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the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Good News Translation

2 Kings 17:13

The Lord had sent his messengers and prophets to warn Israel and Judah: "Abandon your evil ways and obey my commands, which are contained in the Law I gave to your ancestors and which I handed on to you through my servants the prophets."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Assyria;   Babylon;   Judgments;   Prophets;   Rulers;   Word of God;   Scofield Reference Index - Israel;   Thompson Chain Reference - Bible, the;   Commandments;   Holy Spirit;   Inspiration;   Keep;   Penitence-Impenitence;   Prophecy;   Prophets;   Repentance;   Sorrow;   The Topic Concordance - Disobedience;   Fear;   Following;   Idolatry;   Obedience;   Sending and Those Sent;   Turning;   Unbelief;   Vanity;   Worship;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Forsaking God;   Idolatry;   Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the;   Prophets;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Captivity;   Egypt;   Prophets;   Shalmaneser;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Baal;   Idol, idolatry;   Israel;   Samaria, samaritans;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Amos, Theology of;   Chronicles, Theology of;   Ethics;   Mission;   Persecution;   Prophet, Prophetess, Prophecy;   Servant of the Lord;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Samaritans;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Idol;   Kings, the Books of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Dan;   High Place;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Conversion;   Israel;   Samaria;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Israel ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Shalmanezer;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Captivity;   Hezekiah;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Seer;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Titles of Honor;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Still, the Lord warned Israel and Judah through every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commands and statutes according to the whole law I commanded your ancestors and sent to you through my servants the prophets.”
Hebrew Names Version
Yet the LORD testified to Yisra'el, and to Yehudah, by every prophet, and every seer, saying, Turn you from your evil ways, and keep my mitzvot and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the 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.
English Standard Version
Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets."
New Century Version
The Lord used every prophet and seer to warn Israel and Judah. He said, "Stop your evil ways and obey my commands and laws. Follow all the teachings that I commanded your ancestors, the teachings that I gave you through my servants the prophets."
New English Translation
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."
Amplified Bible
Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments and My statutes, in accordance with all the Law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets."
New American Standard Bible
Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer, saying, "Turn back from your evil ways and keep My commandments and My statutes in accordance with all the Law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets."
World English Bible
Yet Yahweh testified to Israel, and to Judah, by every prophet, and every seer, saying, Turn you 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.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Notwithstanding the Lord testified to Israel, and to Iudah by all the Prophets, & by all the Seers, saying, Turne from your euill wayes, and keepe my commandements & my statutes, according to all the Lawe, which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my seruants the Prophets.
Legacy Standard Bible
Yet Yahweh warned Israel and Judah by the hand of all His prophets and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by the hand of My slaves the prophets."
Berean Standard Bible
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."
Contemporary English Version
So the Lord made sure that every prophet warned Israel and Judah with these words: "I, the Lord , command you to stop doing sinful things and start obeying my laws and teachings! I gave them to your ancestors, and I told my servants the prophets to repeat them to you."
Complete Jewish Bible
Adonai had warned Isra'el and Y'hudah in advance through every prophet and seer, "Turn from your evil ways; and obey my mitzvot and regulations, in accordance with the entire Torah which I ordered your ancestors to keep and which I sent to you through my servants the prophets."
Darby Translation
And Jehovah testified against Israel and against Judah, by all the prophets, all the seers, saying, Turn from your evil ways, and keep my commandments, my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through my servants the prophets.
Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord used every prophet and every seer to warn Israel and Judah. He said, "Turn away from the evil things you do. Obey my commands and laws. Follow all the law that I gave to your ancestors. I used my servants the prophets to give this law to you."
George Lamsa Translation
Yet the LORD testified against Israel and against Judah by all his servants the prophets and by all the seers, saying, Repent from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers and according to that which I sent to them by my servants the prophets.
Lexham English Bible
Yahweh warned Israel and Judah by the hand of his every prophet, with every seer saying, "Turn from all of your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my ordinances, according to all the law which I commanded your ancestors, which I sent to you by the hand of my servants the prophets."
Literal Translation
And Jehovah testified against Israel, and against Judah, by the hand of all His prophets, and every seer, saying, Turn back from your evil ways, and keep My commands, My statutes, according to all the Law that I commanded your fathers, andthat I sent to you by the hand of My servants the prophets.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And whan the LORDE testified in Israel and Iuda by all the prophetes and Seers, sayenge: O turne agayne from youre euell wayes, and kepe my commaundemetes and ordynaunces, acordinge to all ye lawe which I gaue vnto youre fathers, and that I sent vnto you by my seruauntes the prophetes:
American Standard Version
Yet Jehovah testified unto Israel, and unto Judah, by every prophet, and every seer, 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.
Bible in Basic English
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.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the Lorde testified in Israel and in Iuda by all the prophetes and by all the sears, saying: Turne from your wicked wayes, and kepe my commaundementes and my statutes, according to all the law which I commaunded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my seruauntes the prophetes.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
yet the LORD forewarned Israel, and Judah, by the hand of every prophet, and of every seer, 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 the hand of My servants the prophets';
King James Version (1611)
Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Iudah, by all the Prophets, and by all the Seers, saying, Turne ye from your euill wayes, and keepe my commandements, and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my seruants the Prophets.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the Lord testified against Israel and against Juda, even by the hand of all his prophets, and of every seer, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my ordinances, and all the law which I commanded your fathers, and all that I sent to them by the hand of my servants the prophets.
English Revised Version
Yet the LORD testified unto Israel, and unto Judah, by the hand of every prophet, and of every seer, 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 the hand of my servants the prophets.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the Lord witnesside in Israel and in Juda, bi the hond of alle prophetis and seeris, and seide, Turne ye ayen fro youre werste weies, and kepe ye my comaundementis, and ceremonyes, bi al the lawe whiche Y comaundide to youre fadris, and as Y sente to you in the hond of my seruauntis prophetis.
Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah testifieth against Israel, and against Judah, by the hand of every prophet, and every seer, saying, `Turn back from your evil ways, and keep My commands, My statutes, according to all the law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent unto you by the hand of My servants the prophets;'
Update Bible Version
Yet Yahweh testified to Israel, and to Judah, by every prophet, and every seer, saying, Turn 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 slaves the prophets.
Webster's Bible Translation
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.
New King James Version
Yet the LORD testified against Israel and against Judah, by all of His prophets, every seer, saying, "Turn 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."
New Living Translation
Again and again the Lord had sent his prophets and seers to warn both Israel and Judah: "Turn from all your evil ways. Obey my commands and decrees—the entire law that I commanded your ancestors to obey, and that I gave you through my servants the prophets."
New Life Bible
The Lord told Israel and Judah of the danger, through all His men who told what would happen in the future. He said, "Turn from your sinful ways and obey My Laws. Keep all the Laws which I gave your fathers, and which I gave to you through My servants and men of God."
New Revised Standard
Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the law that I commanded your ancestors and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Yahweh testified against Israel and against Judah, through all his prophets - every one who had a vision, saying - Turn ye from your wicked ways, and keep my commandments, my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers; and which I sent unto you through my servants the prophets.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord testified to them in Israel, and in Juda, by the hand of all the prophets and seers, saying: Return from your wicked ways, and keep my precepts, and ceremonies, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers: and as I have sent to you in the hand of my servants the prophets.
Revised Standard Version
Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets."
THE MESSAGE
God had taken a stand against Israel and Judah, speaking clearly through countless holy prophets and seers time and time again, "Turn away from your evil way of life. Do what I tell you and have been telling you in The Revelation I gave your ancestors and of which I've kept reminding you ever since through my servants the prophets."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets."

