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Bible in Basic English

2 Kings 17:15

And they went against his rules, and the agreement which he made with their fathers, and his laws which he gave them; they gave themselves up to things without sense or value, and became foolish like the nations round them, of whom the Lord had said, Do not as they do.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Assyria;   Babylon;   Judgments;   Rulers;   Vanity;   Scofield Reference Index - Israel;   Thompson Chain Reference - Imitation;   Sinful;   Worldliness;   Worldliness-Unworldliness;   The Topic Concordance - Disobedience;   Fear;   Following;   Idolatry;   Rejection;   Unbelief;   Vanity;   Worship;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Forsaking God;   Idolatry;   Vanity;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Captivity;   Egypt;   Shalmaneser;   Vanity;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Baal;   Idol, idolatry;   Israel;   Samaria, samaritans;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Amos, Theology of;   Chronicles, Theology of;   Denial;   Ethics;   Idol, Idolatry;   Kings, First and Second, Theology of;   Persecution;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Samaritans;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Idol;   Kings, the Books of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Covenant;   Dan;   Gift, Giving;   High Place;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Israel;   Samaria;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Israel ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Shalmanezer;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Captivity;   Hezekiah;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
They rejected his statutes and his covenant he had made with their ancestors and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves, following the surrounding nations the Lord had commanded them not to imitate.
Hebrew Names Version
They rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified to them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and [went] after the nations that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged those who they should not do like them.
King James Version
And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them.
English Standard Version
They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them.
New Century Version
They rejected the Lord 's laws and the agreement he had made with their ancestors. And they refused to listen to his warnings. They worshiped useless idols and became useless themselves. They did what the nations around them did, which the Lord had warned them not to do.
New English Translation
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.
Amplified Bible
They rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers, as well as His warnings that he gave them. And they followed vanity [that is, false gods, idols] and became vain (empty-headed). They followed the [pagan practices of the] nations which surrounded them, although the LORD had commanded that they were not to do as they did.
New American Standard Bible
They rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers, and His warnings which He gave them. And they followed idols and became empty, and followed the nations that surrounded them, about which the LORD had commanded them not to do as they did.
World English Bible
They rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified to them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and [went] after the nations that were round about them, concerning whom Yahweh had charged those who they should not do like them.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And they refused his statutes and his couenant, that he made with their fathers, & his testimonies (wherewith he witnessed vnto them) and they followed vanitie, and became vaine, and followed the heathen that were round about them: concerning whome the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them.
Legacy Standard Bible
They also rejected His statutes and His covenant which He cut with their fathers and His warnings with which He warned them. And they followed vanity and became vain, and went after the nations which surrounded them, concerning which Yahweh had commanded them not to do like them.
Berean Standard Bible
They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and themselves became worthless, going after the surrounding nations the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.
Contemporary English Version
They ignored the Lord 's warnings and commands, and they rejected the solemn agreement he had made with their ancestors. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves. The Lord had told the Israelites not to do the things that the foreign nations around them were doing, but Israel became just like them.
Complete Jewish Bible
Thus they rejected his laws; his covenant, which he had made with their ancestors; and the solemn warnings he had given them. Instead they pursued worthless things and became worthless themselves, imitating the nations around them, whom Adonai had ordered them not to emulate.
Darby Translation
And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant which he had made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he had testified unto them; and they followed vanity and became vain, and [went] after the nations that were round about them, concerning whom Jehovah had charged them that they should not do like them.
Easy-to-Read Version
They refused to follow his laws and the agreement he made with their ancestors. They would not listen to his warnings. They worshiped idols that were worth nothing and they themselves became worth nothing. The Lord had warned them not to do the evil things that the people in the nations around them did. But they lived the same way those people lived.
George Lamsa Translation
And they rejected my covenants, and my statutes which I commanded to their fathers and the testimonies which I testified against them; and they followed vanity and gained nothing, and they followed the nations concerning whom the LORD had commanded them that they should not do like them.
Good News Translation
They refused to obey his instructions, they did not keep the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and they disregarded his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves, and they followed the customs of the surrounding nations, disobeying the Lord 's command not to imitate them.
