The Meaning of 2 Kings 18:6 Explained

2 Kings 18:6

KJV: For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.

YLT: and he cleaveth to Jehovah, he hath not turned aside from after Him, and keepeth His commands that Jehovah commanded Moses.

Darby: And he clave to Jehovah, and did not turn aside from following him, but kept his commandments, which Jehovah commanded Moses.

ASV: For he clave to Jehovah; he departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which Jehovah commanded Moses.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For he clave  to the LORD,  [and] departed  not from following  him, but kept  his commandments,  which the LORD  commanded  Moses. 

What does 2 Kings 18:6 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 18:1-12 - A Resolute Religious Reformer
It is wonderful that such a man as Ahaz should have had so good a son, but it is likely that Hezekiah had a good mother. See 2 Chronicles 29:1; 2 Chronicles 26:5. No doubt the fall of Samaria was a great incentive with the king and his advisers to root out idolatry. There is no better way of neutralizing evil than by accentuating good, and Hezekiah was wise to reopen and purify the Temple at the very beginning of his reign. See 2 Chronicles 29:3; 2 Chronicles 29:19; 2 Chronicles 29:21-35. It has been supposed that the prophecy of Micah 3:12 and Jeremiah 26:18 was made effective by the power of the Holy Spirit.
When a soul is all for God, God is all to it. "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him." See 2 Kings 18:7. Let us see to it that we follow the suggestion of Psalms 1:1-6, and strike our roots deep into the Word of God, pondering it carefully and obeying it reverently; then our leaf shall not fade, and whatsoever we do shall prosper. It is a good thing to cleave to God and keep His commandments. Compare 2 Kings 18:6 with Deuteronomy 10:20. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 18

1  Hezekiah's good reign
4  He destroys idolatry, and prospers
9  The inhabitants of Samaria are carried captive for their sins
13  Sennacherib invading Judah, is pacified by a tribute
17  Rabshakeh, by blasphemous persuasions, solicits the people to revolt

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 18:6 mean?

For he held fast to Yahweh not he did depart from following Him but kept His commandments which had commanded Yahweh - Moses
וַיִּדְבַּק֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה לֹא־ סָ֖ר מֵאַֽחֲרָ֑יו וַיִּשְׁמֹר֙ מִצְוֺתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁר־ צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־ מֹשֶֽׁה

וַיִּדְבַּק֙  For  he  held  fast 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַק  
Sense: to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch.
בַּֽיהוָ֔ה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
סָ֖ר  he  did  depart 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סוּר 
Sense: to turn aside, depart.
מֵאַֽחֲרָ֑יו  from  following  Him 
Parse: Preposition-m, third person masculine singular
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
וַיִּשְׁמֹר֙  but  kept 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
מִצְוֺתָ֔יו  His  commandments 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מִצְוָה  
Sense: commandment.
צִוָּ֥ה  had  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מֹשֶֽׁה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.