2 Kings 10:31
New International Version
Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit.

New Living Translation
But Jehu did not obey the Law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.

English Standard Version
But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin.

Berean Standard Bible
Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

King James Bible
But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.

New King James Version
But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin.

New American Standard Bible
But Jehu was not careful to walk in the Law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart; he did not desist from the sins of Jeroboam, into which he misled Israel.

NASB 1995
But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel sin.

NASB 1977
But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel sin.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of Yahweh, the God of Israel, with all his heart; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel sin.

Amplified Bible
But Jehu did not take care to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart; he did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin.

Christian Standard Bible
Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

American Standard Version
But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Jehovah, the God of Israel, with all his heart: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, wherewith he made Israel to sin.

Contemporary English Version
But Jehu did not completely obey the commands of the LORD God of Israel. Instead, he kept doing the sinful things that Jeroboam had caused the Israelites to do.

English Revised Version
But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, wherewith he made Israel to sin.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But Jehu didn't wholeheartedly obey the teachings of the LORD God of Israel. He didn't turn away from the sins that Jeroboam led Israel to commit.

Good News Translation
But Jehu did not obey with all his heart the Law of the LORD, the God of Israel; instead, he followed the example of Jeroboam, who led Israel into sin.

International Standard Version
But Jehu did not remain careful to walk in the instruction of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart. He never abandoned the sins of Jeroboam that had caused Israel to sin.

Majority Standard Bible
Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

NET Bible
But Jehu did not carefully and wholeheartedly obey the law of the LORD God of Israel. He did not repudiate the sins which Jeroboam had encouraged Israel to commit.

New Heart English Bible
But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin.

Webster's Bible Translation
But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin.

World English Bible
But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Yahweh, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Jehu has not taken heed to walk in the Law of YHWH, God of Israel, with all his heart; he has not turned aside from the sins of Jeroboam that he caused Israel to sin.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehu hath not taken heed to walk in the law of Jehovah, God of Israel, with all his heart, he hath not turned aside from the sins of Jeroboam, that he caused Israel to sin.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehu watched not to go in the law of Jehovah God of Israel with all his heart: he turned not away from the sins of Jeroboam who caused Israel to sin.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord the God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel to sin.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But Jehu did not take care, so that he might walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. For he did not withdraw from the sins of Jeroboam, who had caused Israel to sin.

New American Bible
But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart, since he did not desist from the sins which Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

New Revised Standard Version
But Jehu was not careful to follow the law of the LORD the God of Israel with all his heart; he did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he caused Israel to commit.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But Jehu did not try to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart; and he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yehu was not careful to walk in the Torah of LORD JEHOVAH, God of Israel, from all his heart, and he did not turn aside from the sins of Yorbaam, son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart; he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, wherewith he made Israel to sin.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But Ju took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart: he departed not from following the sins of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jehu Repeats Jeroboam's Sins
30Nevertheless, the LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.” 31Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit. 32In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel. Hazael defeated the Israelites throughout their territory…

Cross References
1 Kings 12:28-30
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.

1 Kings 13:33-34
Even after these events, Jeroboam did not repent of his evil ways, but again he appointed priests for the high places from every class of people. He ordained anyone who desired to be a priest of the high places. / And this was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its extermination and destruction from the face of the earth.

1 Kings 16:25-26
But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD and acted more wickedly than all who were before him. / For he walked in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sins, which he caused Israel to commit, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger with their worthless idols.

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 3:3
Nevertheless, he clung to the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.

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 13:11
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from all the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit, but he walked in them.

2 Kings 14:24
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from all the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

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.

2 Kings 17:21-22
When the LORD had torn Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king, and Jeroboam led Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit a great sin. / The Israelites persisted in all the sins that Jeroboam had committed and did not turn away from them.

Hosea 1:4
Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel, for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.

Hosea 8:4
They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.

Hosea 10:1-2
Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars. / Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.

Amos 7:9
The high places of Isaac will be deserted, and the sanctuaries of Israel will be laid waste; and I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with My sword.”

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.


Treasury of Scripture

But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.

took no heed [heb] observed not

Deuteronomy 4:15,23
Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: …

1 Kings 2:4
That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

Psalm 39:1
To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

walk

Deuteronomy 5:33
Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.

Deuteronomy 10:12,13
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, …

2 Chronicles 6:16
Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.

he departed

2 Kings 10:29
Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.

2 Kings 3:3
Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.

1 Kings 14:16
And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.

Jump to Previous
Care Careful Caused Depart Departed Heart Heed Israel Jehu Jeroboam Jerobo'am Law Sin Sins Turn Turned Walk Wherewith
Jump to Next
Care Careful Caused Depart Departed Heart Heed Israel Jehu Jeroboam Jerobo'am Law Sin Sins Turn Turned Walk Wherewith
2 Kings 10
1. Jehu, by his letters, causes seventy of Ahab's sons to be beheaded
8. He excuses the fact by the prophecy of Elijah
12. At the shearing house he slays forty-two of Ahaziah's brothers
15. He takes Jehonadab into his company
18. By subtilty he destroys all the worshippers of Baal
29. Jehu follows Jeroboam's sins
32. Hazael oppresses Israel
34. Jehoahaz succeeds Jehu














Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart.
Jehu, anointed by a prophet to be king over Israel, was tasked with eradicating the house of Ahab and the worship of Baal. While he executed these tasks with zeal, his commitment to the LORD was incomplete. The phrase "not careful to follow" indicates a lack of diligence and wholehearted devotion. In biblical terms, the heart represents the center of one's being, including mind, will, and emotions. Jehu's failure to follow "with all his heart" suggests a divided loyalty, reminiscent of the warning in Deuteronomy 6:5 to love the LORD with all one's heart, soul, and strength. This reflects a broader biblical theme where God desires complete devotion, as seen in the lives of David and other faithful leaders.

