2 Kings 23:18
New International Version
“Leave it alone,” he said. “Don’t let anyone disturb his bones.” So they spared his bones and those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.

New Living Translation
Josiah replied, “Leave it alone. Don’t disturb his bones.” So they did not burn his bones or those of the old prophet from Samaria.

English Standard Version
And he said, “Let him be; let no man move his bones.” So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.

Berean Standard Bible
“Let him rest,” said Josiah. “Do not let anyone disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed, along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.

King James Bible
And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.

New King James Version
And he said, “Let him alone; let no one move his bones.” So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.

New American Standard Bible
And he said, “Leave him alone; no one is to disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.

NASB 1995
He said, “Let him alone; let no one disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.

NASB 1977
And he said, “Let him alone; let no one disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he said, “Let him alone; let no one move his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.

Amplified Bible
He said, “Let him alone; let no one disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed, with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.

Christian Standard Bible
So he said, “Let him rest. Don’t let anyone disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So he said, “Let him rest. Don’t let anyone disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.

American Standard Version
And he said, Let him be; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.

Contemporary English Version
Josiah replied, "Then leave it alone. Don't dig up his bones." So they did not disturb his bones or the bones of the old prophet from Israel who had also been buried there.

English Revised Version
And he said, Let him be; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Josiah said, "Let him rest. Don't disturb his bones." So they left his bones with the bones of the prophet who had come from Samaria.

Good News Translation
"Leave it as it is," Josiah ordered. "His bones are not to be moved." So his bones were not moved, neither were those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.

International Standard Version
Josiah replied, "Leave him alone. No one is to disturb his bones." So they preserved his bones undisturbed, along with the bones of the prophet who had come from Samaria.

Majority Standard Bible
“Let him rest,” said Josiah. “Do not let anyone disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed, along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.

NET Bible
The king said, "Leave it alone! No one must touch his bones." So they left his bones undisturbed, as well as the bones of the Israelite prophet buried beside him.

New Heart English Bible
He said, "Let him be. Let no man move his bones." So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.

World English Bible
He said, “Let him be! Let no one move his bones.” So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he says, “Leave him alone, let no man touch his bones”; and they let his bones escape with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith, 'Let him alone, let no man touch his bones;' and they let his bones escape, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say, Give rest to him; a man shall not move his bones; and they will let escape his bones and the bones of the prophet who came from Shomeron.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said: Let him alone, let no man move his bones. So his bones were left untouched with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said: “Permit him. Let no one move his bones.” And his bones have remained untouched, with the bones of the prophet who had arrived from Samaria.

New American Bible
“Let him be,” he said, “let no one move his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed together with the bones of the prophet who had come from Samaria.

New Revised Standard Version
He said, “Let him rest; let no one move his bones.” So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he said, Let him alone; let no man touch his sepulchre, and let no man move his bones, so the bones of the prophet of God spared the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria from being burned.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said: “Leave him! Do not let a man come to the tomb, and no man shall move his bones!” And they saved his bones, the bones of the Prophet who came from Samaria.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he said: 'Let him be; let no man move his bones.' So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he said, Let him alone; let no one disturb his bones. So his bones were spared, together with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Josiah Destroys Idolatry
17Then the king asked, “What is this monument I see?” And the men of the city replied, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and pronounced these things that you have done to the altar of Bethel.” 18“Let him rest,” said Josiah. “Do not let anyone disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed, along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria. 19Just as Josiah had done at Bethel, so also in the cities of Samaria he removed all the shrines of the high places set up by the kings of Israel who had provoked the LORD to anger.…

Cross References
2 Chronicles 34:5
Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:7
He tore down the altars and Asherah poles, crushed the idols to powder, and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:33
And Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the Israelites, and he required everyone in Israel to serve the LORD their God. Throughout his reign they did not turn aside from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.

1 Kings 13:2
And he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD, “O altar, O altar, this is what the LORD says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David, and upon you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense upon you, and human bones will be burned upon you.’”

1 Kings 13:31-32
After he had buried him, the prophet said to his sons, “When I die, you must bury me in the tomb where the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones, / for the message that he cried out by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel and against all the shrines on the high places in the cities of Samaria will surely come to pass.”

Jeremiah 1:1-2
These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. / The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah,

Jeremiah 3:6-10
Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there. / I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to Me. But she did not return, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. / She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well. ...

Jeremiah 7:30-34
For the people of Judah have done evil in My sight, declares the LORD. They have set up their abominations in the house that bears My Name, and so have defiled it. / They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind. / So behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when this place will no longer be called Topheth and the Valley of Ben-hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter. For they will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room. ...

Jeremiah 8:1-2
“At that time,” declares the LORD, “the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of the officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the people of Jerusalem will be removed from their graves. / They will be exposed to the sun and moon, and to all the host of heaven which they have loved, served, followed, consulted, and worshiped. Their bones will not be gathered up or buried, but will become like dung lying on the ground.

