2 Kings 17:35

KJV

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:

KJV (with Strong's)

With whom the LORD {H3068} had made {H3772} a covenant {H1285}, and charged {H6680} them, saying {H559}, Ye shall not fear {H3372} other {H312} gods {H430}, nor bow {H7812} yourselves to them, nor serve {H5647} them, nor sacrifice {H2076} to them:

Complete Jewish Bible

with whom ADONAI had made a covenant and charged them, "Do not fear other gods or bow down to them, 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.

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:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 17:35 serves as a poignant theological anchor within the narrative of Israel's downfall, explicitly recalling the foundational covenant God established with His people and reiterating His non-negotiable command against all forms of idolatry. This verse, though appearing as a retrospective reminder, underscores the profound spiritual adultery that led to the Northern Kingdom's catastrophic exile, attributing their national demise directly to their persistent and egregious violations of this very covenant, particularly their worship of other gods. It powerfully articulates the LORD's unwavering expectation of exclusive devotion from His chosen people, highlighting the justice and inevitability of His judgment when that sacred trust was broken.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Second Kings 17 functions as the theological explanation for the devastating fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) and the subsequent exile of its people by the Assyrians in 722 BCE. The chapter meticulously chronicles Israel's chronic disobedience, their rejection of God's prophetic warnings, and their pervasive adoption of pagan religious practices, despite repeated divine calls to repentance. Verse 35, while situated within a later section (vv. 24-41) that describes the syncretistic worship of the new inhabitants of Samaria, serves as a crucial retrospective indictment. It powerfully recalls the original, foundational covenant stipulations given to Israel, particularly at Sinai, emphasizing the stark contrast between God's clear commands and Israel's consistent rebellion (detailed in [2 Kings 17:7-23](/2_kings/17-7-23 "2 Kings 17:7-23 - Israel's Persistent Sin and God's Judgment")). By restating the covenant's core prohibition against idolatry, the text underscores the divine justice of God's judgment and the profound spiritual adultery that ultimately led to Israel's desolation and dispersion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of 2 Kings 17 are set against the backdrop of the formidable rise of the Neo-Assyrian Empire in the 8th century BCE, a period marked by intense political instability and military expansion across the ancient Near East. Israel, strategically located between powerful empires, frequently sought alliances with foreign nations, and tragically, this often led to the adoption of their religious practices. The worship of "other gods" was endemic in the surrounding cultures, encompassing deities such as Baal, Asherah, Molech, and various astral gods, often accompanied by abhorrent practices like fertility cults and child sacrifice. The covenant made by the LORD with Israel, notably at [Mount Sinai](/exodus/19 "Exodus 19 - God's Covenant at Sinai"), was revolutionary in its demand for monotheism in a polytheistic world. This covenant, structured much like a suzerain-vassal treaty, demanded exclusive loyalty from Israel (the vassal) to the LORD (the suzerain), promising abundant blessings for obedience and severe curses for disobedience. The historical reality of Israel's persistent syncretism and idolatry, despite this explicit covenant, is presented as the primary and undeniable cause of their national catastrophe.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully reinforces several central themes prevalent throughout 2 Kings and the broader Old Testament narrative. Foremost among these is **Covenant Fidelity**, emphasizing the binding, reciprocal, and conditional nature of the relationship between God and Israel. The LORD's enduring commitment to His people was predicated upon their exclusive loyalty and obedience to His commands, particularly the foundational first commandment. This leads directly to the theme of **Monotheism and Anti-Idolatry**, where [2 Kings 17:35](/2_kings/17-35 "2 Kings 17:35 - Prohibition Against Idolatry") explicitly prohibits fearing, bowing to, serving, or sacrificing to "other gods," reiterating the absolute singularity and supremacy of Yahweh. This echoes the profound declaration in [Deuteronomy 6:4](/deuteronomy/6-4 "Deuteronomy 6:4 - The Shema") that "The LORD our God is one LORD." Furthermore, the passage highlights **God's Jealousy for His Name and Glory**, which is not a human emotion but a divine zeal for the purity of His worship and the sanctity of His unique relationship with His people, as powerfully stated in [Exodus 34:14](/exodus/34-14 "Exodus 34:14 - God's Jealousy"). Finally, the entire chapter, with verse 35 serving as its theological and historical anchor, vividly illustrates the **Consequences of Disobedience**, demonstrating that Israel's national judgment and exile were the just and inevitable outcome of their persistent failure to uphold the covenant's most fundamental stipulation.