New International VersionHe did evil in the eyes of the LORD by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from them.
New Living TranslationBut he did what was evil in the LORD’s sight. He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.
English Standard VersionHe did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from them.
Berean Standard BibleAnd he did evil in the sight of the LORD and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.
King James BibleAnd he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
New King James VersionAnd he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. He did not depart from them.
New American Standard BibleHe did evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, into which he misled Israel; he did not turn from them.
NASB 1995He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel sin; he did not turn from them.
NASB 1977And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel sin; he did not turn from them.
Legacy Standard BibleAnd he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel sin; he did not depart from them.
Amplified BibleHe did evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the [idolatrous] sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin; he did not turn from them.
Christian Standard BibleHe did what was evil in the LORD’s sight and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.
Holman Christian Standard BibleHe did what was evil in the LORD’s sight and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.
American Standard VersionAnd he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
Contemporary English Versionand disobeyed the LORD by doing wrong. He never stopped following the example of Jeroboam, who had caused the Israelites to sin.
English Revised VersionAnd he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationHe did what the LORD considered evil. He continued to commit the sins that Jeroboam (Nebat's son) led Israel to commit. He never gave up committing those sins.
Good News TranslationLike King Jeroboam before him, he sinned against the LORD and led Israel into sin; he never gave up his evil ways.
International Standard VersionHe did what the LORD considered to be evil, after the pattern of Nebat's son Jeroboam. By doing so, he caused Israel to sin, and he never changed course from it.
NET BibleHe did evil in the sight of the LORD. He continued in the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who had encouraged Israel to sin; he did not repudiate those sins.
New Heart English BibleHe did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from it.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd he did evil in the sight of the LORD and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.
World English BibleHe did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. He didn’t depart from it. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand he does evil in the eyes of YHWH, and goes after the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, that he caused Israel to sin—he did not turn aside from it,
Young's Literal Translation and he doth the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah, and goeth after the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, that he caused Israel to sin -- he turned not aside from it,
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd he will do evil in the eyes of Jehovah, and go after the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin; he turned not away from them. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he did evil before the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who made Israel to sin, and he departed not from them.
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd he did evil before the Lord. And he followed the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. And he did not turn aside from these.
New American BibleHe did what was evil in the LORD’s sight: he did not depart from following the sins that Jeroboam, son of Nebat, had caused Israel to commit.
New Revised Standard VersionHe did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to sin; he did not depart from them. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD and followed in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin; he did not turn aside from them.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd he did evil before LORD JEHOVAH, and he walked in the sins of Yorbaam, son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin, and he did not turn aside from them. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked after the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who led Israel to sin; he departed not from them.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Jehoahaz Reigns in Israel1In the twenty-third year of the reign of Joash son of Ahaziah over Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria seventeen years. 2And he didevilin the sightof the LORDand followedthe sinsthatJeroboamsonof Nebathad caused Israelto commit;he did notturn awayfrom them.3So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them continually into the hands of Hazael king of Aram and his son Ben-hadad.…
Cross References 1 Kings 12:28-30After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.
1 Kings 16:31-33And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal. / First, Ahab set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he had built in Samaria. / Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.
2 Kings 10:29but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.
2 Kings 17:21-23When the LORD had torn Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king, and Jeroboam led Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit a great sin. / The Israelites persisted in all the sins that Jeroboam had committed and did not turn away from them. / Finally, the LORD removed Israel from His presence, as He had declared through all His servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled from their homeland into Assyria, where they are to this day.
1 Kings 14:16So He will give Israel over on account of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit.”
1 Kings 15:30because of the sins Jeroboam had committed and had caused Israel to commit, and because he had provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger.
1 Kings 21:25-26(Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel. / He committed the most detestable acts by going after idols, just like the Amorites whom the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.)
2 Kings 3:3Nevertheless, he clung to the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.
2 Kings 21:3For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, and he raised up altars for Baal. He made an Asherah pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done, and he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.
Hosea 8:4-6They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction. / He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? / For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria.
Amos 7:9The high places of Isaac will be deserted, and the sanctuaries of Israel will be laid waste; and I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with My sword.”
Matthew 23:29-32Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. / And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ / So you testify against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets. ...
Acts 7:41-43At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands. / But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? / You have taken along the tabernacle of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’
Romans 1:21-23For 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.
