2 Kings
2 Kings 23:15–20
15He even pulled down the altar at Bethel, the high place set up by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin. Then he burnedf the high place, ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole. 16And as Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the hillside, and he sent someone to take the bones out of the tombs, and he burned them on the altar to defile it, according to the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who had foretold these things.g
17Then the king asked, “What is this monument I see?”
And the men of the city replied, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things that you have done to the altar of Bethel.”
18“Let him rest,” said Josiah. “Do not let anyone disturb his bones.”
So they left his bones undisturbed, along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.
19Just as Josiah had done at Bethel, so also in the cities of Samaria he removed all the shrines of the high places set up by the kings of Israel who had provoked the LORD to anger. 20On the altars he slaughtered all the priests of the high places, and he burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
Footnotes
Word by word
Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.
2 Kings 23:15
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| He even | וְגַ֨ם | wə·ḡam | Conjunction | H1571 also, moreover, yea |
| pulled down | נָתָ֑ץ | nā·ṯāṣ | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H5422 pull down, break down |
| the altar | הַמִּזְבֵּ֜חַ | ham·miz·bê·aḥ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4196 altar |
| at Bethel | אֵ֗ל | ’êl | Preposition; Noun - proper - feminine singular | H1008 Bethel |
| the high place | הַבָּמָה֙ | hab·bā·māh | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H1116 high place |
| set up | עָשָׂ֜ה | ‘ā·śāh | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H6213 do, make |
| by Jeroboam | יָרָבְעָ֤ם | yā·rā·ḇə·‘ām | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3379 Jeroboam |
| son | בֶּן־ | ben- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H1121 son |
| of Nebat | נְבָט֙ | nə·ḇāṭ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H5028 Nebat |
| who | אֲשֶׁ֣ר | ’ă·šer | Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| had caused Israel | יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | yiś·rā·’êl | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3478 Israel |
| to sin | הֶחֱטִ֣יא | he·ḥĕ·ṭî | Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H2398 miss |
| Then he burned | וַיִּשְׂרֹ֧ף | way·yiś·rōp̄ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H8313 burn |
| the high place | הַבָּמָ֖ה | hab·bā·māh | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H1116 high place |
| ground | הֵדַ֥ק | hê·ḏaq | Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H1854 crush, pulverise, thresh; be fine |
| to powder | לְעָפָ֖ר | lə·‘ā·p̄ār | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular | H6083 dry earth, dust |
| and burned | וְשָׂרַ֥ף | wə·śā·rap̄ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | H8313 burn |
| the Asherah pole | אֲשֵׁרָֽה׃ | ’ă·šê·rāh | Noun - feminine singular | H842 Ashera |
2 Kings 23:16
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| And as Josiah | יֹאשִׁיָּ֗הוּ | yō·šî·yā·hū | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H2977 Joshijah |
| turned | וַיִּ֣פֶן | way·yi·p̄en | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H6437 turn |
| he saw | וַיַּ֨רְא | way·yar | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H7200 see |
| the tombs | הַקְּבָרִ֤ים | haq·qə·ḇā·rîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H6913 grave, sepulchre |
| there | שָׁם֙ | šām | Adverb | H8033 there, thither |
| on the hillside | בָּהָ֔ר | bā·hār | Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular | H2022 mountain, hill, hill-country |
| and he sent | וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח | way·yiš·laḥ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H7971 send |
| someone to take | וַיִּקַּ֤ח | way·yiq·qaḥ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H3947 take |
| the bones | הָֽעֲצָמוֹת֙ | hā·‘ă·ṣā·mō·wṯ | Article; Noun - feminine plural | H6106 bone, substance, self |
| out of | מִן־ | min- | Preposition | H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not |
