2 Kings 17:4 Meaning and Explanation
“And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Hoshea secretly seeks Egypt's help and withholds tribute; Assyria discovers the plot and imprisons him.
What Does 2 Kings 17:4 Mean?
Hoshea gambles on Egypt, sending messengers to its king and ceasing the yearly tribute to Assyria. The plot is discovered, and the vassal who broke faith is seized, shut up, and bound. The king meant to save his throne by playing two empires against each other and loses both his freedom and his crown.
Israel's old temptation was always to look to Egypt for rescue rather than to the Lord. Trust placed in human alliances is a reed that pierces the hand that leans on it. The deliverance we seek apart from God betrays us at the last; only the One who keeps covenant is worthy of the whole weight of our hope.
2 Kings 17:4 in the Original Language
qesher (קֶשֶׁר), 'conspiracy' -- a binding-together for treachery, the same root as tying a knot.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Kings 17:4
What does 2 Kings 17:4 mean?
Hoshea secretly seeks Egypt's help and withholds tribute; Assyria discovers the plot and imprisons him.