2 Kings 10:28 — Word Study
WLCוַיַּשְׁמֵ֥ד יֵה֛וּא אֶת־ הַבַּ֖עַל מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
BSAThus JehuYêhûwʼ [completely, utterly] eradicatedshâmad▸ [destroyed, wiped out] BaalBaʻal [the false Phoenician deity] from IsraelYisrâʼêl [the symbolic name of Jacob, God's chosen people]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיַּשְׁמֵ֥ד | and he destroyed | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| יֵה֛וּא | Jehu | Noun proper masculine |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| הַבַּ֖עַל | Baal | Particle, noun |
| מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | from Israel | Preposition, noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Thus Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel, |
| KJV | Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. |
| ASV | Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. |
| YLT | And Jehu destroyeth Baal out of Israel, |
| WEB | Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. |
| BBE | So Jehu put an end to the worship of Baal in Israel. |
Where they part company is שָׁמַד — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured with a clear main clause followed by the object and the prepositional phrase, emphasizing the action taken by Jehu.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
subjectיֵהוּא
verbשָׁמַד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 2 Kings 10:28
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Eradication of Baal Worshipgenerated
2 Kings 10:28 describes how Jehu took strong measures to eliminate Baal worship from Israel, following a series of actions that included destroying the temple and sacred pillars associated with Baal. This event marks a significant moment in Israel's history, emphasizing the rejection of false gods and the establishment of proper worship of Yahweh.
Cross References
The Key Word — שָׁמַד, shamadgenerated
The verb שָׁמַד (shamad) is a Hiphil form, indicating an active role in destruction. It conveys a sense of complete annihilation, often used in contexts where total devastation is intended, such as the destruction of cities or idols.
Jehu's action is not just a physical act of destruction; it is a theological statement against the worship of Baal, a false deity. The usage here emphasizes the thoroughness of Jehu's campaign, aligning with the broader narrative of Israel's struggle against idolatry.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb יַּשְׁמֵ֥ד governs the sentence, indicating the action taken by Jehu. The structure is straightforward, with the subject Jehu followed by the object Baal, clarifying the direct impact of the verb.
The sentence is constructed simply, with a clear subject-verb-object order that emphasizes Jehu's decisive action against Baal.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שָׁמַד as ἠφάνισεν, which carries the connotation of causing something to disappear or be lost. This choice reflects a similar intent of total removal, aligning with the Hebrew meaning of destruction.
This translation choice highlights the severity of Jehu's actions, indicating not just destruction but a complete erasure of Baal's presence in Israel.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Kings 10:28 tells us that Jehu completely eradicated Baal from Israel. This act was part of his campaign to eliminate idol worship and restore proper worship of Yahweh, marking a significant moment in Israel's history.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that Jehu took decisive action to eliminate the worship of Baal, a false god, from Israel, emphasizing the importance of worshiping Yahweh alone.
Baal worship was significant because it represented a major challenge to the worship of Yahweh, leading Israel away from their covenant relationship with God.
Jehu's actions were intended to restore proper worship and eliminate idolatry, which had led Israel astray and provoked God's judgment.
The term 'eradicate' implies a complete and thorough destruction of Baal worship, leaving no trace of its influence in Israel.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some modern examples of idolatry that we might need to eradicate from our lives?
- How can we ensure that we are worshiping God alone, as Jehu sought to do?
- In what ways can we take a stand against practices that go against our faith?
- What lessons can we learn from Jehu's actions regarding the importance of purity in worship?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Kings 10:28 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. His images and temples being served thus in all places, throughout the land of Israel, where there were any.
Read John Gill on 2 Kings 10 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only.
Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Kings 10 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments2 Kings 10:28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.Ver. 28. Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.] This was well, but not all; his golden calves made an end of him, though he made an end of Baal’ s worship. Many will follow God in such duties as will suit with them and their designs, but no further. The rusty hand of a dial, at some time of the day, seemeth to go right.
Read John Trapp on 2 Kings 10 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(28) Thus Jehu destroyed Baal.—Objectively considered, the slaughter of the servants of Baal was in perfect harmony with the Law; but, subjectively, the motive which influenced Jehu was thoroughly selfish. The priests and prophets of Baal in Israel, as depending entirely on the dynasty of Ahab, the king who had originally introduced the Baal-worship, might prove dangerous to Jehu. By exterminating them he might hope to secure the whole-hearted allegiance of the party that stood by the legitimate worship. His maintenance of the cultus established by Jeroboam (2 Kings 10:29) proves that he acted from policy rather than religious zeal.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Kings 10 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges28. Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel] The false worship had not taken such root in the land that it could ever revive again. Probably no buildings were reared to Baal except in the cities where the royal family dwelt. Hence when they were cut off, it would have no fosterers.