| the tombs | הַקְּבָרִ֔ים | haq·qə·ḇā·rîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H6913 grave, sepulchre |
| and he burned them | וַיִּשְׂרֹ֥ף | way·yiś·rōp̄ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H8313 burn |
| on | עַל־ | ‘al- | Preposition | H5921 height |
| the altar | הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ | ham·miz·bê·aḥ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4196 altar |
| to defile it | וַֽיְטַמְּאֵ֑הוּ | way·ṭam·mə·’ê·hū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singular | H2930 be or become unclean |
| according to the word | כִּדְבַ֣ר | kiḏ·ḇar | Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct | H1697 speech, word |
| of the LORD | יְהוָ֗ה | Yah·weh | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3068 Yahweh |
| proclaimed | קָרָא֙ | qā·rā | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H7121 call, proclaim, read |
| by the man | אִ֣ישׁ | ’îš | Noun - masculine singular construct | H376 man |
| of God | הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים | hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H430 God |
| who | אֲשֶׁ֣ר | ’ă·šer | Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| had foretold | קָרָ֔א | qā·rā | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H7121 call, proclaim, read |
| these | הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ | hā·’êl·leh | Article; Pronoun - common plural | H428 these |
| things | הַדְּבָרִ֖ים | had·də·ḇā·rîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H1697 speech, word |
2 Kings 23:17
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Then | וַיֹּ֕אמֶר | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| What | מָ֚ה | māh | Interrogative | H4100 what? how? aught |
| is this | הַלָּ֔ז | hal·lāz | Pronoun - masculine singular | H1975 this |
| monument | הַצִּיּ֣וּן | haṣ·ṣî·yūn | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H6725 sign-post, monument |
| I | אֲנִ֣י | ’ă·nî | Pronoun - first person common singular | H589 I |
| see | רֹאֶ֑ה | rō·’eh | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular | H7200 see |
| And the men | אַנְשֵׁ֣י | ’an·šê | Noun - masculine plural construct | H582 man, mankind |
| of the city | הָעִ֗יר | hā·‘îr | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H5892 excitement |
| replied | וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ | way·yō·mə·rū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H559 utter, say |
| It is the tomb | הַקֶּ֤בֶר | haq·qe·ḇer | Article; Noun - masculine singular construct | H6913 grave, sepulchre |
| of the man | אִישׁ־ | ’îš- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H376 man |
| of God | הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ | hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H430 God |
| who | אֲשֶׁר־ | ’ă·šer- | Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| came | בָּ֣א | bā | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H935 come in, come, go in, go |
| from Judah | מִֽיהוּדָ֔ה | mî·hū·ḏāh | Preposition-m; Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3063 Judah |
| and proclaimed | וַיִּקְרָ֗א | way·yiq·rā | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H7121 call, proclaim, read |
| these | הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ | hā·’êl·leh | Article; Pronoun - common plural | H428 these |
| things | הַדְּבָרִ֤ים | had·də·ḇā·rîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H1697 speech, word |
| that | אֲשֶׁ֣ר | ’ă·šer | Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| you have done | עָשִׂ֔יתָ | ‘ā·śî·ṯā | Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | H6213 do, make |
| to | עַ֖ל | ‘al | Preposition | H5921 height |
| the altar | הַמִּזְבַּ֥ח | ham·miz·baḥ | Article; Noun - masculine singular construct | H4196 altar |
| of | בֵּֽית־ | bêṯ- | Preposition | H1008 Bethel |
| Bethel | אֵֽל׃ | ’êl | Noun - proper - feminine singular | H1008 Bethel |
2 Kings 23:18
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Let him rest | הַנִּ֣יחוּ | han·nî·ḥū | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural | H5117 rest |
| said | וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| Do not | אַל־ | ’al- | Adverb | H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . . |
| let anyone | אִ֖ישׁ | ’îš | Noun - masculine singular | H376 man |
