2 Kings 15:28 Meaning and Explanation
“And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Pekah, like all his predecessors, perpetuates the spiritual corruption that defined the northern kingdom.
The Context of 2 Kings 15:28
The same formula again. No king in the north ever broke from the Jeroboamite apostasy. Pekah's twenty years of rule did nothing to reform the false worship; the golden calves remained on their altars.
What Does 2 Kings 15:28 Mean?
Three kings, three refrains: 'He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. He departed not from the sins of Jeroboam.' You could almost hum it by now. The tragedy is not that one king failed to reform but that none of them did, none of them ever would, and none of them seemed to try. The spiritual disease of the north had become so endemic that reform was unthinkable. To be king of Israel meant to preside over false worship and to perpetuate it.
And yet we should pause here. Did Pekah never hear a prophet? Did no voice ever call him to return to the God of Abraham? We know from the prophetic books that Hosea prophesied in this very era, that Amos prophesied before him. So the word of God was spoken. Pekah, like his predecessors, simply did not listen. He did not depart from Jeroboam's sins because he did not want to. The heart that will not hear God's word is the same heart that cannot be reformed by it.
2 Kings 15:28 in the Original Language
Hebrew 'shur', from Jeroboam, who 'made Israel to sin'—the verb emphasizes agency and responsibility. Jeroboam initiated the drift; later kings perpetuated it.
How to Apply 2 Kings 15:28 Today
The word of God is available to us, often in multiple forms and voices. Prophets, teachers, Scripture, the still small voice of conscience—these call us to repentance and reform. The question is: Will you listen? Will you depart from what is evil and turn toward what is true? Or will you, like Pekah, harden your heart against God's call?
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Kings 15:28
What does 2 Kings 15:28 mean?
Pekah, like all his predecessors, perpetuates the spiritual corruption that defined the northern kingdom.
What is the context of 2 Kings 15:28?
The same formula again. No king in the north ever broke from the Jeroboamite apostasy. Pekah's twenty years of rule did nothing to reform the false worship; the golden calves remained on their altars.
How can I apply 2 Kings 15:28 today?
The word of God is available to us, often in multiple forms and voices. Prophets, teachers, Scripture, the still small voice of conscience—these call us to repentance and reform. The question is: Will you listen? Will you depart from what is evil and turn toward what is true? Or will you, like Pekah, harden your heart against God's call?