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Covenant (Hebrew, _bᵉrîyth_):** From a root meaning "to cut," this term signifies a solemn, binding agreement or treaty, often initiated by a superior party (the suzerain) and involving stipulations for the subordinate party (the vassal). In the biblical context, God's covenant with Israel was a gracious, unilateral initiative on His part, establishing a unique, redemptive relationship, but it demanded a reciprocal response of loyalty and obedience. It was not a mere suggestion but the foundational framework for their national and spiritual identity, defining their existence as God's chosen people.
* **Fear (Hebrew, _yârêʼ_):** While often translated as "fear" in the sense of terror, in this context, _yârêʾ_ carries the broader, richer meaning of reverence, awe, and profound respect. To "fear other gods" means to hold them in such awe or esteem that one would consider them worthy of worship, ultimate trust, or allegiance—a reverence that should be exclusively reserved for the LORD. It speaks to the internal disposition of the heart and mind, where true devotion originates.
* **Serve (Hebrew, _ʻâbad_):** This verb signifies active devotion, labor, and servitude. To "serve other gods" implies committing one's life, energy, resources, and daily actions to them, becoming their slave or devotee. It encompasses all practical acts of obedience and allegiance, moving beyond mere ritualistic participation to a lifestyle of profound and active devotion, where one's entire being is dedicated to the object of worship.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"With whom the LORD had made a covenant":** This opening clause immediately establishes the historical and theological context, referring to the Mosaic Covenant. It emphasizes that this sacred relationship was initiated by Yahweh, not Israel, highlighting His sovereign grace. This covenant uniquely set Israel apart as God's chosen people, bestowing upon them unparalleled privileges alongside weighty responsibilities.
* **"and charged them, saying":** This phrase powerfully underscores the authoritative and explicit nature of God's commands within the covenant. The LORD did not merely suggest or advise; He "charged" or commanded, indicating a binding legal and moral obligation. This highlights that Israel's subsequent disobedience was not due to ignorance but rather a deliberate and culpable rebellion against clear, divinely revealed mandates.
* **"Ye shall not fear other gods":** This is the first and most fundamental prohibition, addressing the internal disposition and the very core of allegiance. It forbids holding any other deity in awe, reverence, or ultimate trust. True fear (reverence) and trust belong to the LORD alone, for He is the only true God, worthy of such profound internal devotion.
* **"nor bow yourselves to them":** This refers to the physical act of prostration or genuflection, a universal sign of worship, submission, and homage in the ancient world. It explicitly prohibits outward acts of veneration towards false gods, signifying an allegiance that belongs solely and exclusively to Yahweh.
* **"nor serve them":** This extends the prohibition from internal disposition and outward gesture to active, ongoing devotion and labor. It encompasses all forms of service, obedience, and commitment to other deities, whether through daily rituals, moral adherence to their supposed laws, or dedicating one's life, energy, and resources to their perceived will.
* **"nor sacrifice to them":** This specifies the highest, most costly, and most intimate act of worship in ancient cultures. Sacrifice involved offering valuable possessions, animals, or even human lives (as tragically practiced by some pagan cults) to deities as an act of propitiation, thanksgiving, or communion. The prohibition against sacrificing to other gods underscores God's demand for exclusive worship, as He alone is worthy of such ultimate and costly devotion.

