But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.
2 KINGS 17:36KJVWhat does 2 Kings 17:36 mean?
2 Kings 17:36 tells the people of Israel that they are to honor, worship, and offer sacrifices only to the LORD, who delivered them from Egypt with great power. The verse emphasizes that their devotion and religious acts should be directed to God alone, not to other gods.
In this part of the story, the writer is reminding Israel of their unique relationship with the LORD (Yahweh) after warning them against worshiping other gods. The verse points back to the Exodus, highlighting God’s mighty rescue as the reason He alone deserves their fear, worship, and sacrifices.
The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 17:36
- LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name of Israel’s God, stressing a direct and exclusive relationship.
- fear (יָרֵא, yare’): This word means to have deep respect, awe, or reverence, not just to be afraid. It calls for a heart attitude of honor toward God.
- worship (שָׁחָה, shachah): This word often means to bow down or physically show respect, underlining that worship involves both attitude and action.
- arm (זְרוֹעַ, zeroa’): Refers to strength or power, picturing God’s ability to save and act on behalf of His people.
Why 2 Kings 17:36 matters
- This verse clears up that Israel’s worship was meant to be exclusive—no other gods were to receive their sacrifices or reverence.
- The emphasis on God’s deliverance from Egypt reminds readers that Israel’s faith is rooted in real historical acts, not just tradition.
- In the wider passage, this verse stands as a contrast to the people’s disobedience, showing what true loyalty to God should look like.