Contextual Overview

7 Samaria fell because the Israelites sinned against the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the king of Egypt and had led them out of Egypt. They worshiped other gods, 8 followed the customs of the people whom the Lord had driven out as his people advanced, and adopted customs introduced by the kings of Israel. 9 The Israelites did things that the Lord their God disapproved of. They built pagan places of worship in all their towns, from the smallest village to the largest city. 10 On all the hills and under every shady tree they put up stone pillars and images of the goddess Asherah, 11 and they burned incense on all the pagan altars, following the practice of the people whom the Lord had driven out of the land. They aroused the Lord 's anger with all their wicked deeds 12 and disobeyed the Lord 's command not to worship idols. 13 The Lord had sent his messengers and prophets to warn Israel and Judah: "Abandon your evil ways and obey my commands, which are contained in the Law I gave to your ancestors and which I handed on to you through my servants the prophets." 14 But they would not obey; they were stubborn like their ancestors, who had not trusted in the Lord their God. 15 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. 16 They broke all the laws of the Lord their God and made two metal bull-calves to worship; they also made an image of the goddess Asherah, worshiped the stars, and served the god Baal.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

testified: Deuteronomy 8:19, Deuteronomy 31:21, Nehemiah 9:29, Nehemiah 9:30, Psalms 50:7, Psalms 81:8, Psalms 81:9, Jeremiah 42:19, Acts 20:21

and against: 2 Chronicles 36:15, 2 Chronicles 36:16, Jeremiah 3:8-11, Hosea 4:15

all: Heb. the hand of all, Deuteronomy 4:26, Joshua 23:16, Judges 6:10, Judges 10:11-14, 1 Samuel 12:7-15, Isaiah 1:5-15, Isaiah 1:21-24, Jeremiah 5:29-31, Zechariah 1:3-6