#### Literary Devices
Second Kings 17:35 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound theological message with emphasis and clarity. The most prominent is **Enumeration** and **Anaphora**, where the series of four prohibitions ("fear... nor bow... nor serve... nor sacrifice") creates a comprehensive and emphatic declaration against all forms of idolatry. The repeated "nor" (anaphora) at the beginning of each successive prohibition builds a rhythmic insistence, highlighting the absolute, multifaceted, and non-negotiable nature of God's command. The verse also functions as a powerful **Flashback** or **Summary Statement** within the larger narrative of Israel's apostasy, recalling a foundational truth that Israel consistently and tragically violated. This creates a stark **Contrast** between God's clear, unchanging will and Israel's persistent rebellion, thereby providing a theological justification for the severe judgment that has befallen them. The precise, almost legalistic phrasing underscores the **Covenantal Language** used, reinforcing the idea of a broken, binding contract.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The command articulated in [2 Kings 17:35](/2_kings/17-35 "2 Kings 17:35 - The Covenant Against Idolatry") is far more than a mere ancient prohibition; it is a timeless theological principle deeply rooted in the very character of God. It reveals Yahweh as the sovereign, unique, and incomparably holy God who demands and deserves exclusive worship from His people. Idolatry, in any form, is therefore not merely a minor transgression but an act of spiritual adultery, a profound betrayal of the covenant relationship, and a direct assault on God's glory and unique supremacy. This verse underscores that true faith involves undivided loyalty, where God alone is the ultimate object of our fear, reverence, service, and sacrifice. The devastating consequences of failing to uphold this fundamental truth, as tragically demonstrated by the Northern Kingdom, serve as a perpetual warning against allowing anything or anyone to usurp God's rightful, supreme place in our lives and affections.

* [Exodus 20:3](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3 - The First Commandment: No Other Gods")
* [Deuteronomy 6:4-5](/deuteronomy/6-4-5 "Deuteronomy 6:4-5 - The Shema: Love the LORD Your God")
* [Joshua 24:14-15](/joshua/24-14-15 "Joshua 24:14-15 - Choose Whom You Will Serve")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While contemporary society may not typically engage in the overt worship of physical idols of wood or stone, the timeless and profound message of [2 Kings 17:35](/2_kings/17-35 "2 Kings 17:35 - A Call to Exclusive Devotion") remains profoundly relevant and convicting. The human heart retains its ancient propensity for idolatry, subtly shifting its ultimate allegiance, fear, service, and sacrifice from the one true God to other objects of devotion. These "other gods" can manifest as the relentless pursuit of wealth, career success, personal comfort, social status, technological distraction, self-worship, or even ideological commitments that subtly or overtly supersede divine truth and God's commands. This verse challenges us to conduct an honest and searching inventory of our lives, examining what truly commands our ultimate trust, consumes our precious time, dictates our most important decisions, and receives our deepest affections and energies. True spiritual health, flourishing, and freedom are found in cultivating an exclusive and undivided loyalty to the LORD, recognizing that anything that competes for His rightful place in our hearts becomes a destructive idol, leading to spiritual barrenness and ultimately, judgment.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "other gods" subtly compete for my ultimate allegiance, fear, and devotion in contemporary life?**
* **How do my daily schedule, financial expenditures, and personal priorities truly reflect my ultimate object of worship?**
* **In what practical ways might I be "fearing," "bowing to," "serving," or "sacrificing to" something or someone other than the LORD?**
* **What concrete steps can I take to cultivate a more exclusive and undivided devotion to God in my thoughts, words, and actions, aligning my life more fully with His covenant demands?**

### FAQ
**Why does 2 Kings 17:35 mention a covenant made "with whom" when the chapter primarily describes Israel's disobedience?**

