2 Kings 17:33
New International Version
They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.

New Living Translation
And though they worshiped the LORD, they continued to follow their own gods according to the religious customs of the nations from which they came.

English Standard Version
So they feared the LORD but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.

Berean Standard Bible
They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away.

King James Bible
They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.

New King James Version
They feared the LORD, yet served their own gods—according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away.

New American Standard Bible
They feared the LORD, yet they were serving their own gods in accordance with the custom of the nations from among whom they had been taken into exile.

NASB 1995
They feared the LORD and served their own gods according to the custom of the nations from among whom they had been carried away into exile.

NASB 1977
They feared the LORD and served their own gods according to the custom of the nations from among whom they had been carried away into exile.

Legacy Standard Bible
They were fearing Yahweh and serving their own gods according to the custom of the nations from among whom they had been taken away into exile.

Amplified Bible
They feared the LORD, yet served their own gods, following the custom of the nations from among whom they had been sent into exile.

Christian Standard Bible
They feared the LORD, but they also worshiped their own gods according to the practice of the nations from which they had been deported.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They feared the LORD, but they also worshiped their own gods according to the custom of the nations where they had been deported from.

American Standard Version
They feared Jehovah, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.

English Revised Version
They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They worshiped the LORD but also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had come.

Good News Translation
So they worshiped the LORD, but they also worshiped their own gods according to the customs of the countries from which they had come.

International Standard Version
While they continued to fear the LORD, they served their own gods, following the custom of the nations whom they had carried away from there.

Majority Standard Bible
They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away.

NET Bible
They were worshiping the LORD and at the same time serving their own gods in accordance with the practices of the nations from which they had been deported.

New Heart English Bible
And they worshiped the LORD, yet served their own gods, after the ways of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.

Webster's Bible Translation
They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.

World English Bible
They feared Yahweh, and also served their own gods, after the ways of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
They are fearing YHWH, and they are serving their gods, according to the custom of the nations from where they removed them.

Young's Literal Translation
Jehovah they are fearing, and their gods they are serving, according to the custom of the nations whence they removed them.

Smith's Literal Translation
They were fearing Jehovah, and were serving their gods according to the judgment of the nations who carried them into exile from thence,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when they worshipped the Lord, they served also their own gods according to the custom of the nations out of which they were brought to Samaria:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And though they worshipped the Lord, they also served their own gods, according to the custom of the nations from which they had been transferred into Samaria.

New American Bible
They were both venerating the LORD and serving their own gods. They followed the custom of the nations from among whom they had been deported.

New Revised Standard Version
So they worshiped the LORD but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
They worshipped the LORD and served their own gods after the manner of the nations. So the children of Israel were carried away out of their land

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
They were worshiping LORD JEHOVAH and they were working for their gods, according to the custom of the Gentiles, and they led the children of Israel captive from their land until today
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they feared the Lord, and served their gods according to the manner of the nations, whence their lords brought them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel's Cities Resettled by Foreigners
32So the new residents worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed for themselves priests of all sorts to serve in the shrines of the high places. 33 They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away. 34To this day they are still practicing their former customs. None of them worship the LORD or observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom He named Israel.…

Cross References
Exodus 20:3-5
You shall have no other gods before Me. / You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. / You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Deuteronomy 6:13-14
Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name. / Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you.

Joshua 24:14-15
Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. / But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”

1 Kings 18:21
Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.

2 Kings 17:41
So these nations worshiped the LORD but also served their idols, and to this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.

Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

Jeremiah 12:2
You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.

Ezekiel 20:39
And as for you, O house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you. But afterward, you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.

Zephaniah 1:5
those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven, those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom,

Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Matthew 15:8-9
‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”

Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

John 4:22
You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.

Acts 17:22-23
Then Paul stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious. / For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.

Romans 1:21-23
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.


Treasury of Scripture

They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from there.

They feared

2 Kings 17:41
So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.

1 Kings 18:21
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

Hosea 10:2
Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.

whom they carried, etc.

Jump to Previous
Accordance Carried Custom Customs Exile Feared Fearing Gods Honour Manner Nations Removed Served Serving Thence Whence Worship Worshiped
Jump to Next
Accordance Carried Custom Customs Exile Feared Fearing Gods Honour Manner Nations Removed Served Serving Thence Whence Worship Worshiped
2 Kings 17
1. Hoshea the Last King of Israel
3. Being subdued by Shalmaneser, he conspires against him with So, king of Egypt
5. Samaria for sinning is led into captivity
24. The strange nations transplanted into Samaria make a mixture of religions.














