2 Kings 17:32
New International Version
They worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed all sorts of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places.

New Living Translation
These new residents worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests to offer sacrifices at their places of worship.

English Standard Version
They also feared the LORD and appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places.

Berean Standard Bible
So the new residents worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed for themselves priests of all sorts to serve in the shrines of the high places.

King James Bible
So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.

New King James Version
So they feared the LORD, and from every class they appointed for themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places.

New American Standard Bible
They also feared the LORD and appointed from their entire population priests of the high places, who acted for them in the houses of the high places.

NASB 1995
They also feared the LORD and appointed from among themselves priests of the high places, who acted for them in the houses of the high places.

NASB 1977
They also feared the LORD and appointed from among themselves priests of the high places, who acted for them in the houses of the high places.

Legacy Standard Bible
They were also fearing Yahweh and appointed from among all of themselves priests of the high places, and they were acting for them in the houses of the high places.

Amplified Bible
They also feared the LORD and appointed from among themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.

Christian Standard Bible
They feared the LORD, but they also made from their ranks priests for the high places, who were working for them at the shrines of the high places.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They feared the LORD, but they also appointed from their number priests to serve them in the shrines of the high places.

American Standard Version
So they feared Jehovah, and made unto them from among themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.

English Revised Version
So they feared the LORD, and made unto them from among themselves priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So while these people were worshiping the LORD, they also appointed all kinds of people to serve as priests for the shrines at their illegal places of worship.

Good News Translation
These people also worshiped the LORD and chose from among their own number all sorts of people to serve as priests at the pagan places of worship and to offer sacrifices for them there.

International Standard Version
Because they feared the LORD, they also appointed from among themselves priests for the high places who acted on their behalf in the temples on the high places.

Majority Standard Bible
So the new residents worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed for themselves priests of all sorts to serve in the shrines of the high places.

NET Bible
At the same time they worshiped the LORD. They appointed some of their own people to serve as priests in the shrines on the high places.

New Heart English Bible
And they worshiped the LORD, yet they established their abominations in the houses of the high places which they made in Samaria, each nation in the city in which they dwelt. And they worshiped the LORD, yet appointed from among themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.

Webster's Bible Translation
So they feared the LORD, and made to themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.

World English Bible
So they feared Yahweh, and also made from among themselves priests of the high places for themselves, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they are fearing YHWH, and make for themselves from their extremities priests of high places, and they are working for them in the house of the high places.

Young's Literal Translation
And they are fearing Jehovah, and make to themselves from their extremities priests of high places, and they are acting for them in the house of the high places.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will be fearing Jehovah, and make to them priests of their ends upon the heights, and they will be doing to them in the houses of the heights.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And nevertheless they worshipped the Lord. And they made to themselves, of the lowest of the people, priests of the high places, and they placed them in the temples of the high places.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But nevertheless, they worshipped the Lord. Then they made for themselves, from the least of the people, priests of the high places. And they placed them in the shrines of the high places.

New American Bible
At the same time, they were venerating the LORD, appointing from their own number priests for the high places to officiate for them in the shrines on the high places.

New Revised Standard Version
They also worshiped the LORD and appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So they worshipped the LORD, and made for themselves of their own people priests of the high places, who served for them in the houses of idols on the high places.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they were worshiping LORD JEHOVAH and made some of them Priests of the high places for themselves, and they were serving them in a house of high places.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
So they feared the LORD, and made unto them from among themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they feared the Lord, yet they established their abominations in the houses of the high places which they made in Samaria, each nation in the city in which they dwelt: and they feared the Lord, and they made for themselves priests of the high places, and sacrificed for themselves in the house of the high places.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel's Cities Resettled by Foreigners
31the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim. 32So the new residents worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed for themselves priests of all sorts to serve in the shrines of the high places. 33They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away.…

Cross References
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.

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.

2 Kings 17:34
To this day they are still practicing their former customs. None of them worship the LORD or observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom He named Israel.

2 Kings 17:40
But they would not listen, and they persisted in their former customs.

2 Kings 17:29-31
Nevertheless, the people of each nation continued to make their own gods in the cities where they had settled, and they set them up in the shrines that the people of Samaria had made on the high places. / The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, / the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim.

2 Kings 17:35-39
For the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites and commanded them, “Do not worship other gods or bow down to them; do not serve them or sacrifice to them. / Instead, worship the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to Him and offer sacrifices to Him. / And you must always be careful to observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments He wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. ...

2 Kings 17:28
Thus one of the priests they had carried away came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should worship the LORD.

