Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025
the Fourth Week of Advent
the Fourth Week of Advent
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Read the Bible
THE MESSAGE
2 Kings 17:14
But they wouldn't listen. If anything, they were even more bullheaded than their stubborn ancestors, if that's possible. They were contemptuous of his instructions, the solemn and holy covenant he had made with their ancestors, and of his repeated reminders and warnings. They lived a "nothing" life and became "nothings"—just like the pagan peoples all around them. They were well-warned: God said, "Don't!" but they did it anyway.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
But they would not listen. Instead they became obstinate like their ancestors who did not believe the Lord their God.
But they would not listen. Instead they became obstinate like their ancestors who did not believe the Lord their God.
Hebrew Names Version
Notwithstanding, they would not hear, but hardened their neck, like the neck of their fathers, who didn't believe in the LORD their God.
Notwithstanding, they would not hear, but hardened their neck, like the neck of their fathers, who didn't believe in the LORD their God.
King James Version
Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God.
Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God.
English Standard Version
But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God.
But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God.
New Century Version
But the people would not listen. They were stubborn, just as their ancestors had been who did not believe in the Lord their God.
But the people would not listen. They were stubborn, just as their ancestors had been who did not believe in the Lord their God.
New English Translation
But they did not pay attention and were as stubborn as their ancestors, who had not trusted the Lord their God.
But they did not pay attention and were as stubborn as their ancestors, who had not trusted the Lord their God.
Amplified Bible
However they did not listen, but stiffened their necks as did their fathers who did not believe (trust in, rely on, remain steadfast to) the LORD their God.
However they did not listen, but stiffened their necks as did their fathers who did not believe (trust in, rely on, remain steadfast to) the LORD their God.
New American Standard Bible
However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the LORD their God.
However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the LORD their God.
World English Bible
Notwithstanding, they would not hear, but hardened their neck, like the neck of their fathers, who didn't believe in Yahweh their God.
Notwithstanding, they would not hear, but hardened their neck, like the neck of their fathers, who didn't believe in Yahweh their God.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Neuerthelesse they would not obey, but hardened their neckes, like to the neckes of their fathers, that did not beleeue in the Lorde their God.
Neuerthelesse they would not obey, but hardened their neckes, like to the neckes of their fathers, that did not beleeue in the Lorde their God.
Legacy Standard Bible
However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in Yahweh their God.
However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in Yahweh their God.
Berean Standard Bible
But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God.
But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God.
Contemporary English Version
But the Israelites would not listen; they were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to worship the Lord their God.
But the Israelites would not listen; they were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to worship the Lord their God.
Complete Jewish Bible
Nevertheless, they refused to listen but made themselves as stubborn as their ancestors, who did not put their trust in Adonai their God.
Nevertheless, they refused to listen but made themselves as stubborn as their ancestors, who did not put their trust in Adonai their God.
Darby Translation
But they would not hear, and hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, who did not believe in Jehovah their God.
But they would not hear, and hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, who did not believe in Jehovah their God.
Easy-to-Read Version
But the people would not listen. They were very stubborn like their ancestors. Their ancestors did not believe the Lord their God.
But the people would not listen. They were very stubborn like their ancestors. Their ancestors did not believe the Lord their God.
George Lamsa Translation
But they would not hearken, but were stubborn more than were their fathers who did not believe in the LORD their God.
But they would not hearken, but were stubborn more than were their fathers who did not believe in the LORD their God.
Good News Translation
But they would not obey; they were stubborn like their ancestors, who had not trusted in the Lord their God.
But they would not obey; they were stubborn like their ancestors, who had not trusted in the Lord their God.
Lexham English Bible
But they did not listen and they stiffened their necks, like the necks of their ancestors who did not believe in Yahweh their God.
But they did not listen and they stiffened their necks, like the necks of their ancestors who did not believe in Yahweh their God.
Literal Translation
And they did not listen, and hardened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who did not remain faithful to Jehovah their God.
And they did not listen, and hardened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who did not remain faithful to Jehovah their God.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
they wolde not herken, but herdened their neckes, acordinge to the hardneck of their fathers, which beleued not on the LORDE their God.
they wolde not herken, but herdened their neckes, acordinge to the hardneck of their fathers, which beleued not on the LORDE their God.
American Standard Version
Notwithstanding, they would not hear, but hardened their neck, like to the neck of their fathers, who believed not in Jehovah their God.
Notwithstanding, they would not hear, but hardened their neck, like to the neck of their fathers, who believed not in Jehovah their God.
Bible in Basic English
And they did not give ear, but became stiff-necked, like their fathers who had no faith in the Lord their God.
And they did not give ear, but became stiff-necked, like their fathers who had no faith in the Lord their God.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Nothwithstanding they woulde not heare, but rather hardened their neckes, lyke to the stubburnesse of their fathers, that dyd not beleue in the Lorde their God.
