2 Kings 17:40
2 Kings 17:40 in Multiple Translations
But they would not listen, and they persisted in their former customs.
Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.
Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.
But they gave no attention, but went on in their old way.
But they refused to listen, and continued their former idolatrous practices.
Howbeit they obeyed not, but did after their olde custome.
and they have not hearkened, but according to their former custom they are doing,
However they didn’t listen, but they did what they did before.
Yet they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.
But they did not hearken, but did according to their old custom.
But the people from those foreign nations would not heed what Yahweh said. Instead, they continued to adhere to their old customs.
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Kings 17:40
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 17:40 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/לֹ֖א
שָׁמֵ֑עוּ
כִּ֛י
אִֽם
כְּ/מִשְׁפָּטָ֥/ם
הָֽ/רִאשׁ֖וֹן
הֵ֥ם
עֹשִֽׂים
וְ/לֹ֖א
lôʼ
H3808
not
Conj | Part
שָׁמֵ֑עוּ
shâmaʻ
H8085
to hear
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
כִּ֛י
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
אִֽם
ʼim
H518
if
Conj
כְּ/מִשְׁפָּטָ֥/ם
mishpâṭ
H4941
justice
Prep | N-ms | Suff
הָֽ/רִאשׁ֖וֹן
riʼshôwn
H7223
first
Art | Adj
הֵ֥ם
hêm
H1992
they(masc.)
Pron
עֹשִֽׂים
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
V-Qal
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Kings 17:40
וְ/לֹ֖א
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Conj | Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
שָׁמֵ֑עוּ
shâmaʻ
H8085
"to hear"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Definition: : hear v 1) to hear, listen to, obey 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to hear (perceive by ear) 1a2) to hear of or concerning 1a3) to hear (have power to hear) 1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to 1a5) to understand (language) 1a6) to hear (of judicial cases) 1a7) to listen, give heed 1a7a) to consent, agree 1a7b) to grant request 1a8) to listen to, yield to 1a9) to obey, be obedient 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound) 1b2) to be heard of 1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed 1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound 1d2) to sound aloud (musical term) 1d3) to make proclamation, summon 1d4) to cause to be heard n m 2) sound
Usage: Occurs in 1072 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness. See also: Genesis 3:8; Exodus 32:18; Deuteronomy 27:9.
כִּ֛י
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
אִֽם
ʼim
H518
"if"
Conj
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Definition: : if/whether_or/though 1) if 1a) conditional clauses 1a1) of possible situations 1a2) of impossible situations 1b) oath contexts 1b1) no, not 1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or 1d) when, whenever 1e) since 1f) interrogative particle 1g) but rather
Usage: Occurs in 931 OT verses. KJV: (and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), [phrase] but, either, [phrase] except, [phrase] more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, [phrase] save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, [phrase] surely (no more, none, not), though, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] unless, [phrase] verily, when, whereas, whether, while, [phrase] yet. See also: Genesis 4:7; Exodus 22:3; Leviticus 27:27.
כְּ/מִשְׁפָּטָ֥/ם
mishpâṭ
H4941
"justice"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
Mishpat means justice or judgment, and is often used to describe God's righteous judgment, as well as human laws and decisions, in books like Deuteronomy and Isaiah.
Definition: : judgement/punishment 1) judgment, justice, ordinance 1a) judgment 1a1) act of deciding a case 1a2) place, court, seat of judgment 1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges) 1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment) 1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment) 1a6) execution (of judgment) 1a7) time (of judgment) 1b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man) 1c) ordinance 1d) decision (in law) 1e) right, privilege, due (legal) 1f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan
Usage: Occurs in 406 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] adversary, ceremony, charge, [idiom] crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, usest, [idiom] worthy, [phrase] wrong. See also: Genesis 18:19; 1 Kings 2:3; Psalms 1:5.
הָֽ/רִאשׁ֖וֹן
riʼshôwn
H7223
"first"
Art | Adj
This word means 'first' or 'primary', referring to something that comes before others in time, place, or rank. It is used to describe the first or most important thing in a series or list.
Definition: : first adj 1) first, primary, former 1a) former (of time) 1a1) ancestors 1a2) former things 1b) foremost (of location) 1c) first (in time) 1d) first, chief (in degree) adv 2) first, before, formerly, at first
Usage: Occurs in 174 OT verses. KJV: ancestor, (that were) before(-time), beginning, eldest, first, fore(-father) (-most), former (thing), of old time, past. See also: Genesis 8:13; 1 Chronicles 27:3; Psalms 79:8.
הֵ֥ם
hêm
H1992
"they(masc.)"
Pron
This Hebrew word is used to refer to a group of men, emphasizing that it is specifically them. It is often translated as 'they' or 'them' in the Bible, and appears in books like Exodus and Isaiah.
Definition: they, these, the same, who
Usage: Occurs in 524 OT verses. KJV: it, like, [idiom] (how, so) many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, [idiom] so, [idiom] such, their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye. See also: Genesis 3:7; Deuteronomy 19:17; 2 Kings 1:18.
עֹשִֽׂים
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.
Study Notes — 2 Kings 17:40
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Samaria Resettled
38Do not forget the covenant I have made with you. Do not worship other gods,
39but worship the LORD your God, and He will deliver you from the hands of all your enemies.”
