2 Kings 3:2
New International Version
He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father and mother had done. He got rid of the sacred stone of Baal that his father had made.

New Living Translation
He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, but not to the same extent as his father and mother. He at least tore down the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had set up.

English Standard Version
He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, though not like his father and mother, for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.

Berean Standard Bible
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as his father and mother had done. He removed the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made.

King James Bible
And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.

New King James Version
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not like his father and mother; for he put away the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made.

New American Standard Bible
He did evil in the sight of the LORD, though not like his father and his mother; for he removed the memorial stone of Baal which his father had made.

NASB 1995
He did evil in the sight of the LORD, though not like his father and his mother; for he put away the sacred pillar of Baal which his father had made.

NASB 1977
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, though not like his father and his mother; for he put away the sacred pillar of Baal which his father had made.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, though not like his father and his mother; and he took away the sacred pillar of Baal which his father had made.

Amplified Bible
He did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not like his father and mother; for he put away the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made.

Christian Standard Bible
He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, but not like his father and mother, for he removed the sacred pillar of Baal his father had made.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, but not like his father and mother, for he removed the sacred pillar of Baal his father had made.

American Standard Version
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, but not like his father, and like his mother; for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.

Contemporary English Version
and disobeyed the LORD by doing wrong. He tore down the stone image his father had made to honor Baal, and so he wasn't as sinful as his parents.

English Revised Version
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He did what the LORD considered evil, but he didn't do what his father or mother had done. He put away the sacred stone that his father had set up and dedicated to Baal.

Good News Translation
He sinned against the LORD, but he was not as bad as his father or his mother Jezebel; he pulled down the image his father had made for the worship of Baal.

International Standard Version
practicing evil in the LORD's presence, only not to the extent that his mother and father had done —he forced abolition of the sacred pillar to Baal that his father had crafted.

Majority Standard Bible
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as his father and mother had done. He removed the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made.

NET Bible
He did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not to the same degree as his father and mother. He did remove the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made.

New Heart English Bible
He did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not like his father, and like his mother; for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.

World English Bible
He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, but not like his father and like his mother, for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and does evil in the eyes of YHWH, only not like his father, and like his mother, and he turns aside the standing-pillar of Ba‘al that his father made;

Young's Literal Translation
and doth the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah, only not like his father, and like his mother, and he turneth aside the standing-pillar of Baal that his father made;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will do evil in the eyes of Jehovah, but not as his father and; as his mother; and he will remove the statue of Baal which his father made.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he did evil before the Lord, but not like his father and his mother: for he took away the statues of Baal, which his father had made.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as his father and mother did. For he took away the statues of Baal, which his father had made.

New American Bible
He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, though not like his father and mother. He did away with the pillar of Baal that his father had made,

New Revised Standard Version
He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, though not like his father and mother, for he removed the pillar of Baal that his father had made.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father and like his mother; for he put away the statue of Baal which his father had made.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he did evil before LORD JEHOVAH, however, not like his father and like his mother, and he removed the statue of Baal that his father had made.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother; for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, only not as his father, nor as his mother: and he removed the pillars of Baal which his father had made.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joram Overcomes Moab's Rebellion
1In the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah, Jehoram son of Ahab became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twelve years. 2And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as his father and mother had done. He removed the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made. 3Nevertheless, he clung to the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.…

Cross References
1 Kings 22:52-53
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin. / Ahaziah served and worshiped Baal, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.

1 Kings 16:30-33
However, Ahab son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. / And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal. / First, Ahab set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he had built in Samaria. ...

2 Kings 10:18-28
Then Jehu brought all the people together and said, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot. / Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. See that no one is missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.” But Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal. / And Jehu commanded, “Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they announced it. ...

2 Kings 9:22
When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?” “How can there be peace,” he replied, “as long as the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?”

1 Kings 21:25-26
(Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel. / He committed the most detestable acts by going after idols, just like the Amorites whom the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.)

2 Kings 21:2-6
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. / For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, and he raised up altars for Baal. He made an Asherah pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done, and he worshiped and served all the host of heaven. / Manasseh also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My Name.” ...

2 Chronicles 21:6
And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 22:3-4
Ahaziah also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in wickedness. / And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for to his destruction they were his counselors after the death of his father.

2 Kings 8:18
And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.

2 Kings 17:16-17
They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal. / They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

2 Kings 23:5
Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests ordained by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem—those who had burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven.

2 Kings 21:11
“Since Manasseh king of Judah has committed all these abominations, acting more wickedly than the Amorites who preceded him, and with his idols has caused Judah to sin,

2 Kings 17:19
and even Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but lived according to the customs Israel had introduced.

2 Kings 13:2
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.

2 Kings 15:9
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.


Treasury of Scripture

And he worked evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.

wrought

2 Kings 6:31,32
Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day…

2 Kings 21:6,20
And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger…

1 Samuel 15:19
Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

but not

1 Kings 16:33
And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.

1 Kings 21:20,25
And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD…

and like

2 Kings 9:22,34
And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? …

1 Kings 21:5-15,25
But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? …

image [heb] statue

2 Kings 10:18,26-28
And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much…

1 Kings 16:31,32
And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him…

Jump to Previous
Baal Ba'al Column Evil Eyes Image Mother Pillar Rid Sacred Sight Standing-Pillar Stone Turneth Wrought
Jump to Next
Baal Ba'al Column Evil Eyes Image Mother Pillar Rid Sacred Sight Standing-Pillar Stone Turneth Wrought
2 Kings 3
1. Jehoram's reign
4. Mesha rebels
6. Jehoram, with Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom, being distressed for want of water,
13. by Elisha obtains water, and promise of victory
21. The Moabites, deceived by the colour of the water, coming to spoil, are overcome
26. The king of Moab sacrifices his son, and raises the siege