1 Corinthians 10:6-7These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did. / Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”
Treasury of Scripture And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. A. 2 Kings 13:11 And he didthat which was evil in the sight of the LORD; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin:but he walked therein. 2 Kings 10:29 Howbeitfrom the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them,to wit, the golden calves thatwere in Bethel, and thatwere in Dan. 1 Kings 12:26-22 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: … Jump to Previous CausedCommitCopyingDepartDepartedEvilEyesFollowedFollowingIsraelJeroboamJerobo'amNebatSightSinSinsTherefromTurnTurnedWherewithJump to Next CausedCommitCopyingDepartDepartedEvilEyesFollowedFollowingIsraelJeroboamJerobo'amNebatSightSinSinsTherefromTurnTurnedWherewith2 Kings 13 1.Jehoahaz's wicked reign3.Jehoahaz, oppressed by Hazael, is relieved by prayer8.Joash succeeds him10.His wicked reign12.Jeroboam succeeds him14.Elisha dying, prophesies to Joash three victories over the Syrians20.The Moabites invading the land, Elisha's bones raise a dead man.22.Joash gets three victories over Ben-hadadAnd he did evil in the sight of the LORDThis phrase indicates a moral and spiritual evaluation from God's perspective, emphasizing that the actions of the king were contrary to God's commandments. In the biblical narrative, "evil in the sight of the LORD" often refers to idolatry and disobedience to God's laws. This phrase is a recurring theme in the books of Kings, highlighting the spiritual decline of Israel and Judah. It serves as a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where obedience brings blessings and disobedience leads to judgment. and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit;
Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, established a pattern of idolatry by setting up golden calves in Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:28-30). This act was a direct violation of the first two commandments and led Israel into sin. The phrase indicates that the king continued in this idolatrous tradition, perpetuating the spiritual corruption initiated by Jeroboam. This historical context underscores the long-lasting impact of leadership and the difficulty of breaking away from established sinful practices. he did not turn away from them.
This phrase highlights the king's persistence in sin and refusal to repent. The lack of repentance is a significant theme in the prophetic literature, where prophets often called for a return to the LORD and His commandments. The king's failure to turn away from these sins suggests a hardened heart and a rejection of God's call to righteousness. This refusal to repent is contrasted with the biblical examples of kings like Josiah, who sought to reform and restore true worship (2 Kings 22-23). Theologically, this phrase serves as a warning about the consequences of unrepentant sin and the importance of aligning one's actions with God's will. Persons / Places / Events 1. JehoahazThe king of Israel who reigned after Jehu. He is noted for continuing in the sinful practices initiated by Jeroboam. 2. Jeroboam son of NebatThe first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, known for leading Israel into idolatry by setting up golden calves in Bethel and Dan. 3. IsraelThe northern kingdom, distinct from Judah, often led astray by its kings into idolatry and sin. 4. The LORDThe God of Israel, who judges the actions of the kings and the people according to His covenant and commandments. 5. IdolatryThe worship of idols or false gods, which was a recurring sin in Israel, leading to their downfall. Teaching Points The Consequences of LeadershipLeaders have a profound impact on the spiritual direction of their people. Jehoahaz's continuation in Jeroboam's sins shows how leadership can perpetuate sin. The Danger of IdolatryIdolatry is a recurring theme in Israel's history, demonstrating the human tendency to replace God with tangible, yet false, objects of worship. The Importance of RepentanceJehoahaz's failure to turn away from sin highlights the necessity of repentance in restoring a right relationship with God. God's Perspective on SinThe phrase "in the sight of the LORD" reminds us that God sees and judges all actions, calling us to live with integrity and obedience. Learning from HistoryThe repeated sins of Israel serve as a warning to us today to learn from past mistakes and seek God's guidance in our lives. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of 2 Kings 13:2?
2.How did Jehoahaz's actions in 2 Kings 13:2 provoke the Lord's anger?
3.What are modern equivalents of "the sins of Jeroboam" we should avoid?
4.How can we ensure our worship aligns with God's commands, unlike Jehoahaz?
5.What lessons from 2 Kings 13:2 can guide our leadership decisions today?
6.How does 2 Kings 13:2 warn against following ungodly traditions in society?
7.Why did Jehoahaz follow the sins of Jeroboam in 2 Kings 13:2?
8.How does 2 Kings 13:2 reflect on leadership and accountability?
9.What are the theological implications of idolatry in 2 Kings 13:2?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 13?
11.2 Chronicles 13 - Are there any archaeological or extra-biblical sources that verify the details of this battle's scale and outcome?
12.What is the history of Israel and Judah?
13.Who was Jeroboam in the Bible?