Read Cambridge on 2 Kings 10 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Thus Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel,
Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
Thus Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel,
So Jehu eradicated Baal worship from Israel.
Tyndale line
Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
So Iehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
Strictly literal
Thus Jehu extirpated Baal out of Israel.
And Jehu destroyeth Baal out of Israel,
And Jehu destroys Ba‘al out of Israel,
Thus Jehu exterminated Ba'al out of Israel.
That is how Jehu destroyed Baal worship from Israel.
From the Latin
So Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel:
Simplified
This was how Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel,
So Jehu put an end to the worship of Baal in Israel.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads וַיַּשְׁמֵ֥ד יֵה֛וּא אֶת־ הַבַּ֖עַל מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃, which aligns closely with the Septuagint's wording, though the latter presents a different order. Both texts affirm Jehu's action against Baal, with minor variations in expression.
וַיַּשְׁמֵ֥ד יֵה֛וּא אֶת־ הַבַּ֖עַל מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
4 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 2 Kings 10:28
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
שָׁמַד (shamad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to destroy or exterminate. It has forms in both the Niph'al, indicating being destroyed, and the Hiph'il, indicating the act of destroying. The entries emphasize its use in contexts of annihilation and devastation, with a focus on complete destruction.
[שָׁמַד] 90 vb. Niph. be exterminated, destroyed
Hiph. 69
annihilate, exterminate
destroy
base
H8045 [שָׁמַד] Niph. be exterminated, destroyed
8045 shamad shaw-mad'
a primitive root; to desolate:--destory(- uction), bring to
nought, overthrow, perish, pluck down, X utterly.
שָׁמַד (sha.mad) — to destroy.
1) to destroy, exterminate, be destroyed, be exterminated
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be annihilated, be exterminated
1a2) to be destroyed, be devastated
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to annihilate, exterminate
1b2) to destroy
Aramaic equivalent: she.mad (שְׁמַד "to destroy" H8046)
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vhw3ms
יֵהוּא (yehu) means 'Jehovah is He' and refers primarily to Jehu, a king of Israel known for overthrowing the Omri dynasty. The name also identifies several other individuals from the Old Testament, including a prophet and warriors from the tribes of Judah and Simeon, as well as a notable figure in David's court. The entries consistently highlight Jehu's significance during the Divided Monarchy.
יֵהוּא n.pr.m.
king of Israel who overthrew the dynasty of Omri
prophet of N. Israel in time of Baasha & Jehoshaphat
one of David’s heroes
a Judahite
a Simeonite prince
base
H3058 יֵהוּא
3058 Yehuw' yay-hoo'
from 3068 and 1931; Jehovah (is) He; Jehu, the name of five
Israelites:--Jehu.
see HEBREW for 03068
see HEBREW for 01931
יֵהוּא (ye.hu) — Jehu.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.16.1;
son of: Hanani (H2607)
§ Jehu = "Jehovah is He"
1) the king of the northern kingdom Israel who overthrew the dynasty of Omri
2) son of Hanani and an Israelite prophet in the time of Baasha and Jehoshaphat
3) the Antothite, a Benjamite, one of David's mighty warriors
4) a descendant of Judah of the house of Hezron
5) son of Josibiah and a chief of the tribe of Simeon
יֵהוּא (ye.hu) — Jehu.
A king of the Kingdom of Israel, living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.19.16;
son of: Jehoshaphat (H3092J);
father of: Jehoahaz (H3059)
§ Jehu = "Jehovah is He"
1) the king of the northern kingdom Israel who overthrew the dynasty of Omri
2) son of Hanani and an Israelite prophet in the time of Baasha and Jehoshaphat
3) the Antothite, a Benjamite, one of David's mighty warriors
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
je'-hu (yehu; meaning uncertain, perhaps "Yahweh is he"; 1Ki 19:16,17; 2Ki 9; 10; Eiou): Son of Jehoshaphat, and descendant of Nimshi, hence, commonly called "the son of Nimshi"; 10th king of Israel, and founder of its IVth Dynasty. Jehu reign for 28 years. His accession may be reckoned at circa 752 BC (some date a few years later).
