2 Kings 17:15 Meaning and Explanation
“And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →They rejected God's statutes and covenant, chased after empty idols, became empty themselves, and imitated the surrounding nations.
What Does 2 Kings 17:15 Mean?
The rejection was total: His statutes, the covenant made with their fathers, the testimonies He had given them, all cast aside. They followed vanity, the empty nothingness of idols, and went after the heathen around them, the very nations they were charged not to imitate. The covenant was broken from Israel's side.
Then comes a piercing phrase: they followed vanity and became vain. We grow like what we worship; an empty god leaves an empty soul. To pursue what is hollow is to be hollowed out. The living God alone fills those who follow Him, conforming them to His own goodness. What we set our hearts upon will shape us, for better or for emptiness.
2 Kings 17:15 in the Original Language
hevel (הֶבֶל), 'vanity' -- breath or vapor, what is empty and fleeting, the keyword of Ecclesiastes.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Kings 17:15
What does 2 Kings 17:15 mean?
They rejected God's statutes and covenant, chased after empty idols, became empty themselves, and imitated the surrounding nations.