seers: 1 Samuel 9:9, 1 Chronicles 29:29

Turn ye: Isaiah 1:16-20, Isaiah 55:6, Isaiah 55:7, Jeremiah 7:3-7, Jeremiah 18:11, Jeremiah 25:4, Jeremiah 25:5, Jeremiah 35:15, Ezekiel 18:31, Hosea 14:1, 2 Peter 3:9

keep: Jeremiah 7:22, Jeremiah 7:23, Jeremiah 26:4-6

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 17:23 - as he had said 2 Kings 18:6 - kept 2 Chronicles 24:19 - Yet he sent 2 Chronicles 33:18 - the seers Nehemiah 9:34 - thou didst Jeremiah 3:7 - Turn thou Jeremiah 26:5 - my Jeremiah 34:14 - but Ezekiel 3:19 - if thou Daniel 9:6 - have we Daniel 9:10 - which Hosea 7:12 - as their Hosea 11:2 - they called Hosea 11:5 - because Hosea 12:10 - have also Amos 2:11 - I raised Amos 3:13 - and testify Zechariah 7:11 - they refused Matthew 21:34 - he sent Mark 12:2 - a servant Luke 20:10 - sent 2 Corinthians 5:20 - as

Cross-References

Genesis 14:14
When Abram heard that his nephew had been captured, he called together all the fighting men in his camp, 318 in all, and pursued the four kings all the way to Dan.
Genesis 15:3
You have given me no children, and one of my slaves will inherit my property."
Genesis 37:27
Let's sell him to these Ishmaelites. Then we won't have to hurt him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed,
Genesis 37:36
Meanwhile, in Egypt the Midianites had sold Joseph to Potiphar, one of the king's officers, who was the captain of the palace guard.
Genesis 39:1
Now the Ishmaelites had taken Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, one of the king's officers, who was the captain of the palace guard.
Exodus 12:44
but any slave that you have bought may eat it if you circumcise him first.
Exodus 21:2
If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve you for six years. In the seventh year he is to be set free without having to pay anything.
Exodus 21:4
If his master gave him a wife and she bore him sons or daughters, the woman and her children belong to the master, and the man is to leave by himself.
Exodus 21:16
"Whoever kidnaps someone, either to sell him or to keep him as a slave, is to be put to death.
Nehemiah 5:5
We are of the same race as the other Jews. Aren't our children just as good as theirs? But we have to make slaves of our children. Some of our daughters have already been sold as slaves. We are helpless because our fields and vineyards have been taken away from us."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, [and by] all the seers,.... Against their sins, reproving them for them, dehorting them from them, exhorting them to repent and leave them; as in all preceding reigns, by Ahijah the Shilonite, by Elijah and Elisha, by Hosea, Amos, and Micah, and others:

saying, turn ye from your ways; repent of them, and reform from them, worship of the calves particularly:

and keep my commandments, and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers; which was given them and enjoined them at Mount Sinai:

and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets; by whom he put them in mind of them, explained them, and urged obedience to them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

God raised up a succession of prophets and seers, who repeated and enforced the warnings of the Law, and breathed into the old words a new life. Among this succession were, in Israel, Ahijah the Shilonite 1 Kings 14:2, Jehu the son of Hanani 1 Kings 16:1, Elijah, Micaiah the son of Imlah 1 Kings 22:8, Elisha, Jonah the son of Amittai 2 Kings 14:25, Oded 2 Chronicles 28:9, Amos, and Hosea; in Judah, up to this time, Shemaiah 2 Chronicles 11:2; 2 Chronicles 12:5, Iddo 2Ch 12:15; 2 Chronicles 13:22, Azariah the son of Oded 2 Chronicles 15:1, Hanani 2 Chronicles 16:7, Jehu his son 2 Chronicles 19:2, Jahaziel the son of Zechariah 2 Chronicles 20:14, Eliezer the son of Dodavah (2 Chronicles 20:37), Zechariah the son of Jehoiada 2 Chronicles 24:20, another Zechariah 2 Chronicles 26:5, Joel, Micah, and Isaiah, besides several whose names are not known. Some of these persons are called “prophets,” others “seers.” Occasionally, the same person has both titles (as Iddo and Jehu the son of Hanani), which seems to show that there was no very important distinction between them.

Probably the conjecture is right that “prophet” נביא nâbı̂y' in strictness designates the official members of the prophetical order only, while “seer” חזה chôzeh is applicable to all, whether members of the order or not, who receive a prophetical revelation.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Kings 17:13. Yet the Lord testified against Israel — What rendered their conduct the more inexcusable was, that the Lord had preserved among them a succession of prophets, who testified against their conduct, and preached repentance to them, and the readiness of God to forgive, provided they would return unto him, and give up their idolatries.


 
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