He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.
Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, established a system of idolatrous worship with golden calves at Bethel and Dan to prevent his people from going to Jerusalem. This act is repeatedly condemned in the biblical narrative as "the sins of Jeroboam." Jehu's failure to remove these idols shows a partial obedience to God. Despite his actions against Baal worship, he maintained the politically expedient but spiritually corrupt practices initiated by Jeroboam. This highlights a recurring issue in Israel's history: leaders who fail to fully eradicate idolatry. The persistence of these sins underscores the challenge of reform and the need for a leader who would fully restore true worship, pointing forward to the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who perfectly obeyed the Father and called for worship in spirit and truth.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jehu
The king of Israel who was anointed by God to destroy the house of Ahab and eradicate Baal worship from Israel. Despite his zeal for these tasks, he failed to fully commit to the ways of the Lord.

2. The Law of the LORD
Refers to the commandments and statutes given by God to the people of Israel, which were meant to guide their worship and daily living.

3. Jeroboam
The first king of the northern kingdom of Israel who led the people into idolatry by setting up golden calves in Bethel and Dan, causing Israel to sin.

4. Israel
The northern kingdom, distinct from Judah, often characterized by its struggle with idolatry and deviation from God's commandments.

5. The Sins of Jeroboam
The idolatrous practices initiated by Jeroboam, which included the worship of golden calves and the establishment of unauthorized places of worship.
Teaching Points
Partial Obedience is Disobedience
Jehu's failure to fully follow God's law demonstrates that partial obedience is not enough. God desires complete devotion and adherence to His commandments.

The Danger of Idolatry
Jehu's tolerance of Jeroboam's sins highlights the persistent danger of idolatry. Believers must be vigilant in identifying and removing idols from their lives.

Heart Commitment
True obedience to God requires a heart fully committed to Him. External actions must align with internal devotion.

Legacy of Leadership
Leaders have a profound impact on the spiritual direction of their people. Jehu's incomplete reforms left a legacy of continued sin in Israel.

The Importance of Repentance
Jehu's account reminds us of the need for genuine repentance and turning away from sin, not just outward reform.(31) But Jehu took no heed.--Or, Now Jehu had not been careful. This verse, rather than the next, begins a new paragraph.

To walk in the law--i.e., the Mosaic law, which forbids the use of images, such as the "calves."

With all his heart.--This is explained by the next sentence. He had done honour to Jehovah by extirpating the foreign Baal-worship, but he supported the irregular mode of worshipping Jehovah established by Jeroboam as the state religion of the Northern kingdom.

For.--Not in the Hebrew.

Verse 31. - But Jehu took no heed to walk in the Law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart. Jehu's character is thus summed up by Dean Stanley: "The character of Jehu is not difficult to understand, if we take it as a whole, and consider the general impression left upon us by the biblical account. He is exactly one of those men whom we are compelled to recognize, not for what is good or great in themselves, but as instruments for destroying evil, and preparing the way for good; such as Augustus Caesar at Rome, Sultan Mahmoud II. in Turkey, or one closer at hand in the revolutions of our own time and neighborhood. A destiny, long kept in view by himself or ethers - inscrutable secrecy and reserve in carrying out his plans - a union of cold, remorseless tenacity with occasional bursts of furious, wayward, almost fanatical zeal; - this is Jehu, as he is set before us in the historical narrative, the worst type of a son of Jacob - the 'supplanter'...without the noble and princely qualities of Israel; the most unlovely and the most coldly commended of all the heroes of his country" ('Lectures on the Jewish Church,' vol. 2. p. 289). The estimate is lower than that formed by most other writers; but it is not far from the truth. For he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin (comp. ver. 29).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Yet Jehu
וְיֵה֗וּא (wə·yê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3058: Jehu -- 'the LORD is He', the name of several Israelites

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

careful
שָׁמַ֛ר (šā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

to follow
לָלֶ֛כֶת (lā·le·ḵeṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

the instruction
בְּתֽוֹרַת־ (bə·ṯō·w·raṯ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

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

the God
אֱלֹהֵֽי־ (’ĕ·lō·hê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

with all
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

his heart.
לְבָב֑וֹ (lə·ḇā·ḇōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

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

turn away
סָ֗ר (sār)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

from
מֵעַל֙ (mê·‘al)
Preposition-m
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the sins
חַטֹּ֣אות (ḥaṭ·ṭō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 2403: An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender

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

Jeroboam
יָֽרָבְעָ֔ם (yā·rā·ḇə·‘ām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3379: Jeroboam -- 'the people increase', the name of two Israelites kings

had caused Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

to commit.
הֶחֱטִ֖יא (he·ḥĕ·ṭî)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn


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OT History: 2 Kings 10:31 But Jehu took no heed to walk (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 10:30
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