2 Kings 17:16 net — They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God; they made two metal calves and an Asherah pole, bowed down t…

NET Bible

"They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God; they made two metal calves and an Asherah pole, bowed down to all the stars in the sky, and worshiped Baal."

— 2 Kings 17:16, NET Bible

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2 Kings 17:16 in Other Translations

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2 Kings 17 — Context

13

The LORD solemnly warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and all the seers,“Turn back from your evil ways; obey my commandments and rules that are recorded in the law. I ordered your ancestors to keep this law and sent my servants the prophets to remind you of its demands.”

14

But they did not pay attention and were as stubborn as their ancestors, who had not trusted the LORD their God.

15

They rejected his rules, the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and the laws he had commanded them to obey. They paid allegiance to worthless idols, and so became worthless to the LORD. They copied the practices of the surrounding nations in blatant disregard of the LORD’s command.

16

They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God; they made two metal calves and an Asherah pole, bowed down to all the stars in the sky, and worshiped Baal.

17

They passed their sons and daughters through the fire, and practiced divination and omen reading. They committed themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD and made him angry.

18

So the LORD was furious with Israel and rejected them; only the tribe of Judah was left.

19

Judah also failed to keep the commandments of the LORD their God; they followed Israel’s example.

2 Kings 17:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Kings 17:16 say?
2 Kings 17:16 in the NET Bible reads: “They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God; they made two metal calves and an Asherah pole, bowed down to all the stars in the sky, and worshiped Baal.”
Where is 2 Kings 17:16 in the Bible?
2 Kings 17:16 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Kings, chapter 17, verse 16.
Who wrote 2 Kings?
2 Kings is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Jeremiah). It was written c. 561–538 BC.
What is the book of 2 Kings about?
2 Kings carries the divided kingdom from Elijah and Elisha through the fall of both Israel and Judah. Despite the prophets' warnings, both kingdoms decline through idolatry — the north into Assyrian captivity, the south into Babylonian exile — fulfilling the covenant curses.
What are the major themes of 2 Kings?
2 Kings explores themes including Judgment, Exile, Prophets, Covenant Curses, Remnant. These themes shape the meaning and context of 2 Kings 17:16.
What translation should I read 2 Kings 17:16 in?
2 Kings 17:16 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 2 Kings 17:16?
2 Kings 17:16 reads (NET): “They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God; they made two metal calves and an Asherah pole, bowed down to all the stars in the sky, and worshiped Baal.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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