They worshiped the LORD
This phrase highlights the syncretistic practices of the people. Despite acknowledging the LORD, their worship was not exclusive or pure. This reflects the broader context of Israel's history, where the worship of Yahweh was often mixed with pagan practices, contrary to the first commandment (Exodus 20:3). The divided heart of the Israelites is a recurring theme, as seen in Elijah's challenge on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:21).

but they also served their own gods
The Israelites' service to other gods indicates a failure to fully commit to the covenant with Yahweh. This practice was influenced by the surrounding nations and was a direct violation of the covenantal laws given in Deuteronomy 6:14-15. The worship of other gods often included idolatry and practices detestable to the LORD, leading to spiritual and moral decline.

according to the customs of the nations
The adoption of foreign customs was a significant issue for Israel, as it led them away from the distinct identity and practices commanded by God. This phrase underscores the influence of Canaanite and other pagan cultures on Israel, which often included rituals and sacrifices that were abominable to the LORD (Leviticus 18:3). The Israelites' failure to remain separate from these customs was a recurring problem throughout their history.

from which they had been carried away
This refers to the Assyrian exile, where the Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered and its people were deported. The Assyrians had a policy of relocating conquered peoples to prevent rebellion, which led to the mixing of populations and religious practices. This historical context explains the syncretism observed in the verse, as the Israelites were influenced by the religious practices of the regions to which they were exiled. The exile was a fulfillment of prophetic warnings given by prophets like Hosea and Amos, who called Israel to repentance.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Israelites
The Northern Kingdom of Israel, which had been taken into exile by the Assyrians due to their disobedience to God.

2. The Assyrians
The empire that conquered the Northern Kingdom and resettled people from various nations into the land of Israel.

3. The Nations
Various peoples brought by the Assyrians to inhabit the land of Israel, each with their own gods and customs.

4. The LORD (Yahweh)
The one true God whom the Israelites were commanded to worship exclusively.

5. The Exile
The event where the Israelites were taken from their land due to their persistent idolatry and disobedience.
Teaching Points
Exclusive Worship of God
God demands exclusive worship. The Israelites' attempt to serve both God and other deities was a direct violation of the first commandment. Believers today must examine their lives for any divided loyalties.

Cultural Influence and Compromise
The Israelites were influenced by the customs of the nations around them. Christians must be vigilant against cultural influences that lead to compromise in their faith.

The Consequences of Disobedience
The exile was a direct result of Israel's disobedience. This serves as a warning that turning away from God can lead to severe consequences.

The Danger of Syncretism
Mixing true worship with other religious practices dilutes and distorts faith. Believers are called to maintain purity in their worship and doctrine.(33) They feared . . . gods.--Literally, Jehovah were they fearing, and their own gods were they serving. The verse recapitulates 28-32.

Whom they carried away from thence.--Rather, whence they had been carried away. Literally, whence men carried them away. The meaning is: according to the customs of the cities from which Sargon had deported them.

Verse 33. - They feared the Lord, and served their own gods. This syncretism, this mixed religion, is so surprising to the writer, and so abhorrent to his religious sentiments, that he cannot but dwell upon it, not shrinking from repeating himself (see vers. 32, 33, 41), in order to arrest the reader's attention, and point out to him the folly and absurdity of such conduct. The practice was still going on in his own day (vers. 34, 41), and may have had attractions for the descendants of the small Israelite population which had been left in the land. After the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence; rather, after the manner of the nations from whom they (i.e. the authorities) carried them away; i.e. after the manner of their countrymen at home. The translation of the Revised Version gives the sense, while changing the construction - "after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They worshiped
יְרֵאִ֑ים (yə·rê·’îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

the LORD,
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

but they also served
עֹֽבְדִ֔ים (‘ō·ḇə·ḏîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

their own gods
אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶם֙ (’ĕ·lō·hê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

according to the customs
כְּמִשְׁפַּט֙ (kə·miš·paṭ)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

of the nations
הַגּוֹיִ֔ם (hag·gō·w·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

from which
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

they had been carried away.
הִגְל֥וּ (hiḡ·lū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1540: To denude, to exile, to reveal


Links
2 Kings 17:33 NIV
2 Kings 17:33 NLT
2 Kings 17:33 ESV
2 Kings 17:33 NASB
2 Kings 17:33 KJV

2 Kings 17:33 BibleApps.com
2 Kings 17:33 Biblia Paralela
2 Kings 17:33 Chinese Bible
2 Kings 17:33 French Bible
2 Kings 17:33 Catholic Bible

OT History: 2 Kings 17:33 They feared Yahweh and served their own (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 17:32
Top of Page
Top of Page