2 Kings 17:13

Yet through all His prophets and seers, the LORD warned Israel and Judah, saying, “Turn from your wicked ways and keep My commandments and statutes, according to the entire Law that I commanded your fathers and delivered to you through My servants the prophets.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD speaks through all His prophets and seers to warn both Israel and Judah during a documented period of idolatry and covenant failure. This declaration occurs immediately after the narrative records their direct violation of prior divine commands against serving idols.

The words — וַ/יָּ֣עַד (va/i.Ya.'ad) literally means "and He warned" or "He testified," denoting a formal, binding admonition. The prepositional phrase בְּ/יַד֩ (be./Yad) translates as "by the hand of," establishing the prophets as the LORD's authorized agents rather than independent sources.

The thread — This prophetic warning pattern recurs in Jeremiah 35:15, where God again sends servants the prophets to proclaim a call to turn from wicked ways. It echoes the institutional role of seers and prophets noted in 1 Samuel 9:9 as the established means of conveying divine instruction.

Why it lands — The text requires a specific behavioral shift: abandoning wicked practices and obeying the commandments and statutes delivered through the prophets. It demands active compliance with the entire Law given to their ancestors, leaving no allowance for partial obedience or ignored warnings.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיָּ֣עַדva/i.Ya.'adand/ he warned יְהוָ֡הYah.wehYahweh בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֣לbe./Yis.ra.'El<in>/ Israel וּבִיהוּדָ֡הu./vi./hu.Dahand/ <in>/ Judah בְּיַד֩be./Yadby/ [the] hand of כָּל־kol-every נְבִיאֵ֨יne.vi.'ov[the] prophets כָל־khol-every חֹזֶ֜הcho.Zehseer לֵאמֹ֗רle./Mor<to>/ saying שֻׁ֝֠בוּShu.vuturn back מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֤םmi./dar.khei./Khemfrom/ ways/ your הָֽרָעִים֙ha./ra.'Im<the>/ evil וְשִׁמְרוּ֙ve./shim.Ruand/ keep מִצְוֹתַ֣יmitz.vo.Ta/icommandments/ my חֻקּוֹתַ֔יchu.ko.Ta/istatutes/ my כְּכָ֨ל־ke./Khal-according to/ all הַתּוֹרָ֔הha./to.Rahthe/ law אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhich צִוִּ֖יתִיtzi.Vi.tiI commanded אֶת־'et-<obj.>אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם'a.vo.tei./Khemancestors/ your וַֽאֲשֶׁר֙va./'a.Sherand/ which שָׁלַ֣חְתִּיsha.Lach.tiI sent אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם'a.lei./Khemto/ you בְּיַ֖דbe./Yadby/ [the] hand of עֲבָדַ֥י'a.va.Da/iservants/ my הַנְּבִיאִֽים׃ha./ne.vi.'Imthe/ prophets

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

1 Samuel 9:9 (Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)
Jeremiah 35:15 Again and again I have sent you all My servants the prophets, proclaiming: ‘Turn now, each of you, from your wicked ways, and correct your actions. Do not go after other gods to serve them. Live in the land that I have given to you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear or listened to Me.
Jeremiah 18:11 Now therefore, tell the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I am planning a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways, and correct your ways and deeds.’
Deuteronomy 31:21 And when many troubles and afflictions have come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants. For I know their inclination, even before I bring them into the land that I swore to give them.”
Nehemiah 9:29 You admonished them to turn back to Your law, but they were arrogant and disobeyed Your commandments. They sinned against Your ordinances, by which a man will live if he practices them. They turned a stubborn shoulder; they stiffened their necks and would not obey.
Deuteronomy 4:26 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live long upon it, but will be utterly destroyed.
Deuteronomy 8:19 If you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods to worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish.
Joshua 23:16 If you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from this good land He has given you.”
Judges 10:11 The LORD replied, “When the Egyptians, Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines,
1 Samuel 12:7 Now present yourselves, so that I may confront you before the LORD with all the righteous acts He has done for you and your fathers.