2 Kings 17:35
New International Version
When the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them.

New Living Translation
For the LORD had made a covenant with the descendants of Jacob and commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow before them or serve them or offer sacrifices to them.

English Standard Version
The LORD made a covenant with them and commanded them, “You shall not fear other gods or bow yourselves to them or serve them or sacrifice to them,

Berean Standard Bible
For the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites and commanded them, “Do not worship other gods or bow down to them; do not serve them or sacrifice to them.

King James Bible
With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:

New King James Version
with whom the LORD had made a covenant and charged them, saying: “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them;

New American Standard Bible
The LORD made a covenant with them and commanded them, saying, “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them.

NASB 1995
with whom the LORD made a covenant and commanded them, saying, “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down yourselves to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them.

NASB 1977
with whom the LORD made a covenant and commanded them, saying, “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down yourselves to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them.

Legacy Standard Bible
with whom Yahweh cut a covenant and commanded them, saying, “You shall not fear other gods, nor worship them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them.

Amplified Bible
with whom the LORD had made a covenant and commanded them, saying, “You shall not fear other gods or bow yourselves to them nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD made a covenant with Jacob’s descendants and commanded them, “Do not fear other gods; do not bow in worship to them; do not serve them; do not sacrifice to them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD made a covenant with them and commanded them, “Do not fear other gods; do not bow down to them; do not serve them; do not sacrifice to them.

American Standard Version
with whom Jehovah had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:

Contemporary English Version
At the time when the LORD had made his solemn agreement with the people of Israel, he told them: Do not worship any other gods! Do not bow down to them or offer them a sacrifice.

English Revised Version
with whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When the LORD made a promise to Israel, he commanded, "Never worship other gods, bow down to them, serve them, or sacrifice to them.

Good News Translation
The LORD had made a covenant with them and had ordered them: "Do not worship other gods; do not bow down to them or serve them or offer sacrifices to them.

International Standard Version
and with whom the LORD had made a covenant when he gave these orders to them: "You are not to fear other gods, bow down to them, serve them, or sacrifice to them.

Majority Standard Bible
For the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites and commanded them, “Do not worship other gods or bow down to them; do not serve them or sacrifice to them.

NET Bible
The LORD made an agreement with them and instructed them, "You must not worship other gods. Do not bow down to them, serve them, or offer sacrifices to them.

New Heart English Bible
with whom the LORD had made a covenant, and commanded them, saying, "You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them;

Webster's Bible Translation
With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:

World English Bible
with whom Yahweh had made a covenant and commanded them, saying, “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and YHWH makes a covenant with them and charges them, saying, “You do not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them,

Young's Literal Translation
and Jehovah maketh with them a covenant, and chargeth them, saying, 'Ye do not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah cut out a covenant with them, and he commanded them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, and ye shall not worship to them, and ye shall not serve them, and ye shall not sacrifice to them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
With whom he made a covenant, and charged them, saying: You shall not fear strange gods, nor shall you adore them, nor worship them, nor sacrifice to them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he had struck a covenant with them, and he had commanded them, saying: “You shall not fear foreign gods, and you shall not adore them, and you shall not worship them, and you shall not sacrifice to them.

New American Bible
When the LORD made a covenant with them, he commanded them: You must not venerate other gods, nor bow down to them, nor serve them, nor offer sacrifice to them,

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD had made a covenant with them and commanded them, “You shall not worship other gods or bow yourselves to them or serve them or sacrifice to them,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, You shall not revere other gods nor worship them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH covenanted a covenant with them and commanded them and said: “You shall not fear other gods and you shall not worship them and you shall not work for them and you shall not sacrifice to them.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
with whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying: 'Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow down to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord made a covenant with them, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, neither shall ye worship them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel's Cities Resettled by Foreigners
34To this day they are still practicing their former customs. None of them worship the LORD or observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom He named Israel. 35For the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites and commanded them, “Do not worship other gods or bow down to them; do not serve them or sacrifice to them. 36Instead, worship the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to Him and offer sacrifices to Him.…

Cross References
Exodus 20:3-5
You shall have no other gods before Me. / You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. / You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Deuteronomy 5:7-9
You shall have no other gods before Me. / You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. / You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Deuteronomy 6:13-15
Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name. / Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you. / For the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God. Otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth.

Exodus 34:14
For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 4:23-24
Be careful that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God that He made with you; do not make an idol for yourselves in the form of anything He has forbidden you. / For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Joshua 23:7-8
So you are not to associate with these nations that remain among you. You must not call on the names of their gods or swear by them, and you must not serve them or bow down to them. / Instead, you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.

Deuteronomy 10:20
You are to fear the LORD your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name.

Matthew 4:10
“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

Luke 4:8
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

Isaiah 42:8
I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.

Isaiah 45:5
I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God but Me. I will equip you for battle, though you have not known Me,

Jeremiah 25:6
Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.’

Jeremiah 35:15
Again and again I have sent you all My servants the prophets, proclaiming: ‘Turn now, each of you, from your wicked ways, and correct your actions. Do not go after other gods to serve them. Live in the land that I have given to you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear or listened to Me.

Hosea 13:4
Yet I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt; you know no God but Me, for there is no Savior besides Me.

