King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
Complete Jewish Bible:
However, they will become his slaves, so that they will come to appreciate the difference between serving me and serving earthly kingdoms."
Berean Standard Bible:
Nevertheless, they will become his servants, so that they may learn the difference between serving Me and serving the kings of other lands.”
American Standard Version:
Nevertheless they shall be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Nevertheless they shall be his servants{H5650}; that they may know{H3045} my service{H5656}, and the service{H5656} of the kingdoms{H4467} of the countries{H776}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 28:47
- Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all [things];
Deuteronomy 28:48
- Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all [things]: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.
Isaiah 26:13
- O LORD our God, [other] lords beside thee have had dominion over us: [but] by thee only will we make mention of thy name.
Jeremiah 10:24
- O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
Judges 3:1
- ¶ Now these [are] the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, [even] as many [of Israel] as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
Hosea 8:10
- Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.
Nehemiah 9:36
- Behold, we [are] servants this day, and [for] the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we [are] servants in it:
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 2 Chronicles 12:8
2 Chronicles 12:8 is a verse that captures a moment in the history of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, specifically focusing on the latter. This verse is part of a narrative concerning King Rehoboam of Judah, who, after the death of his father Solomon, faced a rebellion and the subsequent splitting of the united kingdom into two separate entities: the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah.
In the years following the division, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem during the reign of Rehoboam. This invasion was a punishment from God for Rehoboam and the people of Judah who had forsaken the law of the Lord (2 Chronicles 12:1-2). Realizing their sin and acknowledging God's sovereignty, Rehoboam and his leaders humbled themselves, which led to the Lord's decision not to destroy them completely but to allow them to become subservient to Shishak.
The verse "Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries" (2 Chronicles 12:8, KJV) reflects God's judgment and mercy. It indicates that despite their apostasy, the people of Judah would not be annihilated but would instead become servants to Shishak. This servitude was intended to teach them a lesson about true allegiance—distinguishing between serving God and serving the kingdoms of the world. The verse underscores the theme of divine discipline, the consequences of disobedience, and the importance of recognizing the difference between serving God and serving earthly powers. It also highlights the broader biblical theme that God uses even the challenging circumstances brought about by human sin to bring about His purposes and to teach His people about faithfulness and dependence on Him.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5650
There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶבֶד
Transliteration: ʻebed
Pronunciation: eh'-bed
Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant. - Strong's Number: H3045
There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָדַע
Transliteration: yâdaʻ
Pronunciation: yaw-dah'
Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot. - Strong's Number: H5656
There are 125 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֲבֹדָה
Transliteration: ʻăbôdâh
Pronunciation: ab-o-daw'
Description: or עֲבוֹדָה; from עָבַד; work of any kind; act, bondage, [phrase] bondservant, effect, labour, ministering(-try), office, service(-ile, -itude), tillage, use, work, [idiom] wrought. - Strong's Number: H4467
There are 113 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַמְלָכָה
Transliteration: mamlâkâh
Pronunciation: mam-law-kaw'
Description: from מָלַךְ; dominion, i.e. (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm); kingdom, king's, reign, royal. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.