| disturb | יָנַ֣ע | yā·na‘ | Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular | H5128 quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter |
| his bones | עַצְמֹתָ֑יו | ‘aṣ·mō·ṯāw | Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine singular | H6106 bone, substance, self |
| So they left his bones | עַצְמֹתָ֔יו | ‘aṣ·mō·ṯāw | Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine singular | H6106 bone, substance, self |
| undisturbed | וַֽיְמַלְּטוּ֙ | way·mal·lə·ṭū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H4422 slip away |
| along with those | עַצְמ֣וֹת | ‘aṣ·mō·wṯ | Noun - feminine plural construct | H6106 bone, substance, self |
| of the prophet | הַנָּבִ֔יא | han·nā·ḇî | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H5030 spokesman, speaker, prophet |
| who | אֲשֶׁר־ | ’ă·šer- | Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| had come | בָּ֖א | bā | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H935 come in, come, go in, go |
| from Samaria | מִשֹּׁמְרֽוֹן׃ | miš·šō·mə·rō·wn | Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular | H8111 Shomeron |
2 Kings 23:19
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Just as Josiah | וַיַּ֣עַשׂ | way·ya·‘aś | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H6213 do, make |
| had done | עָשָׂ֖ה | ‘ā·śāh | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H6213 do, make |
| at Bethel | אֵֽל׃ | ’êl | Preposition; Noun - proper - feminine singular | H1008 Bethel |
| so also | וְגַם֩ | wə·ḡam | Conjunction | H1571 also, moreover, yea |
| in the cities | בְּעָרֵ֣י | bə·‘ā·rê | Preposition-b; Noun - feminine plural construct | H5892 excitement |
| of Samaria | שֹׁמְר֗וֹן | šō·mə·rō·wn | Noun - proper - feminine singular | H8111 Shomeron |
| removed | הֵסִ֖יר | hê·sîr | Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H5493 turn aside |
| all | כָּל־ | kāl- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| the shrines | בָּתֵּ֨י | bāt·tê | Noun - masculine plural construct | H1004 house |
| of the high places | הַבָּמ֜וֹת | hab·bā·mō·wṯ | Article; Noun - feminine plural | H1116 high place |
| set up | עָשׂ֜וּ | ‘ā·śū | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | H6213 do, make |
| by the kings | מַלְכֵ֤י | mal·ḵê | Noun - masculine plural construct | H4428 king |
| of Israel | יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ | yiś·rā·’êl | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3478 Israel |
| who had provoked the LORD to anger | לְהַכְעִ֔יס | lə·haḵ·‘îs | Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | H3707 be vexed, angry |
2 Kings 23:20
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On | עַל־ | ‘al- | Preposition | H5921 height |
| the altars | הַֽמִּזְבְּח֔וֹת | ham·miz·bə·ḥō·wṯ | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H4196 altar |
| he slaughtered | וַ֠יִּזְבַּח | way·yiz·baḥ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H2076 slaughter for sacrifice |
| all | כָּל־ | kāl- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| the priests | כֹּהֲנֵ֨י | kō·hă·nê | Noun - masculine plural construct | H3548 priest |
| of the high places | הַבָּמ֤וֹת | hab·bā·mō·wṯ | Article; Noun - feminine plural | H1116 high place |
| and he burned | וַיִּשְׂרֹ֛ף | way·yiś·rōp̄ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H8313 burn |
| human | אָדָ֖ם | ’ā·ḏām | Noun - masculine singular | H120 man, mankind |
| bones | עַצְמ֥וֹת | ‘aṣ·mō·wṯ | Noun - feminine plural construct | H6106 bone, substance, self |
| on them | עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם | ‘ă·lê·hem | Preposition; third person masculine plural | H5921 height |
| Then he returned | וַיָּ֖שָׁב | way·yā·šāḇ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H7725 turn back, return |
| to Jerusalem | יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ | yə·rū·šā·lim | Noun - proper - feminine singular | H3389 Jerusalem |
Cross-references
Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.
2 Kings 23:15 1 Kings 14:16 · 2 Kings 23:6
2 Kings 23:16 1 Kings 13:1–2 · 1 Kings 13:32
2 Kings 23:17 1 Kings 13:1 · 1 Kings 13:30–31
2 Kings 23:18 1 Kings 13:31 · 1 Kings 13:1–22
2 Kings 23:19 2 Chronicles 34:6–7
2 Kings 23:20 2 Kings 11:18 · 2 Chronicles 34:5 · Exodus 22:20 · 2 Kings 10:25 · 1 Kings 18:40 · 1 Kings 13:2
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.
Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.