Jeremiah 26:18
“Micah the Moreshite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and told all the people of Judah that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge.’

Matthew 23:29-32
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. / And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ / So you testify against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets. ...

Matthew 27:52-53
The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. / After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people.

Luke 11:47-48
Woe to you! For you build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them. / So you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.

Luke 19:44
They will level you to the ground—you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”

John 4:20-24
Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where one must worship is in Jerusalem.” / “Believe Me, woman,” Jesus replied, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. / You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.

alone.

1 Kings 13:1-22,31
And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense…

Jump to Previous
Alone Bones Disturb Escape Leave Move Moved Prophet Samaria Sama'ria Saved Spared Touch Undisturbed
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Alone Bones Disturb Escape Leave Move Moved Prophet Samaria Sama'ria Saved Spared Touch Undisturbed
2 Kings 23
1. Josiah causes the book to be read in a solemn assembly.
3. He renews the covenant of the Lord.
4. He destroys idolatry.
15. He burns dead men's bones upon the altar of Bethel, as was prophesied.
21. He keeps a most solemn Passover.
24. He puts away witches and all abomination.
26. God's final wrath against Judah.
29. Josiah, provoking Pharaoh Neco, is slain at Megiddo.
31. Jehoahaz, succeeding him,
33. is imprisoned by Pharaoh Neco, who makes Jehoiakim king.
36. Jehoiakim's wicked reign.














Leave him alone
This phrase is a directive given by King Josiah, emphasizing respect and reverence for the deceased. The Hebrew root for "leave" is "נוח" (nuach), which means to rest or settle. This command reflects a deep respect for the sanctity of the prophet's resting place, aligning with the biblical principle of honoring God's servants even in death. Historically, this respect for burial sites was significant in ancient Israelite culture, as it was believed that disturbing the dead could bring defilement or divine displeasure.

let no one disturb his bones
The word "disturb" comes from the Hebrew "נע" (na), meaning to move or shake. In the context of ancient Israel, bones were considered the essence of a person, and disturbing them was seen as a violation of their peace. This command underscores the importance of maintaining the integrity of the prophet's grave, reflecting a broader biblical theme of honoring God's messengers and their messages, even posthumously. It also highlights the belief in the resurrection, where bones would be reanimated, thus needing to remain intact.

So they left his bones undisturbed
This phrase indicates obedience to Josiah's command, showing the people's respect for both the king's authority and the prophet's legacy. The Hebrew word for "left" is "עזב" (azav), meaning to forsake or leave behind. This action signifies a conscious decision to honor the past and preserve the memory of those who faithfully served God. It serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of a life lived in obedience to God, encouraging believers to consider the legacy they leave behind.

along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria
This refers to the prophet from Samaria who had previously prophesied against the altar at Bethel (1 Kings 13). The mention of Samaria, a region often associated with idolatry and apostasy, highlights the unifying power of God's truth, transcending regional and historical divisions. The preservation of both prophets' bones together symbolizes the unity of God's message and the continuity of His work through different servants. It serves as an inspirational reminder that God's truth remains steadfast, regardless of human divisions or failures.

(18) Let him alone.--Or, Let him rest.

So they let his bones alone.--A different verb. And they suffered his bones to escape, scil., disturbance.

With the bones of the prophet . . .--See 1Kings 13:31-32.

That came out of Samaria.--This simply designates the old prophet who deceived the Judaean man of God, as a citizen of the Northern kingdom, which was called Samaria, after its capital.

Verse 18. - And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. Josiah remembered the circumstances when they were recalled to him, and, in order to show honor to the "man of God" (1 Kings 13, passim), commanded that his tomb should be undisturbed. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria; i.e. with the bones of the Israelite prophet, who had taken care to be buried with him. The reference is to 1 Kings 13:31.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Let him rest,”
הַנִּ֣יחוּ (han·nî·ḥū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3240: Bestow, cast down, lay down, up, leave off, let alone remain, pacify, place,

said [Josiah].
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

let anyone
אִ֖ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

disturb
יָנַ֣ע (yā·na‘)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5128: To quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter

his bones.”
עַצְמֹתָ֑יו (‘aṣ·mō·ṯāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6106: A bone, the body, the substance, selfsame

So they left his bones
עַצְמֹתָ֔יו (‘aṣ·mō·ṯāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6106: A bone, the body, the substance, selfsame

undisturbed,
וַֽיְמַלְּטוּ֙ (way·mal·lə·ṭū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 4422: To be smooth, to escape, to release, rescue, to bring forth young, emit sparks

along with those
עַצְמ֣וֹת (‘aṣ·mō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 6106: A bone, the body, the substance, selfsame

of the prophet
הַנָּבִ֔יא (han·nā·ḇî)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5030: A spokesman, speaker, prophet

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

had come
בָּ֖א (bā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

from Samaria.
מִשֹּׁמְרֽוֹן׃ (miš·šō·mə·rō·wn)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8111: Samaria -- capital of northern kingdom of Israel


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OT History: 2 Kings 23:18 He said Let him be (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 23:17
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