2 Kings 13:6 Meaning and Explanation
“Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.)”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Despite God's deliverance from Syria, Israel fails to turn from idolatry, remaining trapped in the very sins that brought judgment upon them.
The Context of 2 Kings 13:6
Israel's continued idolatry despite deliverance shows that temporary relief from oppression did not lead to spiritual transformation. The grove (Asherah pole) in Samaria symbolizes the persistence of false worship.
What Does 2 Kings 13:6 Mean?
The 'nevertheless' is devastating. God gave a saviour; Israel went out from under the Syrian hand; yet they did not depart from the sins. The people had the freedom to repent, but they did not use it. Instead, they walked in those sins still, as if the deliverance had been for the sake of continuing in idolatry unmolested. The grove, the Asherah pole in Samaria, stood as a symbol of this spiritual stubbornness. It remained, rooted in the city, a monument to Israel's refusal to turn.
This is the tragedy that runs deeper than any military defeat. A people are given mercy, are offered the chance to return to their God, and they choose not to. They choose comfort and continuity over repentance. The word 'nevertheless' catches the full weight of this refusal. We see it everywhere: in Judah, in the church, in ourselves, the pattern of receiving grace and then bending it back toward our own desires instead of God's purposes.
2 Kings 13:6 in the Original Language
Departed (sur), 'to turn aside, depart, remove' - the very verb used in verse 2 where it said Jehoahaz 'departed not.' The repetition shows the continuity of refusal.
How to Apply 2 Kings 13:6 Today
God's mercies are new every morning, but they can also go unheeded. We can receive deliverance and not let it change us. We can be freed from one oppression only to return to the spiritual habits that enslaved us. The question is not whether God will give us chances, but whether we will finally turn our whole hearts toward Him.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Kings 13:6
What does 2 Kings 13:6 mean?
Despite God's deliverance from Syria, Israel fails to turn from idolatry, remaining trapped in the very sins that brought judgment upon them.
What is the context of 2 Kings 13:6?
Israel's continued idolatry despite deliverance shows that temporary relief from oppression did not lead to spiritual transformation. The grove (Asherah pole) in Samaria symbolizes the persistence of false worship.
How can I apply 2 Kings 13:6 today?
God's mercies are new every morning, but they can also go unheeded. We can receive deliverance and not let it change us. We can be freed from one oppression only to return to the spiritual habits that enslaved us. The question is not whether God will give us chances, but whether we will finally turn our whole hearts toward Him.