2 Kings 17:17 Meaning: The Slow Slide Into Evil
They caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, to provoke him to anger.
And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger.
and cause their sons and their daughters to pass over through fire, and divine divinations, and use enchantments, and sell themselves to do the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah, to provoke Him;
and they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger.
Meaning in one sentence
What does II Kings 17:17 mean? Here Israel practiced child sacrifice, divination, and sold themselves to evil, explaining why the exile came.
Context
This verse sits near the end of a long explanation in 2 Kings 17 of why the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered by Assyria and its people taken into exile. The chapter opens by stating that Israel had sinned against Yahweh their God (verse 7), then catalogs their rebellion. Earlier, God sent prophets to warn them (verse 13), but they refused to listen. By verse 17, the list of sins reaches a terrible peak: they sacrificed their own children, turned to occult practices, and gave themselves over to do evil. This was not a single mistake but a long, deliberate walk away from God.
Key Words
Three phrases carry the weight of this verse. First, 'sold themselves' translates the Hebrew verb makhar (H4376) in a form that means they sold themselves deliberately, like a person entering slavery by choice. The language is as strong as what the Bible says about Ahab, he 'sold himself to do evil' (1 Kings 21:20). This is not being tempted or stumbling; it is willingly becoming a slave to sin.
Second, 'divinations' (qesem, H7081) and 'enchantments' (nachash, H5172) refer to forbidden attempts to know the future or gain hidden power. God had clearly forbidden these practices (Deuteronomy 18:10, 12). Israel rejected His word and the prophets He sent, and instead turned to darkness for guidance.
Finally, 'to provoke him to anger' comes from kaas (H3707), which means to vex, to grieve, to deliberately irritate. But this is not petty anger, it is the response of a God who had been patient for centuries, only to watch His people give their children to a fire meant for idols.
How Christians Read This Verse
Commentators from various traditions see in this verse a tragic progression. The Cambridge Bible lists three stages: adopting local Canaanite worship, making golden calves, and finally embracing Baal and Molech with their child sacrifice and magic. Matthew Henry observes how sin hardens the heart over time, leading a people God rescued from Egypt to abandon Him completely. Adam Clarke writes that they 'abandoned themselves to the will of the devil.' All point to the same sobering truth: sin, left unchecked, leads deeper and deeper, until we no longer recognize how far we have fallen.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
This week, consider what you might be 'selling yourself' to. Not in a dramatic way, but in small everyday choices: the hours given to worry, the compromise you tell yourself is harmless, the secret you justify. Those are the seeds that can grow into a whole life turned from God. Let this verse be a warning, not to live in fear, but to check your direction. Where are you headed? Is there any step you are taking that leads away from the One who brought you out of slavery? If so, turn back while you still can.
Main takeaway: Sin grows from small compromises until we willingly give ourselves to what we once would have never imagined doing.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
This verse tells about people who did very wrong things, even hurting their own children and trying to talk to evil spirits. God was very sad because He loved them and wanted them to follow Him. We should always obey God and love Him.
For ages 9, 12
In this verse, the people of Israel had been ignoring God’s warnings for a long time. They started doing the terrible things that the people around them did, like sacrificing children and using magic. The Bible says they 'sold themselves' to do evil, meaning they willingly chose to sin. This shows how far we can go when we stop listening to God. But it also reminds us that God is patient and sends warnings. The good news is we can always turn back to Him.
Questions People Ask
What does 'pass through the fire' mean in II Kings 17:17?
It refers to the pagan practice of child sacrifice, often to the god Molech. Children were burned alive as an offering, something God had explicitly forbidden (Leviticus 18:21). The Hebrew phrase can also mean a ritual purification by fire, but in this context it means literal child sacrifice.
What does 'sold themselves' mean in this verse?
The Hebrew verb means they gave themselves up willingly to sin, like selling oneself into slavery. They were not passive victims but active participants. This same language is used of King Ahab, who 'sold himself to do that which was evil' (1 Kings 21:20). It pictures a deliberate, personal choice to become a slave to evil.
Why did God allow Israel to be exiled?
The exile was not a random act of anger. The chapter makes clear that God sent prophets to warn Israel repeatedly (verse 13). They refused to listen, rejected His covenant, and committed these extreme sins. The exile was the consequence of a broken covenant, after centuries of patience.
What are divinations and enchantments in the Bible?
These are forbidden attempts to gain hidden knowledge or control the future through occult means, consulting spirits, casting lots, or interpreting omens. God condemned these practices in Deuteronomy 18:10-12 and commanded Israel to trust Him instead of seeking power or knowledge from dark sources.
Does this verse apply to Christians today?
While we are not under the Old Covenant, the principle remains: persistent sin hardens the heart and leads us away from God. This verse warns us to take sin seriously, to heed God's warnings, and to stay close to Him. It is a reminder that even a community of faith can drift far if they stop listening.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study