Nothwithstanding they woulde not heare, but rather hardened their neckes, lyke to the stubburnesse of their fathers, that dyd not beleue in the Lorde their God.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their neck, like to the neck of their fathers, who believed not in the LORD their God;
notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their neck, like to the neck of their fathers, who believed not in the LORD their God;
King James Version (1611)
Notwithstanding, they would not heare, but hardened their neckes, like to the necke of their fathers, that did not beleeue in the Lord their God.
Notwithstanding, they would not heare, but hardened their neckes, like to the necke of their fathers, that did not beleeue in the Lord their God.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
But they hearkened not, and made their neck harder than the neck of their fathers.
But they hearkened not, and made their neck harder than the neck of their fathers.
English Revised Version
Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their neck, like to the neck of their fathers, who believed not in the LORD their God.
Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their neck, like to the neck of their fathers, who believed not in the LORD their God.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whiche herden not, but maden hard her nol bi the nol of her fadris, that nolden obeie to her Lord God.
Whiche herden not, but maden hard her nol bi the nol of her fadris, that nolden obeie to her Lord God.
Young's Literal Translation
and they have not hearkened, and harden their neck, like the neck of their fathers, who did not remain stedfast in Jehovah their God,
and they have not hearkened, and harden their neck, like the neck of their fathers, who did not remain stedfast in Jehovah their God,
Update Bible Version
Notwithstanding, they would not hear, but hardened their neck, like the neck of their fathers, who didn't believe in Yahweh their God.
Notwithstanding, they would not hear, but hardened their neck, like the neck of their fathers, who didn't believe in Yahweh their God.
Webster's Bible Translation
Notwithstanding, they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
Notwithstanding, they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
New King James Version
Nevertheless they would not hear, but stiffened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who did not believe in the LORD their God.
Nevertheless they would not hear, but stiffened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who did not believe in the LORD their God.
New Living Translation
But the Israelites would not listen. They were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to believe in the Lord their God.
But the Israelites would not listen. They were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to believe in the Lord their God.
New Life Bible
But they did not listen. They were strong-willed like their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God.
But they did not listen. They were strong-willed like their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God.
New Revised Standard
They would not listen but were stubborn, as their ancestors had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God.
They would not listen but were stubborn, as their ancestors had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Howbeit they hearkened not, - but stiffened their neck, like the neck of their fathers, who trusted not in Yahweh their God;
Howbeit they hearkened not, - but stiffened their neck, like the neck of their fathers, who trusted not in Yahweh their God;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they hearkened not, but hardened their necks like to the neck of their fathers, who would not obey the Lord, their God.
And they hearkened not, but hardened their necks like to the neck of their fathers, who would not obey the Lord, their God.
Revised Standard Version
But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the LORD their God.
But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the LORD their God.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the LORD their God.
However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the LORD their God.
Contextual Overview
7The exile came about because of sin: The children of Israel sinned against God , their God, who had delivered them from Egypt and the brutal oppression of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They took up with other gods, fell in with the ways of life of the pagan nations God had chased off, and went along with whatever their kings did. They did all kinds of things on the sly, things offensive to their God , then openly and shamelessly built local sex-and-religion shrines at every available site. They set up their sex-and-religion symbols at practically every crossroads. Everywhere you looked there was smoke from their pagan offerings to the deities—the identical offerings that had gotten the pagan nations off into exile. They had accumulated a long list of evil actions and God was fed up, fed up with their persistent worship of gods carved out of deadwood or shaped out of clay, even though God had plainly said, "Don't do this—ever!" 13 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." 14But they wouldn't listen. If anything, they were even more bullheaded than their stubborn ancestors, if that's possible. They were contemptuous of his instructions, the solemn and holy covenant he had made with their ancestors, and of his repeated reminders and warnings. They lived a "nothing" life and became "nothings"—just like the pagan peoples all around them. They were well-warned: God said, "Don't!" but they did it anyway. 16They threw out everything God , their God, had told them, and replaced him with two statue-gods shaped like bull-calves and then a phallic pole for the whore goddess Asherah. They worshiped cosmic forces—sky gods and goddesses—and frequented the sex-and-religion shrines of Baal. They even sank so low as to offer their own sons and daughters as sacrificial burnt offerings! They indulged in all the black arts of magic and sorcery. In short, they prostituted themselves to every kind of evil available to them. And God had had enough. 18 God was so thoroughly angry that he got rid of them, got them out of the country for good until only one tribe was left—Judah. (Judah, actually, wasn't much better, for Judah also failed to keep God 's commands, falling into the same way of life that Israel had adopted.) God rejected everyone connected with Israel, made life hard for them, and permitted anyone with a mind to exploit them to do so. And then this final No as he threw them out of his sight. 21Back at the time that God ripped Israel out of their place in the family of David, they had made Jeroboam son of Nebat king. Jeroboam debauched Israel—turned them away from serving God and led them into a life of total sin. The children of Israel went along with all the sins that Jeroboam did, never murmured so much as a word of protest. In the end, God spoke a final No to Israel and turned his back on them. He had given them fair warning, and plenty of time, through the preaching of all his servants the prophets. Then he exiled Israel from her land to Assyria. And that's where they are now.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
but hardened: Deuteronomy 31:27, 2 Chronicles 36:13, Proverbs 29:1, Isaiah 48:4, Jeremiah 7:26, Romans 2:4, Romans 2:5, Hebrews 3:7, Hebrews 3:8
did not believe: Deuteronomy 1:32, Psalms 78:22, Psalms 78:32, Psalms 106:24, Hebrews 3:12
Reciprocal: Exodus 16:28 - General Deuteronomy 9:13 - stiffnecked Nehemiah 9:16 - hardened Psalms 78:8 - as their Psalms 78:10 - General Isaiah 5:24 - cast away Isaiah 65:3 - A people Jeremiah 3:7 - Turn thou Jeremiah 25:5 - Turn Jeremiah 34:14 - but Daniel 5:20 - hardened Daniel 9:6 - have we Hosea 9:17 - because Hosea 11:5 - because Matthew 21:34 - he sent Acts 19:9 - divers
Cross-References
Genesis 17:20
"And Ishmael? Yes, I heard your prayer for him. I'll also bless him; I'll make sure he has plenty of children—a huge family. He'll father twelve princes; I'll make him a great nation. But I'll establish my covenant with Isaac whom Sarah will give you about this time next year."