1. Officer of Ahab:
A soldier of fortune, Jehu appears first as an officer in the body-guard of Ahab. To himself we owe the information that he was present at the judicial murder of Naboth, and that Naboth's sons were put to death with their father (2Ki 9:26). He was in attendance when Ahab drove from Samaria to inspect his new possession in Jezreel, and was witness of the dramatic encounter at the vineyard between the king and the prophet Elijah…
Jehu
Jehovah is he. (1.) The son of Obed, and father of Azariah (1 Chr. 2:38).
(2.) One of the Benjamite slingers that joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:3).
(3.) The son of Hanani, a prophet of Judah (1 Kings 16:1, 7; 2 Chr. 19:2; 20:34), who pronounced the sentence of God against Baasha, the king of Israel.
(4.) King of Israel, the son of Jehoshaphat (2 Kings 9:2), and grandson of Nimshi. The story of his exaltation to the throne is deeply interesting. During the progress of a war against the Syrians, who were becoming more and more troublesome to Israel, in a battle at Ramoth-gilead Jehoram, the king of Israel, had been…
(the living). The founder of the fifth dynasty of the kingdom of Israel, son of Jehoshaphat. (2 Kings 9:2) He reigned over Israel 28 years, B.C. 884-856. His first appearance in history is when he heard the warning of Elijah against the murderer of Naboth. (2 Kings 9:25) In the reigns of Ahaziah and Jehoram, Jehu rose to importance. He was, under the last-named king, captain of the host in the siege of Ramoth-gilead. During this siege he was anointed by Elisha’s servant, and told that he was appointed to be king of Israel and destroyer of the house of Ahab. (2 Kings 9:12) The army at once ordained him king, and he set off full speed for Jezreel. Jehoram, who was lying ill in Jezreel, came out to meet him, as it happened on the…
The son of Hanani, a prophet, sent with messages from God to Baasha king of Israel, and many years afterwards, to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, 1Ki 16:1-7 2Ch 19:1-3 20:34.
The "son" of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi, (compare 1Ki 19:16 2Ki 9:2) a general of the army of Joram, slew his master, and usurped the throne of Israel, B. C. 884. He reigned twentyeight years. See his history in 1Ki 19:16,17 2Ki 9:1-10:36. He fulfilled the divine purpose in extirpating the family of the impious Ahab, and zealously destroyed the priests of Baal and many other friends of Ahab. But…
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
בַּעַל (ba'al) means 'owner' or 'lord' and is notably used as a divine name for Baal, a Phoenician deity. It can refer to husbands, rulers, and inhabitants as well. The term also denotes specific individuals and locations, including a town in Simeon and men from the tribes of Benjamin and Reuben. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning as 'lord'.
בַּעַל 166 n.m. owner, lord
owner
husband
citizens, inhabitants
rulers, lords
n. of relation
Esp. lord, specif. as divine name, Baal.
base
בַּ֫עַל
n.pr.loc. city in tribe of Simeon
n.pr.m.
a Reubenite
a Gibeonite
base
H1168 בַּ֫עַל owner, lord . . owner
. husband
. citizens, inhabitants
. rulers, lords
. n. of relation
. lord, specif. as divine name, Baal.
1168 Ba`al bah'-al
the same as 1167; Baal, a Phoenician deity:--Baal, (plural)
Baalim.
see HEBREW for 01167
בַּעַל (ba.al) — Baal.
§ Baal = "lord"
esp. lord, specif. as divine name, Baal
supreme male divinity of the Phoenicians or Canaanites
בַּ֫עַל (ba.al) — Baal.
A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.8.30;
son of: Abiel (H0022) and Maacah (H4601N);
brother of: Kish (H7027), Ner (H5369), Abdon (H5658J), Zur (H6698I), Nadab (H5070J), Gedor (H1446I), Ahio (H0283I), Zecher (H2144) and Mikloth (H4732)
§ Baal = "lord"
בַּ֫עַל (ba.al) — Baal.
A man of the tribe of Reuben living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.5.5;
son of: Reaiah (H7211);
father of: Beerah (H0880)
§ Baal = "lord"
בַּ֫עַל (ba.al) — Baal.
Baal = "lord"
a town of Simeon, probably identical to Baalath-beer
Another name of ba.a.lat be.er (בַּעֲלַת בְּאֵר "Baalath-beer" H1192)
בַּעַל (ba.al) — (Bamoth)-baal.