40But they would not listen, and they persisted in their former customs.
41So these nations worshiped the LORD but also served their idols, and to this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 4:28 | And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. |
| 2 | 2 Kings 17:8 | and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 13:23 | Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Neither are you able to do good— you who are accustomed to doing evil. |
| 4 | 2 Kings 17:12 | They served idols, although the LORD had told them, “You shall not do this thing.” |
| 5 | 2 Kings 17:34 | To 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. |
2 Kings 17:40 Summary
This verse, 2 Kings 17:40, tells us that the people refused to listen to God's commands and instead kept doing what they had always done. This is a warning to us to not get stuck in our old ways of doing things, but to seek God's will and follow His Word, as encouraged in Psalm 119:105. Just like the people in this verse, we can easily fall into the trap of following our own customs and traditions rather than following God's commands, but we must remember that God's ways are higher than our ways, as written in Isaiah 55:9, and that He wants what is best for us, as promised in Jeremiah 29:11.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the people refuse to listen to God's commands in 2 Kings 17:40?
The people refused to listen because they were stubborn and set in their ways, much like the Israelites in Exodus 32:9 who rebelled against God despite His goodness to them, and as warned in Deuteronomy 8:14, they forgot the Lord their God who had brought them out of slavery in Egypt.
What does it mean to persist in former customs as mentioned in 2 Kings 17:40?
Persisting in former customs means to continue in the old ways of doing things, even when God has called us to something new, as seen in the example of the Israelites in 2 Kings 17:40 who continued to worship idols despite God's command to worship Him alone, similar to the warnings in Jeremiah 10:2-5 against following the customs of the nations around them.
How does this verse relate to our lives today?
This verse reminds us that, just like the people in 2 Kings 17:40, we can easily fall into the trap of following our own customs and traditions rather than following God's commands, as warned in Colossians 2:8, and we must be careful to seek God's will and follow His Word above all else, as encouraged in Proverbs 3:5-6.
What is the result of not listening to God's commands as seen in 2 Kings 17:40?
The result of not listening to God's commands is that we will continue in our sinful ways and miss out on the blessings and deliverance that God wants to give us, as seen in 2 Kings 17:40 and also in Joshua 24:20, where it is written that if we forsake the Lord and serve other gods, He will turn against us and we will quickly perish.
Reflection Questions
- What are some 'former customs' in my life that I need to let go of in order to follow God more closely, as He calls us to in 2 Corinthians 5:17?
- How can I ensure that I am listening to God's commands and following His will, as encouraged in Psalm 119:105?
- What are some areas in my life where I am persisting in old ways of doing things, rather than seeking God's new and better way, as seen in Isaiah 43:19?
- How can I balance my desire for tradition and familiarity with my need to follow God's commands and seek His will, as taught in Matthew 15:3-6?
- What are some ways that I can actively seek to remember God's covenant with me and worship Him alone, as commanded in Deuteronomy 6:13 and Deuteronomy 8:18?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Kings 17:40
Howbeit, they did not hearken, but did after their former manner. They did not repent of their idolatries, but persisted in them, and even when they were in captivity in Assyria, or such of them as were left in the land.
Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Kings 17:40
(40) They—i.e., the Ephraimites. Did.—Continued doing.After their former manner—i.e., they clung to the old-established cultus of the calves.
Cambridge Bible on 2 Kings 17:40
40. Howbeit they did not hearken] From the recital of God’s covenant and testimony unto Israel, the writer now turns to the new colonists of Samaria. They had heard, from the priest sent to them, an account of the Lord the God of Israel, and of what He had done for His people. For though the priest was probably one of the ministers before the calves, he would point, through them, to the God who brought Israel out of Egypt. This the writer appears to think should have moved the newcomers to regard Jehovah as far above any local deity.
Sermons on 2 Kings 17:40
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Satan's Servants in God's Pulpit by Keith Daniel | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of walking before God with charity, love, and a pure heart. He questions the listeners if they truly have a good conscience a |
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How God Transforms Your Life by Danny Bond | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the transformation of Saul into Paul and how God can transform anyone's life. The process of transformation begins with faith in Jesus Christ |
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Three Gifts Under the Tree by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the speaker discusses three unusual gifts that God has given to believers. These gifts are a pure heart, a steadfast spirit, and a willing spirit. The speaker share |
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Thoughts for Young Men by J.C. Ryle | J.C. Ryle emphasizes the critical need for young men to be self-controlled and spiritually vigilant, as highlighted in Paul's letter to Titus. He reflects on the unique challenges |
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Reasons for Exhorting Young Men by J.C. Ryle | J.C. Ryle emphasizes the urgent need to exhort young men, highlighting their unique vulnerabilities and the spiritual dangers they face. He reflects on the alarming reality that ma |
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A Flower Which Does Not Grow in Nature's Garden! by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes the profound nature of repentance, illustrating it as a divine gift that cannot be achieved by human effort alone. He likens the difficulty of turning one' |
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The Wrong Emphasis by A.W. Pink | A.W. Pink emphasizes that when the conversion of sinners becomes the primary focus of a preacher, rather than the glory of God, it leads to a distortion of the truth. This misguide |