Answer: This verse functions as a powerful rhetorical and theological device within the broader narrative of [2 Kings 17](/2_kings/17 "2 Kings 17 - The Fall of Samaria"). While the chapter meticulously details Israel's persistent disobedience and the resulting judgment, verse 35 serves as a direct and pointed reminder of the original, foundational covenant established by the LORD with their ancestors, most notably at [Mount Sinai](/exodus/19 "Exodus 19 - God's Covenant at Sinai"). By recalling God's explicit and unwavering commands against idolatry, the text highlights the stark contrast between God's clear stipulations and Israel's chronic, deliberate rebellion. It underscores that Israel's catastrophic downfall was not arbitrary or capricious but a just and inevitable consequence of their willful violation of a sacred covenant they knowingly entered into. The phrase "with whom" refers to the nation of Israel as a whole, emphasizing that the entire community was bound by these divine charges, making their widespread idolatry and syncretism all the more culpable and deserving of divine judgment.

**How does the prohibition against "fearing other gods" differ from "bowing," "serving," or "sacrificing"?**

Answer: The four prohibitions in [2 Kings 17:35](/2_kings/17-35 "2 Kings 17:35 - Comprehensive Prohibition Against Idolatry") create a comprehensive and escalating picture of idolatry, moving from the internal disposition of the heart to the most profound external acts of worship. "Fearing other gods" (Hebrew _yārêʾ_) primarily refers to the internal reverence, awe, and ultimate trust one places in a deity. It speaks to the heart and mind, where allegiance is first formed and where ultimate loyalty resides. The subsequent prohibitions—"bowing yourselves to them" (the physical act of prostration or homage), "serving them" (active, ongoing devotion, labor, and obedience in daily life), and "sacrificing to them" (the highest, most costly, and intimate act of religious devotion)—are external, observable expressions and outworkings of that internal fear or reverence. Together, they cover every dimension of worship, indicating that God demands exclusive devotion not only in outward ritual and service but also, and fundamentally, in the deepest recesses of the human heart and the practical direction of one's entire life.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The unwavering command for exclusive worship articulated in [2 Kings 17:35](/2_kings/17-35 "2 Kings 17:35 - Exclusive Worship in Christ") finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the Old Covenant, with its clear demands for singular devotion, was tragically and persistently broken by Israel's idolatry, Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Law and the Prophets, demonstrating an unblemished, undivided allegiance to the Father. He is the one true God manifest in the flesh, the very object of worship who perfectly embodied what it means to "fear," "bow to," "serve," and "sacrifice" to God alone ([Matthew 4:10](/matthew/4-10 "Matthew 4:10 - Jesus Rebukes Satan, Worshipping God Alone")). Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Christ inaugurated the New Covenant, a covenant not merely written on stone tablets but powerfully inscribed on the hearts of believers by the Holy Spirit ([Hebrews 8:10](/hebrews/8-10 "Hebrews 8:10 - The New Covenant Written on Hearts")). In this new and living reality, the power of sin and idolatry is decisively broken, enabling true worship "in spirit and truth" ([John 4:23-24](/john/4-23-24 "John 4:23-24 - True Worshipers Worship in Spirit and Truth")). Believers are now called to present their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is their spiritual and reasonable worship ([Romans 12:1-2](/romans/12-1-2 "Romans 12:1-2 - Living Sacrifices")), actively putting to death any earthly thing that might function as an idol or rival for God's supreme place in their lives ([Colossians 3:5](/colossians/3-5 "Colossians 3:5 - Put to Death Earthly Idolatry")). Thus, the prohibition against "other gods" in the Old Testament is not merely a legalistic restraint but an profound invitation to find ultimate satisfaction, freedom, and eternal life in Christ, the one Lord who alone is supremely worthy of all our fear, reverence, service, and devotion.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.

Joshua 23:16

When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

Joshua 23:7

That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear [by them], neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

Deuteronomy 4:23

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.

Deuteronomy 4:27

And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.

Exodus 20:4

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 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;