"And Ishmael? Yes, I heard your prayer for him. I'll also bless him; I'll make sure he has plenty of children—a huge family. He'll father twelve princes; I'll make him a great nation. But I'll establish my covenant with Isaac whom Sarah will give you about this time next year."
Genesis 17:24
Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised. His son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised. Abraham and Ishmael were circumcised the same day together with all the servants of his household, those born there and those purchased from outsiders—all were circumcised with him.
Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised. His son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised. Abraham and Ishmael were circumcised the same day together with all the servants of his household, those born there and those purchased from outsiders—all were circumcised with him.
Leviticus 18:29
"Those who do any of these abhorrent things will be cut off from their people. Keep to what I tell you; don't engage in any of the abhorrent acts that were practiced before you came. Don't pollute yourselves with them. I am God , your God."
"Those who do any of these abhorrent things will be cut off from their people. Keep to what I tell you; don't engage in any of the abhorrent acts that were practiced before you came. Don't pollute yourselves with them. I am God , your God."
Psalms 55:20
And this, my best friend, betrayed his best friends; his life betrayed his word. All my life I've been charmed by his speech, never dreaming he'd turn on me. His words, which were music to my ears, turned to daggers in my heart.
And this, my best friend, betrayed his best friends; his life betrayed his word. All my life I've been charmed by his speech, never dreaming he'd turn on me. His words, which were music to my ears, turned to daggers in my heart.
Isaiah 24:5
Earth is polluted by its very own people, who have broken its laws, Disrupted its order, violated the sacred and eternal covenant. Therefore a curse, like a cancer, ravages the earth. Its people pay the price of their sacrilege. They dwindle away, dying out one by one. No more wine, no more vineyards, no more songs or singers. The laughter of castanets is gone, the shouts of celebrants, gone, the laughter of fiddles, gone. No more parties with toasts of champagne. Serious drinkers gag on their drinks. The chaotic cities are unlivable. Anarchy reigns. Every house is boarded up, condemned. People riot in the streets for wine, but the good times are gone forever— no more joy for this old world. The city is dead and deserted, bulldozed into piles of rubble. That's the way it will be on this earth. This is the fate of all nations: An olive tree shaken clean of its olives, a grapevine picked clean of its grapes.
Earth is polluted by its very own people, who have broken its laws, Disrupted its order, violated the sacred and eternal covenant. Therefore a curse, like a cancer, ravages the earth. Its people pay the price of their sacrilege. They dwindle away, dying out one by one. No more wine, no more vineyards, no more songs or singers. The laughter of castanets is gone, the shouts of celebrants, gone, the laughter of fiddles, gone. No more parties with toasts of champagne. Serious drinkers gag on their drinks. The chaotic cities are unlivable. Anarchy reigns. Every house is boarded up, condemned. People riot in the streets for wine, but the good times are gone forever— no more joy for this old world. The city is dead and deserted, bulldozed into piles of rubble. That's the way it will be on this earth. This is the fate of all nations: An olive tree shaken clean of its olives, a grapevine picked clean of its grapes.
1 Corinthians 11:27
Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of "remembrance" you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe.
Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of "remembrance" you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe.
1 Corinthians 11:29
If you give no thought (or worse, don't care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you're running the risk of serious consequences. That's why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won't have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.
If you give no thought (or worse, don't care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you're running the risk of serious consequences. That's why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won't have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Notwithstanding, they would not hear,.... Their instructions, advice, and admonitions, and obey them:
but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God: as Terah and Nahor, who were idolaters; or rather, their fathers in the wilderness, that made and served the calf, and those that rebelled against Moses and Aaron; it is a metaphor taken from oxen, that will not submit their necks to the yoke, but draw back from it, or cast it off, see Acts 7:51.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
To “harden” or “stiffen the neck” is a common Hebrew expression significative of unbending obstinacy and determined self-will. See the marginal references.
