2 Kings 17:13

Authorized King James Version

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Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.

Original Language Analysis

וַיָּ֣עַד testified H5749
וַיָּ֣עַד testified
Strong's: H5749
Word #: 1 of 28
to duplicate or repeat; by implication, to protest, testify (as by reiteration); intensively, to encompass, restore (as a sort of reduplication)
יְהוָ֡ה Yet the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֡ה Yet the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 2 of 28
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל against Israel H3478
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל against Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 3 of 28
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וּבִֽיהוּדָ֡ה and against Judah H3063
וּבִֽיהוּדָ֡ה and against Judah
Strong's: H3063
Word #: 4 of 28
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
בְּיַ֖ד by H3027
בְּיַ֖ד by
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 5 of 28
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
כָּל H3605
כָּל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 6 of 28
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַנְּבִיאִֽים׃ all the prophets H5030
הַנְּבִיאִֽים׃ all the prophets
Strong's: H5030
Word #: 7 of 28
a prophet or (generally) inspired man
כָל H3605
כָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 8 of 28
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
חֹזֶ֜ה and by all the seers H2374
חֹזֶ֜ה and by all the seers
Strong's: H2374
Word #: 9 of 28
a beholder in vision; also a compact (as looked upon with approval)
לֵאמֹ֗ר saying H559
לֵאמֹ֗ר saying
Strong's: H559
Word #: 10 of 28
to say (used with great latitude)
שֻׁ֝֩בוּ Turn H7725
שֻׁ֝֩בוּ Turn
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 11 of 28
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֤ם ways H1870
מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֤ם ways
Strong's: H1870
Word #: 12 of 28
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
הָֽרָעִים֙ ye from your evil H7451
הָֽרָעִים֙ ye from your evil
Strong's: H7451
Word #: 13 of 28
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
וְשִׁמְרוּ֙ and keep H8104
וְשִׁמְרוּ֙ and keep
Strong's: H8104
Word #: 14 of 28
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
מִצְוֹתַ֣י my commandments H4687
מִצְוֹתַ֣י my commandments
Strong's: H4687
Word #: 15 of 28
a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the law)
חֻקּוֹתַ֔י and my statutes H2708
חֻקּוֹתַ֔י and my statutes
Strong's: H2708
Word #: 16 of 28
a statute
כְּכָ֨ל H3605
כְּכָ֨ל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 17 of 28
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַתּוֹרָ֔ה according to all the law H8451
הַתּוֹרָ֔ה according to all the law
Strong's: H8451
Word #: 18 of 28
a precept or statute, especially the decalogue or pentateuch
אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 19 of 28
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
צִוִּ֖יתִי which I commanded H6680
צִוִּ֖יתִי which I commanded
Strong's: H6680
Word #: 20 of 28
(intensively) to constitute, enjoin
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 21 of 28
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם your fathers H1
אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם your fathers
Strong's: H1
Word #: 22 of 28
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
וַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ H834
וַֽאֲשֶׁר֙
Strong's: H834
Word #: 23 of 28
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
שָׁלַ֣חְתִּי and which I sent H7971
שָׁלַ֣חְתִּי and which I sent
Strong's: H7971
Word #: 24 of 28
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם H413
אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם
Strong's: H413
Word #: 25 of 28
near, with or among; often in general, to
בְּיַ֖ד by H3027
בְּיַ֖ד by
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 26 of 28
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
עֲבָדַ֥י my servants H5650
עֲבָדַ֥י my servants
Strong's: H5650
Word #: 27 of 28
a servant
הַנְּבִיאִֽים׃ all the prophets H5030
הַנְּבִיאִֽים׃ all the prophets
Strong's: H5030
Word #: 28 of 28
a prophet or (generally) inspired man

Analysis & Commentary

Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.

This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 17: Covenant judgment and exile. The divine name emphasizes Yahweh's covenant relationship with Israel and His sovereign control over historical events. The prophetic ministry served as God's primary means of covenant enforcement, calling both kings and people to faithfulness. This passage occurs during the decline toward Israel's exile, demonstrating how persistent covenant unfaithfulness leads to national disaster.

The narrative demonstrates God's justice in judging covenant unfaithfulness while maintaining His ultimate purposes for redemption.

Historical Context

Historical Setting: 2 Kings 17 takes place during the declining years of the northern kingdom, 8th century BCE, culminating in exile in 722 BCE. The chapter's theme (Fall of the Northern Kingdom) reflects the historical reality of the fulfillment of prophetic warnings as the northern kingdom fell to Assyria due to persistent covenant unfaithfulness. Archaeological evidence from this period includes royal inscriptions, administrative documents, and material culture that corroborate the biblical account while providing additional context for understanding the political and social dynamics at work.

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