2 Kings 17:12 Meaning and Explanation
“For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →They served idols, the very thing the Lord had plainly forbidden.
What Does 2 Kings 17:12 Mean?
The verse names the sin at its root: they served idols, after the Lord had told them plainly, You shall not do this thing. The prohibition was not obscure; it stood at the head of the commandments given at Sinai. Israel sinned not in ignorance but against a clear and remembered word.
Idolatry is giving to created things the trust and devotion owed to God alone, and its forms outlast the carved images of old. Whatever we serve in His place becomes our idol. The Lord's word was simple and known, and that is what made the disobedience grievous. His commandments are not riddles but light; to know them and refuse is the heart's deepest danger.
2 Kings 17:12 in the Original Language
gillulim (גִּלּוּלִים), 'idols' -- a word of contempt for idols, linked to something worthless and unclean.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Kings 17:12
What does 2 Kings 17:12 mean?
They served idols, the very thing the Lord had plainly forbidden.