The Meaning of 2 Kings 22:17 Explained

2 Kings 22:17

KJV: Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.

YLT: because that they have forsaken Me, and make perfume to other gods, so as to provoke Me to anger with every work of their hands, and My wrath hath been kindled against this place, and it is not quenched.

Darby: Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my fury is kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.

ASV: Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it shall not be quenched.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Because they have forsaken  me, and have burned incense  unto other  gods,  that they might provoke me to anger  with all the works  of their hands;  therefore my wrath  shall be kindled  against this place,  and shall not be quenched. 

What does 2 Kings 22:17 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 22:14-20 - Hearkening To The Message
Josiah's fears were deeply stirred by the evils which the Law of the Lord clearly indicated as imminent, and he immediately sent for advice to the prophetess Huldah, who was held in great veneration. Her answer was full of gentle kindness. Though the king's punishment could not be averted, it should nevertheless be postponed. How quick is God to notice the tears of genuine contrition and to meet the soul that seeks to do His will! If only the whole nation had been equally repentant, its fate would have doubtless been altered.
It is remarkable, however, that even in Josiah's case the prediction of the prophetess was not realized. He died in battle, and his dead body was brought to Jerusalem amid mourning that became proverbial, 2 Kings 23:30; Zechariah 12:2. Why this apparent breach of promise? The answer is suggested by our Lord's temptation. He refused to make bread of stones, because of His absolute faith in God, and when Satan tempted him still further to manifest that faith by casting Himself from the beetling Temple crag, he again refused because such an act was not in the scope of the Father's plan. On the other hand, Josiah, disregarding all counsels to the contrary, needlessly flung himself into the fray between Egypt and Babylon and there lost his life. "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God!" [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 22

1  Josiah's good reign
3  He takes care for the repair of the temple
8  Hilkiah having found a book of the law,
12  Josiah sends to Huldah to enquire of the Lord
15  Huldah prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem, but respite thereof in Josiah's time

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 22:17 mean?

Because that they have forsaken Me and burned incense to gods other that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands therefore shall be aroused My wrath against place this and not shall be quenched
תַּ֣חַת ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲזָב֗וּנִי וַֽיְקַטְּרוּ֙ לֵאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים לְמַ֙עַן֙ הַכְעִיסֵ֔נִי בְּכֹ֖ל מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יְדֵיהֶ֑ם וְנִצְּתָ֧ה חֲמָתִ֛י בַּמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִכְבֶּֽה

תַּ֣חַת ׀  Because 
Parse: Preposition
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עֲזָב֗וּנִי  they  have  forsaken  Me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural, first person common singular
Root: עָזַב 
Sense: to leave, loose, forsake.
וַֽיְקַטְּרוּ֙  and  burned  incense 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: מֻקְטָר 
Sense: .
לֵאלֹהִ֣ים  to  gods 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אֲחֵרִ֔ים  other 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: אַחֵר  
Sense: another, other, following.
לְמַ֙עַן֙  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
הַכְעִיסֵ֔נִי  they  might  provoke  Me  to  anger 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: כָּעַס  
Sense: to be angry, be vexed, be indignant, be wroth, be grieved, provoke to anger and wrath.
בְּכֹ֖ל  with  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה  the  works 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
יְדֵיהֶ֑ם  of  their  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine plural
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
וְנִצְּתָ֧ה  therefore  shall  be  aroused 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָצַת  
Sense: to kindle, burn, set on fire.
חֲמָתִ֛י  My  wrath 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: חֵמָא 
Sense: heat, rage, hot displeasure, indignation, anger, wrath, poison, bottles.
בַּמָּק֥וֹם  against  place 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
הַזֶּ֖ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
וְלֹ֥א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תִכְבֶּֽה  shall  be  quenched 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: כָּבָה  
Sense: to quench, put out, be put out, be quenched, be extinguished.