2 Kings 17:12

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

They served idols, although the LORD had told them, “You shall not do this thing.”

American Standard Version (1901)

and they served idols, whereof Jehovah had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.

Bible in Basic English

And they made themselves servants of disgusting things, though the Lord had said, You are not to do this.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And they worshipped abominations, concerning which the Lord had commanded them that they should not do this thing.

Free Bible Version

They worshiped idols, even though the Lord had told them, “You are not to do this.”

Geneva Bible 1599

And serued idoles: whereof the Lord had sayd vnto them, Ye shall do no such thing,

King James (Authorized) Version

For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.

Translation for Translators

Yahweh warned them many times that they should not worship idols, but they did it anyway.

Unlocked Literal Bible

they worshiped idols, about which Yahweh had said to them, “You will not do this thing.”

Noah Webster Bible

For they served idols, of which the LORD had said to them, Ye shall not do this thing.

World English Bible

and they served idols, of which Yahweh had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.”

Young's Literal Translation

and serve the idols, of which Jehovah said to them, 'Ye do not do this thing;'

Context

Israel Carried Captive to Assyria

¹¹They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger. ¹²They served idols, although the LORD had told them, “You shall not do this thing.”

Summary

This verse describes how the people of Israel did not listen to the warnings of the prophets sent by God, but instead continued in their idolatrous ways. Despite God's repeated attempts to call them back to Himself, they stubbornly persisted in their disobedience and worship of false gods. The verse serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's word and choosing to follow our own desires. It underscores the importance of heeding God's instructions and turning away from sin to avoid His righteous judgment.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

For they served idols,.... Baalim, as the Targum; dunghill gods, as the word signifies, as they are often called in Scripture; and Sterculius was one of the names of Saturn, an Heathen deity, which he had, as is supposed, by his finding out the method of making land fruitful with dung (i): whereof the Lord said unto them, ye shall not do this thing; see Exo 20:3. (i) Vid. Macrob. l. 1. c. 7. Lactant. de fals. Relig. l. 1. c. 20.