Lexham English Bible
They rejected his statutes, his covenant which he made with their ancestors, and his warnings which he gave to them; and they went after the idols, became vain, and went after all the nations which were all around them, which Yahweh had commanded them not to do as they did.
Literal Translation
And they rejected His statutes and His covenant that He made with their fathers, and His testimonies that He testified against them, and went after the vain thing, and became vain, and afterthe nations that were around them,of whom Jehovah had commanded them not to do like them.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yee they despysed his ordinaunces and his couenaunt which he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he witnessed amonge them, and walked in their awne vanities, and became vayne folowinge the Heythen, which dwelt rounde aboute them, concernynge whom the LORDE had commaunded them, that they shulde not do as they dyd.
American Standard Version
And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified unto them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the nations that were round about them, concerning whom Jehovah had charged them that they should not do like them.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For they refused his statutes, and his appoyntment that he made with their fathers, and the witnesses wherwith he witnessed vnto them, and they folowed vanitie, and became vayne, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lorde had charged them that they shoulde not do lyke them.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
and they rejected His statutes, and His covenant that He made with their fathers, and His testimonies wherewith He testified against them; and they went after things of nought, and became nought, and after the nations that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them that they should not do like them;
King James Version (1611)
And they reiected his Statutes, and his Couenant that hee made with their fathers, and his Testimonies which he testified against them, and they followed vanitie, and became vaine, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not doe like them.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And they kept not any of his testimonies which he charged them; and they walked after vanities, and became vain, and after the nations round about them, concerning which the Lord had charged them not to do accordingly.
English Revised Version
And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified unto them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and [went] after the nations that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them that they should not do like them.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei castiden, awei the lawful thingis of hym, and the couenaunt which he couenauntide with her fadris, and the witnessyngis bi whiche he witnesside to hem; and thei sueden vanytees, `that is, idols, and diden veynli; and sueden hethene men, that weren `bi the cumpas of hem; of whiche vanytees the Lord comaundide to hem, that thei schulden not do as also tho hethene men diden.
Young's Literal Translation
and reject His statutes and His covenant that He made with their fathers, and His testimonies that He testified against them, and go after the vain thing, and become vain, and after the nations that are round about them, of whom Jehovah commanded them not to do like them;
Update Bible Version
And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified to them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and [went] after the nations that were round about them, concerning whom Yahweh had charged them that they should not act like them.
Webster's Bible Translation
And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that [were] around them, [concerning] whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.
New King James Version
And they rejected His statutes and His covenant that He had made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He had testified against them; they followed idols, became idolaters, and went after the nations who were all around them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them that they should not do like them.
New Living Translation
They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and they despised all his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves. They followed the example of the nations around them, disobeying the Lord 's command not to imitate them.
New Life Bible
They turned away from His Laws and His agreement which He made with their fathers. They turned away when He told them of danger. They followed false gods, and became empty. They followed the nations around them. But the Lord had told them not to act like them.
New Revised Standard
They despised his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their ancestors, and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false; they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do as they did.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
but rejected his statutes, and his covenant, which he solemnised with their fathers, and his testimonies wherewith he testified against them, - and followed vanity, and became vain, and followed the nations that were round about them, as to whom Yahweh charged them, so that they should not do like them.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they rejected his ordinances, and the covenant that he made with their fathers, and the testimonies which he testified against them: and they followed vanities, and acted vainly: and they followed the nations that were round about them, concerning which the Lord had commanded them that they should not do as they did.
Revised Standard Version
They despised his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and the warnings which he gave them. They went after false idols, and became false, and they followed the nations that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had commanded them that they should not do like them.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
They rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers and His warnings with which He warned them. And they followed vanity and became vain, and went after the nations which surrounded them, concerning which the LORD had commanded them not to do like them.

