2 Kings 17:16

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And they forsook all the commandments of Jehovah their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made an Asherah, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיַּעַזְב֗וּ אֶת־כָּל־מִצְוֺת֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֔ם וַיַּעֲשׂ֥וּ לָהֶ֛ם מַסֵּכָ֖ה שְׁנֵ֣י עֲגָלִ֑ים וַיַּעֲשׂ֣וּ אֲשֵׁירָ֗ה וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲווּ֙ לְכָל־צְבָ֣א הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיַּעַבְד֖וּ אֶת־הַבָּֽעַל׃

Transliteration

And they ʿāzab ʾēt-all-miṣwâ of YHWH ʾĕlōhîm their, and they ʿāśâ for them massēkâ two ʿēgel; and they ʿāśâ ʾăšērâ, and they šāḥâ to all-ṣābāʾ the šāmayim, and they ʿābad ʾēt-the baʿal.

Grammar Details

• *ʿāzab*: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural with waw consecutive - they forsook/abandoned
• *ʾēt*: direct object marker
• *miṣwâ*: noun, feminine plural construct - commandments of
• *YHWH*: proper noun - the LORD
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: noun, masculine plural construct with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - their God
• *ʿāśâ*: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural with waw consecutive - they made
• *massēkâ*: noun, feminine singular - molten image/cast idol
• *ʿēgel*: noun, masculine plural construct - calves
• *ʾăšērâ*: noun, feminine singular - Asherah pole/sacred tree
• *šāḥâ*: Hishtaphel imperfect 3rd person masculine plural with waw consecutive - they bowed down
• *ṣābāʾ*: noun, masculine singular construct - host/army of
• *šāmayim*: noun, masculine plural with definite article - the heavens
• *ʿābad*: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural with waw consecutive - they served/worshiped
• *baʿal*: proper noun with definite article - the Baal

Word Meanings

• *ʿāzab*: forsake/abandon/leave
• *miṣwâ*: commandments/precepts/orders
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: God/gods
• *massēkâ*: molten image/cast idol/metal statue
• *ʿēgel*: calves/young bulls
• *ʾăšērâ*: Asherah pole/sacred tree/pagan goddess
• *šāḥâ*: bow down/prostrate/worship
• *ṣābāʾ*: host/army/assembly
• *šāmayim*: heavens/sky
• *ʿābad*: serve/worship/work for
• *baʿal*: Baal/lord/master [Canaanite deity]

Referenced Verses

• 1 Kgs 12:28 : 28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
• 1 Kgs 14:15 : 15 For Jehovah will smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water; and he will root up Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the River, because they have made their Asherim, provoking Jehovah to anger.
• 1 Kgs 14:23 : 23 For they also built them high places, and pillars, and Asherim, on every high hill, and under every green tree;
• 1 Kgs 16:31 : 31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
• Deut 4:19 : 19 and lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the host of heaven, thou be drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which Jehovah thy God hath allotted unto all the peoples under the whole heaven.
• 1 Kgs 16:33 : 33 And Ahab made the Asherah; and Ahab did yet more to provoke Jehovah, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
• 1 Kgs 22:53 : 53 And he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger Jehovah, the God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.
• 1 Kgs 15:13 : 13 And also Maacah his mother he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
• 2 Kgs 11:18 : 18 And all the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of Jehovah.
• 2 Kgs 21:3 : 3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as did Ahab king of Israel, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
• Ps 106:18-20 : 18 And a fire was kindled in their company; The flame burned up the wicked. 19 They made a calf in Horeb, And worshipped a molten image. 20 Thus they changed their glory For the likeness of an ox that eateth grass.
• Isa 44:9-9 : 9 They that fashion a graven image are all of them vanity; and the things that they delight in shall not profit; and their own witnesses see not, nor know: that they may be put to shame. 10 Who hath fashioned a god, or molten an image that is profitable for nothing?
• Jer 8:2 : 2 and they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, which they have loved, and which they have served, and after which they have walked, and which they have sought, and which they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried, they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.
• 2 Kgs 17:10 : 10 and they set them up pillars and Asherim upon every high hill, and under every green tree;
• Exod 32:4 : 4 And he received it at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, and made it a molten calf: and they said, These are thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
• Exod 32:8 : 8 they have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed unto it, and said, These are thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
• 2 Kgs 10:18-28 : 18 And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu will serve him much. 19 Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshippers, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice [to do] to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtlety, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal. 20 And Jehu said, Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it. 21 And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was filled from one end to another. 22 And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments. 23 And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal; and he said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of Jehovah, but the worshippers of Baal only. 24 And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt-offerings. Now Jehu had appointed him fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escape, [he that letteth him go], his life shall be for the life of him. 25 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. 26 And they brought forth the pillars that were in the house of Baal, and burned them. 27 And they brake down the pillar of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught-house, unto this day. 28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.