And he did evil in the sight of the LORD
This phrase indicates that the actions of the king were judged according to God's standards, not human ones. The "sight of the LORD" suggests divine omniscience and the moral accountability of leaders. The concept of doing "evil" is often associated with idolatry and disobedience to God's commandments, as seen throughout the books of Kings. This reflects the Deuteronomic history's emphasis on covenant faithfulness.

but not as his father and mother had done
The king's parents, Ahab and Jezebel, were notorious for their promotion of Baal worship and persecution of the prophets of Yahweh. This phrase suggests a comparative assessment, indicating that while the king continued in sin, he did not reach the same level of apostasy and wickedness as his parents. This highlights the generational impact of leadership and the potential for partial reform.

He removed the sacred pillar of Baal
The removal of the sacred pillar signifies a partial return to the worship of Yahweh, as these pillars were often associated with Canaanite religious practices. This act could be seen as a political or religious move to gain favor with Yahweh or the people who remained faithful to Him. It reflects the ongoing struggle between the worship of Yahweh and the influence of surrounding pagan cultures.

that his father had made
This phrase underscores the legacy of Ahab's reign, which was marked by the establishment of Baal worship in Israel. The construction of such pillars was a direct violation of the first commandment and a significant factor in the spiritual decline of the nation. The king's action in removing the pillar suggests an acknowledgment of his father's errors, though it does not indicate a full return to covenant faithfulness.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jehoram (Joram)
The king of Israel, son of Ahab and Jezebel. He is noted for doing evil in the sight of the LORD, though not to the extent of his parents.

2. Ahab
Jehoram's father, a former king of Israel known for his idolatry and promotion of Baal worship.

3. Jezebel
Jehoram's mother, infamous for her role in promoting Baal worship and opposing the prophets of the LORD.

4. Baal
A Canaanite deity whose worship was introduced and promoted in Israel by Ahab and Jezebel.

5. Sacred Pillar
An object associated with Baal worship, which Jehoram removed, indicating a partial reform.
Teaching Points
Partial Obedience is Insufficient
Jehoram's removal of the sacred pillar of Baal shows a step towards reform, but his continued evil indicates that partial obedience to God is not enough. True repentance requires a complete turning away from sin.

Influence of Family and Environment
Jehoram's actions were influenced by his parents, Ahab and Jezebel. This highlights the importance of godly influences and the potential impact of ungodly ones.

God's Standard of Righteousness
The phrase "in the sight of the LORD" reminds us that God's standard is the ultimate measure of righteousness, not human comparisons or standards.

The Danger of Compromise
Jehoram's reign illustrates the danger of compromising with sin. While he removed some elements of idolatry, he did not fully commit to the LORD, leading to continued evil.(2) Wrought evil.--Did the evil in the eyes, &c., i.e., maintained the illicit worship of the bullock at Beth-el (2Kings 3:3).

Like his mother.--Jezebel lived throughout his reign (2Kings 9:30), which explains why he did not eradicate the Baal-worship (2Kings 10:18-28).

For he put away.--And he removed, scil., from its place in the temple of Baal. (Comp. 1Kings 16:31-32.) It must have been afterwards restored, probably by the influence of Jezebel. (Comp. 2Kings 10:26-27, and Notes.) . . .

Verse 2. - And he wrought evil in the sight of the Lord - as did every other king of Israel both before him (1 Kings 14:16; 1 Kings 15:25, 34; 1 Kings 16:13, 19, 25, 30; 1 Kings 22:52) and after him (2 Kings 8:27; 2 Kings 10:31; 2 Kings 13:2, 11; 2 Kings 14:24; 2 Kings 15:9, 18, 24, 28; 2 Kings 17:2) - but not like his father, and like his mother - i.e. Ahab and Jezebel, the introducers of the Baal-worship into Israel - for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. It had not been said previously that Ahab had actually set up an image of Baal, but only that he had "built him a house in Samaria, and reared him up an altar," and that he "served him and worshipped him" (1 Kings 16:31, 32). But an image of the god for whom a "house" was built was so much a matter of course in the idolatrous systems of the East, that it might have seemed superfluous to mention it. The actual existence of the image appears later, when its destruction is recorded (2 Kings 10:27). It seems that Jehoram, at the commencement of his reign, took warning by the fates of his father and brother, so far as to abolish the state worship of Baal, which his father had introduced, and to remove the image of Baal from the temple where it had been set up. The image, however, was not destroyed - it was only "put away."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And he did
וַיַּעֲשֶׂ֤ה (way·ya·‘ă·śeh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

evil
הָרַע֙ (hā·ra‘)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

in the sight
בְּעֵינֵ֣י (bə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

of the LORD,
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

but
רַ֕ק (raq)
Adverb
Strong's 7535: But, even, except, howbeit howsoever, at the least, nevertheless

not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

as his father
כְאָבִ֖יו (ḵə·’ā·ḇîw)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

and mother [had done].
וּכְאִמּ֑וֹ (ū·ḵə·’im·mōw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )

For he removed
וַיָּ֙סַר֙ (way·yā·sar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

the sacred pillar
מַצְּבַ֣ת (maṣ·ṣə·ḇaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4676: Something stationed, a column, an idol

of Baal
הַבַּ֔עַל (hab·ba·‘al)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1168: Baal -- a heathen god

that
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

his father
אָבִֽיו׃ (’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

had made.
עָשָׂ֖ה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make


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OT History: 2 Kings 3:2 He did that which was evil (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 3:1
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