Judges 2:12
New International Version
They forsook the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They aroused the LORD’s anger

New Living Translation
They abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the LORD.

English Standard Version
And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the LORD to anger.

Berean Standard Bible
Thus they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed after various gods of the peoples around them. They bowed down to them and provoked the LORD to anger,

King James Bible
And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.

New King James Version
and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger.

New American Standard Bible
and they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed other gods from the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them; so they provoked the LORD to anger.

NASB 1995
and they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the LORD to anger.

NASB 1977
and they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the LORD to anger.

Legacy Standard Bible
and they forsook Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked Yahweh to anger.

Amplified Bible
and they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods from the gods of the peoples who were around them, and they bowed down to them, and offended and provoked the LORD to anger.

Christian Standard Bible
and abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed other gods from the surrounding peoples and bowed down to them. They angered the LORD,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods from the surrounding peoples and bowed down to them. They infuriated the LORD,

American Standard Version
and they forsook Jehovah, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the peoples that were round about them, and bowed themselves down unto them: and they provoked Jehovah to anger.

English Revised Version
and they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the peoples that were round about them, and bowed themselves down unto them: and they provoked the LORD to anger.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Israelites abandoned the LORD God of their ancestors, the God who brought them out of Egypt. They followed the other gods of the people around them. They worshiped these gods, and that made the LORD angry.

Good News Translation
They stopped worshiping the LORD, the God of their ancestors, the God who had brought them out of Egypt, and they began to worship other gods, the gods of the peoples around them. They bowed down to them and made the LORD angry.

International Standard Version
They abandoned the LORD God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who surrounded them. They bowed down in worship of them, and by doing so angered the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
Thus they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed after various gods of the peoples around them. They bowed down to them and provoked the LORD to anger,

NET Bible
They abandoned the LORD God of their ancestors who brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods--the gods of the nations who lived around them. They worshiped them and made the LORD angry.

New Heart English Bible
and they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them: and they provoked the LORD to anger.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were around them, and bowed themselves to them, and provoked the LORD to anger.

World English Bible
They abandoned Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; and they provoked Yahweh to anger.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and forsake YHWH, God of their fathers, who brings them out from the land of Egypt, and go after other gods (of the gods of the peoples who [are] around them), and bow themselves to them, and provoke YHWH,

Young's Literal Translation
and forsake Jehovah, God of their fathers, who bringeth them out from the land of Egypt, and go after other gods (of the gods of the peoples who are round about them), and bow themselves to them, and provoke Jehovah,

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will forsake Jehovah the God of their fathers bringing them out of the land of Egypt, and go after other gods from the gods of the peoples which are round about them, and they will worship to them and provoke Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they left the Lord the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt: and they followed strange gods, and the gods of the people that dwelt round about them, and they adored them: and they provoked the Lord to anger.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had led them away from the land of Egypt. And they followed foreign gods and the gods of the peoples who were living around them, and they adored them. And they provoked the Lord to wrath,

New American Bible
and abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, the one who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods, the gods of the peoples around them, and bowed down to them, and provoked the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
and they abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; they followed other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were all around them, and bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, gods of the peoples who were round about them, and they worshipped them, and provoked the LORD to anger.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they left LORD JEHOVAH, God of their fathers, who brought them out from the land of Egypt, and they went after other gods of the Gentiles who were in their surroundings, and they bowed to them and they angered LORD JEHOVAH
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the peoples that were round about them, and worshipped them; and they provoked the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and walked after other gods, of the gods of the nations round about them; and they worshipped them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel's Unfaithfulness
11And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. 12Thus they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed after various gods of the peoples around them. They bowed down to them and provoked the LORD to anger, 13for they forsook Him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 31:16
And the LORD said to Moses, “You will soon rest with your fathers, and these people will rise up and prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake Me and break the covenant I have made with them.

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 6:14-15
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.

Jeremiah 2:13
“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

1 Kings 9:6-9
But if indeed you or your sons turn away from following Me and do not keep the commandments and statutes I have set before you, and if you go off to serve and worship other gods, / then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. Then Israel will become an object of scorn and ridicule among all peoples. / And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and will hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ ...

2 Kings 17:7-12
All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods / and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel. / The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities. ...

Psalm 106:35-39
but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. / They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. / They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. ...

Jeremiah 11:10
They have returned to the sins of their forefathers who refused to obey My words. They have followed other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken the covenant I made with their fathers.

Hosea 4:12
My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God.

2 Chronicles 7:19-22
But if you turn away and forsake the statutes and commandments I have set before you, and if you go off to serve and worship other gods, / then I will uproot Israel from the soil I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. I will make it an object of scorn and ridicule among all the peoples. / And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ ...

Isaiah 1:4
Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.

Jeremiah 2:11
Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.

1 Corinthians 10:20-21
No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. / You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.

Romans 1:21-23
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Galatians 4:8-9
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. / But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?


Treasury of Scripture

And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves to them, and provoked the LORD to anger.

forsook

Deuteronomy 13:5
And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

Deuteronomy 29:18,25
Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; …

Deuteronomy 31:16,17
And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them…

other gods

Judges 5:8
They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?