Baal = "lord"
Art | N-proper — Particle · nounHTd/Ntmsa
Baal
Lord. (1.) The name appropriated to the principal male god of the Phoenicians. It is found in several places in the plural BAALIM (Judg. 2:11; 10:10; 1 Kings 18:18; Jer. 2:23; Hos. 2:17). Baal is identified with Molech (Jer. 19:5). It was known to the Israelites as Baal-peor (Num. 25:3; Deut. 4:3), was worshipped till the time of Samuel (1 Sam 7:4), and was afterwards the religion of the ten tribes in the time of Ahab (
geographical. This word occurs as the prefix or suffix to the names of several places in Palestine, some of which are as follows: BAAL a town of Simeon, named only in (1 Chronicles 4:33) which from the parallel list in (Joshua 19:8) seems to have been identical with BAALATH-BEER. BAALAH (mistress). A. Another name for KIRJATH-JEARIM, or KIRJATH BAAL, the well-known town now Kuriet el Enab . (Joshua 15:9,10; 1 Chronicles 13:6) b. A town in the south of Judah, (Joshua 15:29) which in Josh 19:3 Is called BALAH, and in the parallel list, (
Lord,
1. In the Old Testament denotes an idol of the Phoenicians, and particularly of the Tyrians, whose worship was also introduced with great solemnities among the Hebrews, and especially at Samaria, along with that of Astarte, Jud 6:25-32 2Ki 10:18,28. See ASHTORETH, plural ASH’TAROTH. The plural, Baalim, signifies images or statues of Baal, Jud 2:11 10:10. Of the extent to which the worship of this idol was domesticated among the Phoenicians and Carthaginians, we have an evidence in the proper names of persons; as, among the former, Ethbaal, Jerubbaal; and among the latter, Hannibal, Asdrubal, etc. Among the Babylonians, the same idol was worshipped under the name of BEL, which is only another form of the word Baal,
master; lord
יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el) refers to both the second name of Jacob, meaning 'God prevails,' and the name of the Hebrew nation descended from him. It is derived from roots meaning 'to rule' and 'God.' The term encompasses Jacob's descendants and is used historically for the northern kingdom of Israel and the nation as a whole after the Babylonian exile.
יִשְׂרָאֵל 2507 n.pr.m. et gent. Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth)
n.pr.m. second name of Jacob
n.pr.gent. name of Hebrew nation
base
H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵל Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth) . n. pr. m. second name of Jacob
. n. pr. gent. name of Hebrew nation
3478 Yisra'el yis-raw-ale'
from 8280 and 410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical
name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity:
--Israel.
see HEBREW for 08280
see HEBREW for 0410
יִשְׂרָאֵל (yis.ra.el) — Israel.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26;
son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259);
brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A);
father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently
§ Israel = "God prevails"
1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel
2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob
2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun properHR/Npl
iz'-ra-el.
See JACOB.
Israel
The name conferred on Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at Peniel (Gen. 32:28), because “as a prince he had power with God and prevailed.” (See JACOB.) This is the common name given to Jacob’s descendants. The whole people of the twelve tribes are called “Israelites,” the “children of Israel” (Josh. 3:17; 7:25; Judg. 8:27; Jer. 3:21), and the “house of Israel” (Ex. 16:31; 40:38).
This name Israel is sometimes used emphatically for the true Israel (Ps. 73:1: Isa. 45:17; 49:3;
(the prince that prevails with God). The name given, (Genesis 32:28) to Jacob after his wrestling with the angel, (Hosea 12:4) at Peniel. Gesenius interprets Israel "soldier of God." It became the national name of the twelve tribes collectively. They are so called in (Exodus 3:16) and afterward. It is used in a narrower sense, excluding Judah, in (1 Samuel 11:8; 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16) Thenceforth it was assumed and accepted as the name of the northern kingdom. After the Babylonian captivity, the returned exiles resumed the name Israel as the designation of…
Who prevails with God, a name given to Jacob, after having wrestled with the Angel-Jehovah at Penuel. Ge 32:1,2,28,30 Ho 12:3. See JACOB. By the name Israel is sometimes understood all the posterity of Israel, the seed of Jacob, 1Co 10:18; sometimes all true believers, his spiritual seed, Ro 9:6; and sometimes the kingdom of Israel, or the ten tribes, as distinct from the kingdom of Judah.