14.2 Kings 13:1-9 - Is there extrabiblical or archaeological evidence that confirms Jehoahaz's reign, or does the absence of such data cast doubt on the historicity of this passage?What Does 2 Kings 13:2 Mean And he did evil in the sight of the LORD• Scripture paints Jehoahaz with the same broad stroke used for many northern kings—“evil” is measured by God’s standard, not public opinion (Judges 2:11;2 Kings 3:2). • The phrase underscores God’s constant watchfulness: “The eyes of the LORD are in every place” (Proverbs 15:3). His verdict is never guesswork. • Evil here is moral rebellion against the covenant spelled out inDeuteronomy 28; blessing hinges on obedience, disaster on defiance. Jehoahaz lands squarely on the wrong side of that ledger. • Consequences soon follow: verses 3–7 describe Syria’s oppression, echoing earlier cycles in Judges when “Israel did evil… so the LORD’s anger burned” (Judges 3:7-8).
and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit• Jeroboam’s signature sin was institutionalized idolatry—golden calves at Bethel and Dan—designed to keep people from worshiping in Jerusalem (1 Kings 12:28-30). • That shortcut worship appealed to convenience and political control, but it violatedExodus 20:3-4. Every king who walked that path perpetuated spiritual drift (1 Kings 15:34;2 Kings 17:21-22). • By “following” these sins, Jehoahaz endorsed a counterfeit religion while pretending to honor the LORD. The mixture polluted the nation’s heart and invited divine discipline (Hosea 8:5-6). • The text reminds us that leaders set patterns; Jeroboam’s compromise, though generations old, still shaped national practice in Jehoahaz’s day—sin’s momentum is potent unless decisively broken.
he did not turn away from them• Persistence makes sin more lethal than lapse. Earlier kings like Jehu “did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam” (2 Kings 10:31); Jehoahaz repeats the tragic refusal. • To “turn away” would be repentance—changing course toward covenant faithfulness (2 Chronicles 7:14). Instead, Jehoahaz chooses spiritual inertia, showing that neutrality is impossible—one either forsakes sin or clings to it. • The chronic refusal explains why God allowed Hazael and Ben-hadad to reduce Israel to “ten chariots, fifty horsemen, and ten thousand foot soldiers” (2 Kings 13:7). Divine mercy later grants relief (vv. 4-5), but the king’s unrepentant heart limits lasting restoration. • The pattern warns believers today: partial measures or tradition-bound religion cannot substitute for wholehearted return to God (Luke 13:3).
summary2 Kings 13:2 serves as a concise indictment of Jehoahaz. God sees and judges evil, especially when leaders cling to entrenched sin. By echoing Jeroboam’s idolatry and refusing to repent, Jehoahaz drags Israel deeper into judgment. The verse challenges us to break with inherited compromise, repent fully, and walk in covenant faithfulness, knowing that the LORD still weighs every heart. Verse 2. - And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. There is no reason to believe that Jehoahaz re-introduced the Baal-worship, or sinned in any other flagrant way than by maintaining the calf-worship at Dan and Bethel. Jehu had done the same ( 2 Kings 10:29), as had all previous kings of Israel from the time of Jeroboam. The honor of God, however, required that idolatry of whatever kind should be punished, and the Samaritan kingdom could not otherwise be saved from destruction than by, "casting away all the works of darkness" and returning to the pure worship of Jehovah. Hence Jehu himself, notwithstanding the good service that he had done in crushing the Baal-worship, was chastised by God ( 2 Kings 10:32, 33) on account of his continuance in the "sin of Jeroboam;" and now Jehoahaz was even more signally punished. As Keil remarks, "The longer and the more obstinately the sin was continued, the more severe did the punishment become." And followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat (comp. 2 Kings 10:29, where the exegetical clause is added, "To wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan") which made Israel to sin (comp. 1 Kings 15:26; 1 Kings 16:19, 26; 1 Kings 22:52, etc.); he departed not therefrom. This is emphatic. Jehoahaz kept up the worship to the full, and in no way suffered it to decline.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew And he didוַיַּ֥עַשׂ(way·ya·‘aś)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213:To do, makeevilהָרַ֖ע(hā·ra‘)Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451:Bad, evilin the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣י(bə·‘ê·nê)Preposition-b | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869:An eye, a fountainof the LORDיְהוָ֑ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israeland followedוַ֠יֵּלֶךְ(way·yê·leḵ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980:To go, come, walkthe sinsחַטֹּ֜את(ḥaṭ·ṭōṯ)Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 2403:An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offenderthatאֲשֶׁר־(’ă·šer-)Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order thatJeroboamיָרָבְעָ֧ם(yā·rā·ḇə·‘ām)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3379:Jeroboam -- 'the people increase', the name of two Israelites kingssonבֶּן־(ben-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121:A sonof Nebatנְבָ֛ט(nə·ḇāṭ)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5028:Nebat -- father of Jeroboamhad caused Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל(yiś·rā·’êl)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478:Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his descto commit;הֶחֱטִ֥יא(he·ḥĕ·ṭî)Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2398:To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemnhe did notלֹא־(lō-)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noturn awayסָ֥ר(sār)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5493:To turn asidefrom them.מִמֶּֽנָּה׃(mim·men·nāh)Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4480:A part of, from, out of
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OT History: 2 Kings 13:2 He did that which was evil (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) |