2 Kings 17:24-27
Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns. / Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them. / So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The peoples that you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the God of the land. Because of this, He has sent lions among them, which are indeed killing them off.” ...

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.

1 Kings 12:28-33
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves. ...

2 Chronicles 33:17
Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God.

Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

Matthew 15:8-9
‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”

Mark 7:6-7
Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’

John 4:22
You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.


Treasury of Scripture

So they feared the LORD, and made to themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.

made unto themselves

1 Kings 12:31
And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.

1 Kings 13:33
After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.

the houses

2 Kings 17:29
Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt.

2 Kings 23:19
And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.

1 Kings 13:31
And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones:

Jump to Previous
Acted Acting Appointed Classes Extremities Feared Fearing High House Houses Lowest Offered Offerings Places Priests Sacrificed Sacrifices Shrines Sorts Themselves Worshiped Worshipping
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Acted Acting Appointed Classes Extremities Feared Fearing High House Houses Lowest Offered Offerings Places Priests Sacrificed Sacrifices Shrines Sorts Themselves Worshiped Worshipping
2 Kings 17
1. Hoshea the Last King of Israel
3. Being subdued by Shalmaneser, he conspires against him with So, king of Egypt
5. Samaria for sinning is led into captivity
24. The strange nations transplanted into Samaria make a mixture of religions.














So they feared the LORD
The phrase "feared the LORD" in Hebrew is "וַיִּירְאוּ אֶת־יְהוָה" (vayyir'u et-YHWH). The term "feared" (יָרֵא, yare) encompasses reverence, awe, and respect, but also implies a recognition of God's power and authority. In the context of ancient Israel, fearing the LORD was foundational to the covenant relationship between God and His people. This fear was meant to lead to obedience and worship according to God's commandments. However, in this verse, the fear is superficial, as it is not accompanied by exclusive devotion.

but they also appointed for themselves priests
The act of appointing priests "for themselves" indicates a deviation from the divinely ordained Levitical priesthood. In the Hebrew context, the priesthood was not a matter of personal or communal choice but was established by God through the line of Aaron. This self-appointment reflects a syncretistic approach to worship, where the people sought to blend the worship of Yahweh with local customs and practices, contrary to the exclusive worship God demanded.

from all sorts of people
The phrase "from all sorts of people" suggests a disregard for the qualifications and lineage required for priesthood as outlined in the Torah. The Hebrew term used here implies a random selection, highlighting the people's indifference to God's specific instructions regarding who could serve as a priest. This action symbolizes a broader spiritual decline and a move away from the covenantal standards set by God.

to officiate for them at the high places
"High places" (בָּמוֹת, bamot) were elevated sites often used for worship in ancient Near Eastern cultures. While some high places were initially used for legitimate worship, they became associated with idolatrous practices. The use of high places for worship was explicitly condemned in the Hebrew Scriptures, as it often led to syncretism and idolatry. The people's choice to use these sites, despite fearing the LORD, underscores their divided loyalties and incomplete obedience.

(32) They feared.--They were fearing. (See Note on 2Kings 17:25; 2Kings 17:28, supra.)

Of the lowest of them.--Rather, of all orders, or promiscuously. (Comp. 1Kings 12:31.) This is another indication that it was Jeroboam's mode of worship which was now restored.

Which sacrificed.--Heb., and they used to do. The verb do is used in the sense of sacra facere, just like the Greek - ?????? ?????? ??????.

Priests of the high places.--Rather, b?m?h-priests (omit the). Bamah-priests are opposed to the priests of Jehovah's Temple.

Verse 32. - So they feared the Lord - rather, and they (also) honored Jehovah; i.e. with their idolatrous worship they combined also the worship of Jehovah (comp. ver. 28) - and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places - i.e., followed the example of Jeroboam in taking for priests persons of all ranks, even the lowest (see the comment on 1 Kings 12:31) - which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places (comp. ver. 29).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So
וַיִּהְי֥וּ (way·yih·yū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

[the new residents] worshiped
יְרֵאִ֖ים (yə·rê·’îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

the LORD,
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

but they also appointed
וַיַּעֲשׂ֨וּ (way·ya·‘ă·śū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

for themselves
לָהֶ֤ם (lā·hem)
Preposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

priests
כֹּהֲנֵ֣י (kō·hă·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3548: Priest

of all sorts
מִקְצוֹתָם֙ (miq·ṣō·w·ṯām)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7098: A termination

to serve
עֹשִׂ֥ים (‘ō·śîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

in the shrines
בְּבֵ֥ית (bə·ḇêṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of the high places.
בָמ֔וֹת (ḇā·mō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 1116: An elevation


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OT History: 2 Kings 17:32 So they feared Yahweh and made (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 17:31
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