2 Kings 17:33

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator describes the religious behavior of foreign colonists installed in Samaria following the Assyrian deportation. This account falls within the historical evaluation of Israel’s covenant failure and the mechanics of syncretism.

The words — יְרֵאִים (yire'im) translates as "fearing," and עֹבְדִים (ovedim) translates as "serving." The Hebrew syntax places these states in parallel, showing simultaneous reverence for Yahweh and worship of foreign deities.

The thread — The same syncretic pattern is recorded in 2 Kings 17:41, which confirms the practice continued across generations. Jesus addresses the structural impossibility of divided devotion in Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13.

Why it lands — The text states that simultaneous worship of Yahweh and other gods constitutes ongoing custom rather than genuine covenant keeping. It requires readers to identify where they maintain parallel loyalties that fracture exclusive allegiance.

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

אֶת־'et-<obj.>יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahweh הָי֣וּha.Yuthey were יְרֵאִ֑יםye.re.'Imfearing וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶם֙'e.lo.hei./Hemown gods/ their הָי֣וּha.Yuthey were עֹֽבְדִ֔ים'oe.Dimserving כְּמִשְׁפַּט֙ke./mish.Pataccording to/ [the] custom of הַגּוֹיִ֔םha./go.Yimthe/ nations אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-which הִגְל֥וּhig.Luthey had taken into exile אֹתָ֖ם'o.Ta/m<obj.>/ them מִשָּֽׁם׃mi./Shamfrom/ there

King James Version

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

Cross-references

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.
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.”
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.
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.
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,
Hosea 10:2 Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.