone who desired to be a priest of the high places. |
| 4 | Zephaniah 1:5 | those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven, those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom, |
| 5 | 2 Kings 23:19 | Just as Josiah had done at Bethel, so also in the cities of Samaria he removed all the shrines of the high places set up by the kings of Israel who had provoked the LORD to anger. |
| 6 | 1 Kings 13:31 | After he had buried him, the prophet said to his sons, “When I die, you must bury me in the tomb where the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones, |
2 Kings 17:32 Summary
[This verse shows that the new residents in the land tried to worship the LORD, but they also wanted to keep their own customs and priests, which is like trying to mix two different things that don't belong together, as seen in 2 Kings 17:33. This is called syncretism, and it's not what God wants for us, as warned in Deuteronomy 12:1-3. We should strive to worship God with our whole hearts, without mixing in other beliefs or practices, as commanded in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Matthew 22:37. By doing so, we can avoid the dangers of idolatry and stay focused on our one true God.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the new residents in 2 Kings 17:32 worship the LORD, but also appoint their own priests?
They worshiped the LORD, but also served their own gods, as seen in 2 Kings 17:33, indicating a failure to fully commit to the one true God, similar to the Israelites' actions in Exodus 32:1-6.
What does it mean to have 'priests of all sorts' as mentioned in this verse?
This phrase suggests that the new residents had a diverse and likely disorganized system of worship, with various priests serving different gods and idols, unlike the organized Levitical priesthood in the Bible, as described in Leviticus 8:1-36.
How does this verse relate to the concept of syncretism in the Bible?
This verse illustrates syncretism, where different beliefs and practices are combined, as the new residents attempted to merge their own worship practices with the worship of the LORD, similar to the warnings against such practices in Deuteronomy 12:1-3 and 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
What can we learn from the example of the new residents in this verse?
We can learn the importance of wholehearted devotion to the one true God, as commanded in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Matthew 22:37, and the dangers of compromising our faith by incorporating worldly or idolatrous practices, as warned in 1 John 2:15-17 and Revelation 18:4.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I may be compromising my own faith by incorporating worldly practices or beliefs?
- How can I ensure that my worship is focused solely on the one true God, without mixing in other influences or idols?
- What are some potential consequences of syncretism in my own life, and how can I avoid them?
- In what ways can I demonstrate wholehearted devotion to God, as commanded in the Bible?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Kings 17:32
So they feared the Lord,.... Worshipped the God of Israel in the manner they were taught: and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 17:32
So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Kings 17:32
Of the lowest of them priests of the high places: See Poole "". Which sacrificed for them, to wit, unto the true God; for as to the worship of their own gods, they needed no instruction, and would not permit a person of another religion to minister therein.
Trapp's Commentary on 2 Kings 17:32
2 Kings 17:32 So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.Ver. 32. So they feared the Lord.] They did, and they did not; they feared him for his lions, as the old Romans served their Veioves, that they might not hurt them, and their gods Rubigus, Orbona, Febris, &c., for the same reason. So the poor Indians do at this day worship the devil, that he may not whip them. Rosin., Ant., ii. 21.
Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Kings 17:32
(32) They feared.—They were fearing. (See Note on 2 Kings 17:25; 2 Kings 17:28, supra.) Of the lowest of them.—Rather, of all orders, or promiscuously. (Comp. 1 Kings 12:31.) This is another indication that it was Jeroboam’s mode of worship which was now restored. Which sacrificed.—Heb., and they used to do. The verb do is used in the sense of sacra facere, just like the Greek - ποιεῗνἔρδεινρέζειν. Priests of the high places.—Rather, bβmβh-priests (omit the). Bamah-priests are opposed to the priests of Jehovah’s Temple.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Kings 17:32
Verse 32. Of the lowest of them priests] One priest was not enough for this motley population; and, as the priesthood was probably neither respectable nor lucrative, it was only the lowest of the people who would enter into the employment.
Cambridge Bible on 2 Kings 17:32
32. So they feared the Lord] i.e. In the way in which their ideas of the worship of the local divinity demanded. This they did, says Bp Hall, ‘not for devotion, but for impunity. Vain politicians to think to satisfy God by patching up religions … What a prodigious mixture was here, true with false, Jewish with paganish, divine with devilish … No beggar’s cloak is more pieced than the religion of these new inhabitants of Israel. I know not how their bodies sped for the lions. I am sure their souls fared the worse for this medley. Above all things God hates a mongrel devotion. If we be not all Israel, it were better to be all Asshur. It cannot so much displease God to be unknown or neglected as to be consorted with idols’. and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests] R.V. and made unto them from among themselves priests.
See note on 1 Kings 12:31. The word represented by ‘lowest’ means an ‘end’ or ‘extremity’, but the idea of the phrase is that the choice of these priests was made anywhere, from the whole mass of the nation, from all that was comprised in it between one extremity and the other. This was distinctly contrary to what the Jews had been taught, that the priests were to come exclusively from one tribe, and the high priests from a special family. houses of the high places] Hence it seems that not an altar only, bat a temple of some kind was erected on the high places.
Barnes' Notes on 2 Kings 17:32
Of the lowest of them - Rather, “from all ranks.” See marginal reference note.
Whedon's Commentary on 2 Kings 17:32
32. The lowest of them priests — As Jeroboam had done. See note on 1 Kings 12:31. This fact further argues (compare note on 2 Kings 17:28) that the priest who taught these nations the fear of Jehovah was one of Jeroboam’s order.