Contextual Overview

7 And the wrath of the Lord came on Israel because they had done evil against the Lord their God, who took them out of the land of Egypt from under the yoke of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and had become worshippers of other gods, 8 Living by the rules of the nations whom the Lord had sent out from before the children of Israel. 9 And the children of Israel did secretly against the Lord their God things which were not right, building high places for themselves in all their towns, from the tower of the watchmen to the walled town. 10 They put up pillars of stone and wood on every high hill and under every green tree: 11 Burning their offerings in all the high places, as those nations did whom the Lord sent away from before them; they did evil things, moving the Lord to wrath; 12 And they made themselves servants of disgusting things, though the Lord had said, You are not to do this. 13 And he gave witness to Israel and Judah, by every prophet and seer, saying, Come back from your evil ways, and do my orders and keep my rules, and be guided by the law which I gave to your fathers and sent to you by my servants the prophets. 14 And they did not give ear, but became stiff-necked, like their fathers who had no faith in the Lord their God. 15 And they went against his rules, and the agreement which he made with their fathers, and his laws which he gave them; they gave themselves up to things without sense or value, and became foolish like the nations round them, of whom the Lord had said, Do not as they do. 16 And turning their backs on all the orders which the Lord had given them, they made for themselves images of metal, and the image of Asherah, worshipping all the stars of heaven and becoming servants to Baal.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

they rejected: Jeremiah 8:9

his covenant: Exodus 24:6-8, Deuteronomy 29:10-15, Deuteronomy 29:25, Deuteronomy 29:26, Jeremiah 31:32

testimonies: Deuteronomy 6:17, Deuteronomy 6:18, 2 Chronicles 36:15, 2 Chronicles 36:16, Nehemiah 9:26, Nehemiah 9:29, Nehemiah 9:30, Jeremiah 44:4, Jeremiah 44:23

vanity: Deuteronomy 32:21, Deuteronomy 32:31, 1 Samuel 12:21, 1 Kings 16:13, Psalms 115:8, Jeremiah 10:8, Jeremiah 10:15, John 2:8

became vain: Jeremiah 2:5, Romans 1:21-23, 1 Corinthians 8:4

concerning whom: 2 Kings 17:8, 2 Kings 17:11, 2 Kings 17:12, Deuteronomy 12:30, Deuteronomy 12:31, 2 Chronicles 33:2, 2 Chronicles 33:9

Reciprocal: Leviticus 26:15 - despise 1 Samuel 15:23 - thou hast rejected 2 Kings 17:20 - rejected 2 Kings 17:35 - With whom Nehemiah 9:34 - thy testimonies Psalms 78:10 - General Isaiah 5:24 - cast away Jeremiah 23:16 - they make Jeremiah 44:8 - ye provoke Ezekiel 16:44 - As is Hosea 6:7 - transgressed Hosea 8:12 - but Amos 3:13 - and testify Jonah 2:8 - General Hebrews 8:9 - they continued

Cross-References

Genesis 17:5
No longer will your name be Abram, but Abraham, for I have made you the father of a number of nations.
Genesis 32:28
And he said, Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel: for in your fight with God and with men you have overcome.
2 Samuel 12:25
And he sent word by Nathan the prophet, who gave him the name Jedidiah, by the word of the Lord.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers,.... At Sinai and Horeb, see Exodus 24:8,

and his testimonies which he testified against them; calling heaven and earth to witness what he would do to them if they broke his laws, Deuteronomy 4:26, and which were so many testifications of his mind and will what they should do, or otherwise what should be done to them; Ben Gersom also interprets this of the feasts of the passover and tabernacles, which were witnesses of Israel's coming out of Egypt, and of the sanctification and redemption of the firstborn, a testimony of the slaying the firstborn in Egypt:

and they followed vanity; idols, which are vain things for help, can neither hear, see, speak, c.

and became vain as sottish and stupid as the idols they worshipped; which is the usual fruit and effect of idolatry, see Romans 1:21

and went after the heathen that were round about them: imitated them in their idolatrous practices, as the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, c. concerning

whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them of this charge see Deuteronomy 6:13.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

As idols are “vanity” and “nothingness,” mere weakness and impotence, so idolators are “vain” and impotent. Their energies have been wasted, their time misspent; they have missed the real object of their existence; their whole life has been a mistake; and the result is utter powerlessness. Literally, the word rendered “vanity” seems to mean “breath” or “vapor” - a familiar image for nonentity. It occurs frequently in the prophets, and especially in Jeremiah (e. g. Jeremiah 2:5; Jeremiah 8:19; Jeremiah 14:22, etc.).


 
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