Deuteronomy 6:14,15
Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; …

bowed

Exodus 20:5
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Deuteronomy 5:9
Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,

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Anger Bowed Egypt Moving Peoples Provoked Round Themselves Various Worshiped Worshipped Worshipping Wrath
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Anger Bowed Egypt Moving Peoples Provoked Round Themselves Various Worshiped Worshipped Worshipping Wrath
Judges 2
1. An angel rebukes the people at Bochim
6. The wickedness of the new generation after Joshua
14. God's anger and pity toward them
20. The Canaanites left to prove Israel














They forsook the LORD
The phrase "They forsook the LORD" is a powerful indictment against the Israelites. The Hebrew root for "forsook" is "עזב" (azab), which means to leave, abandon, or desert. This word conveys a deliberate action of turning away from a relationship. Historically, this reflects a recurring pattern in Israel's history where the people abandoned their covenant relationship with Yahweh, despite His faithfulness. The LORD, represented by the tetragrammaton YHWH, is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal, unchanging nature and His special relationship with Israel. This forsaking is not just a physical departure but a spiritual and relational betrayal.

the God of their fathers
This phrase underscores the continuity of faith that was supposed to be passed down through generations. "The God of their fathers" refers to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, highlighting a rich heritage of faith and divine promises. The Israelites' ancestors had experienced God's faithfulness firsthand, and this phrase serves as a reminder of the historical and spiritual legacy that the current generation was neglecting. It is a call to remember the foundational truths and commitments that were established by their forefathers.

who had brought them out of the land of Egypt
This part of the verse recalls the defining act of deliverance in Israel's history—the Exodus. The phrase emphasizes God's power and faithfulness in liberating the Israelites from slavery, a central theme in the Hebrew Bible. The Exodus is not just a historical event but a symbol of God's saving grace and covenantal love. By forsaking God, the Israelites were disregarding the miraculous acts that had defined their identity as a people chosen and redeemed by God.

and followed other gods
The phrase "and followed other gods" indicates a shift in allegiance and worship. The Hebrew word for "followed" is "הלך" (halak), meaning to walk or go after, suggesting a conscious decision to pursue something else. "Other gods" refers to the deities of the surrounding nations, which were often associated with fertility, war, and nature. This idolatry was not just a breach of the first commandment but a profound spiritual adultery, as it involved adopting the practices and values of pagan cultures, leading to moral and spiritual corruption.

from the gods of the peoples around them
This phrase highlights the influence of the surrounding nations on Israel. The "peoples around them" were the Canaanites and other neighboring tribes whose religious practices were in direct opposition to the worship of Yahweh. The Israelites were called to be a distinct and holy nation, set apart for God's purposes. However, their assimilation into the surrounding cultures led to a dilution of their faith and identity. This serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of conforming to worldly influences and the importance of maintaining spiritual integrity.

and bowed down to them
"Bowed down" is translated from the Hebrew word "שחה" (shachah), which means to prostrate oneself in worship or submission. This act of bowing down signifies not only physical submission but also a heart posture of reverence and allegiance. By bowing to other gods, the Israelites were not just engaging in idolatry but were also expressing a deep-seated rejection of their covenant with Yahweh. This act of worship was a betrayal of their exclusive devotion to the one true God, leading to spiritual and national consequences.

and provoked the LORD to anger
The phrase "provoked the LORD to anger" reflects the righteous indignation of God in response to Israel's unfaithfulness. The Hebrew word for "provoked" is "כעס" (kaas), which means to irritate or vex. God's anger is not capricious but is a just response to the violation of the covenant relationship. It underscores the seriousness of idolatry and the consequences of turning away from God. This divine anger is a call to repentance and a reminder of the holiness and justice of God, who desires a faithful and obedient relationship with His people.

(12) Forsook the Lord God of their fathers.--(Deuteronomy 31:16-17.) It seems, however, that the sin of the Israelites was a breach rather of the second than of the first commandment. It was not so much a worshipping of other gods as a worshipping of Jehovah under false symbols adopted from the surrounding nations by a spurious syncretism. Similarly, the calf-worship of the northern tribes was originally intended to be an adoration of Jehovah, under the form of cherubic symbols, but naturally lapsed with dangerous facility into actual Baal-worship (Exodus 32:5; 1Kings 22:6).

Verse 12. - They forsook the Lord, etc. Here again there is a manifest allusion to Joshua 24:16, 17.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Thus they forsook
וַיַּעַזְב֞וּ (way·ya·‘az·ḇū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5800: To loosen, relinquish, permit

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

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

of their fathers,
אֲבוֹתָ֗ם (’ă·ḇō·w·ṯām)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

who had brought them
הַמּוֹצִ֣יא (ham·mō·w·ṣî)
Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

out of the land
מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (mê·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Egypt,
מִצְרַיִם֒ (miṣ·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

and they followed
וַיֵּלְכ֞וּ (way·yê·lə·ḵū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

after
אַחֲרֵ֣י ׀ (’a·ḥă·rê)
Preposition
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

various
אֲחֵרִ֗ים (’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

of the people
הָֽעַמִּים֙ (hā·‘am·mîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

all around them.
סְבִיב֣וֹתֵיהֶ֔ם (sə·ḇî·ḇō·w·ṯê·hem)
Adverb | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around

They bowed down
וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ (way·yiš·ta·ḥă·wū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

to them
לָהֶ֑ם (lā·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

and provoked
וַיַּכְעִ֖סוּ (way·yaḵ·‘i·sū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3707: To trouble, to grieve, rage, be indignant

the LORD {to anger},
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT History: Judges 2:12 And they forsook Yahweh the God (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 2:11
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