1 Corinthians 8:4-6
So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.


Treasury of Scripture

With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:

With whom

2 Kings 17:15
And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.

Exodus 19:5,6
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: …

Exodus 24:6-8
And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar…

charged them

Exodus 20:4,5
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: …

Exodus 34:12-17
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: …

Deuteronomy 4:23-27
Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee…

fear other gods

Judges 6:10
And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.

Jeremiah 10:5
They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

Jump to Previous
Agreement Bow Charged Chargeth Commanded Covenant Fear Gods Israelites Maketh Offerings Orders Sacrifice Servants Serve Worship Yourselves
Jump to Next
Agreement Bow Charged Chargeth Commanded Covenant Fear Gods Israelites Maketh Offerings Orders Sacrifice Servants Serve Worship Yourselves
2 Kings 17
1. Hoshea the Last King of Israel
3. Being subdued by Shalmaneser, he conspires against him with So, king of Egypt
5. Samaria for sinning is led into captivity
24. The strange nations transplanted into Samaria make a mixture of religions.














For the LORD had made a covenant with them
The word "LORD" here is translated from the Hebrew "YHWH," the sacred and personal name of God, emphasizing His eternal and self-existent nature. The term "covenant" (Hebrew: "berith") signifies a solemn and binding agreement, often initiated by God with His people. This covenant is a central theme throughout the Bible, representing God's unchanging promise and faithfulness. Historically, this covenant was established with the Israelites at Mount Sinai, where God gave the Ten Commandments, setting them apart as His chosen people. This divine agreement underscores the unique relationship between God and Israel, highlighting His expectations of loyalty and obedience.

and commanded them
The Hebrew word for "commanded" is "tsavah," which implies a direct and authoritative order. This reflects God's sovereign authority over His people, requiring their adherence to His laws. The commands given by God are not mere suggestions but are binding instructions meant to guide the Israelites in righteous living. This commandment is part of the broader Mosaic Law, which served as a moral, ceremonial, and civil guide for the nation of Israel.

'You shall not fear other gods
The phrase "fear other gods" uses the Hebrew word "yare," which can mean to fear, revere, or stand in awe of. In this context, it refers to the prohibition against revering or worshiping any deity other than YHWH. The historical context reveals that the Israelites were surrounded by polytheistic cultures, which often led them into idolatry. This command is a reaffirmation of the first commandment, emphasizing monotheism and the exclusive worship of the one true God.

or bow down to them
"Bowing down" is translated from the Hebrew "shachah," meaning to prostrate oneself in worship or submission. This physical act of worship was common in ancient Near Eastern cultures as a sign of reverence and allegiance. The Israelites are explicitly forbidden from engaging in such acts towards other gods, reinforcing the call to exclusive worship of YHWH. This prohibition is a safeguard against the syncretism that plagued Israel throughout its history.

or serve them
The word "serve" comes from the Hebrew "abad," which means to work or serve, often in the context of worship or religious service. This commandment highlights the danger of devoting one's life and resources to false gods, which would lead to spiritual bondage. Serving other gods would not only violate the covenant but also lead the Israelites away from their true purpose as God's people.

or sacrifice to them
"Sacrifice" is translated from the Hebrew "zabach," referring to the act of offering something valuable to a deity. Sacrifices were a central aspect of worship in ancient cultures, symbolizing devotion and appeasement. The Israelites are strictly forbidden from offering sacrifices to any god other than YHWH, as this would constitute a breach of the covenant and an act of spiritual adultery. This command underscores the importance of maintaining purity in worship and devotion to God alone.

Verse 35. - With whom the Lord had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them (see Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7; Deuteronomy 6:14; Deuteronomy 11:28. For the "covenant," see Exodus 19:5-8; Exodus 24:3-8).

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

had made
וַיִּכְרֹ֨ת (way·yiḵ·rōṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

a covenant
בְּרִ֔ית (bə·rîṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1285: A covenant

with [the Israelites]
אִתָּם֙ (’it·tām)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

and commanded them,
וַיְצַוֵּ֣ם (way·ṣaw·wêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

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

worship
תִֽירְא֖וּ (ṯî·rə·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

other
אֲחֵרִ֑ים (’ă·ḥê·rîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 312: Hinder, next, other

gods
אֱלֹהִ֣ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

[or]
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

bow down to them;
תִשְׁתַּחֲו֣וּ (ṯiš·ta·ḥă·wū)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

do not
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

serve them
תַעַבְד֔וּם (ṯa·‘aḇ·ḏūm)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

[or]
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

sacrifice to them.
תִזְבְּח֖וּ (ṯiz·bə·ḥū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 2076: To slaughter for sacrifice


Links
2 Kings 17:35 NIV
2 Kings 17:35 NLT
2 Kings 17:35 ESV
2 Kings 17:35 NASB
2 Kings 17:35 KJV

2 Kings 17:35 BibleApps.com
2 Kings 17:35 Biblia Paralela
2 Kings 17:35 Chinese Bible
2 Kings 17:35 French Bible
2 Kings 17:35 Catholic Bible

OT History: 2 Kings 17:35 With whom Yahweh had made a covenant (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 17:34
Top of Page
Top of Page