2 Kings 17:37 kjv
And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods.
2 Kings 17:37 nkjv
And the statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandment which He wrote for you, you shall be careful to observe forever; you shall not fear other gods.
2 Kings 17:37 niv
You must always be careful to keep the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods.
2 Kings 17:37 esv
And the statutes and the rules and the law and the commandment that he wrote for you, you shall always be careful to do. You shall not fear other gods,
2 Kings 17:37 nlt
Be careful at all times to obey the decrees, regulations, instructions, and commands that he wrote for you. You must not worship other gods.
2 Kings 17 37 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deu 4:1 | "Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments... to do them..." | Hear and obey God's laws. |
| Deu 4:40 | "Therefore you shall keep His statutes and His commandments... so that it may be well with you..." | Obedience brings blessings. |
| Deu 6:1-2 | "Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments... that you may fear the LORD your God..." | Instruction for fearing and obeying God. |
| Deu 6:24-25 | "And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes... that He might preserve us alive..." | Purpose of law for life and righteousness. |
| Deu 10:12-13 | "...what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD... to walk in all His ways and to love Him..." | Core requirement: fear, love, obey. |
| Exo 20:3 | "You shall have no other gods before me." | Exclusive worship of Yahweh. |
| Lev 18:4 | "You shall observe My judgments and keep My statutes, to walk in them..." | Command to observe and walk in God's laws. |
| Psa 119:1 | "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD!" | Blessing found in following God's law. |
| Psa 119:4 | "You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently." | God's expectation for diligent obedience. |
| Psa 119:34 | "Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart." | Desire for understanding to obey with whole heart. |
| Psa 119:112 | "I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end." | Perpetual commitment to God's statutes. |
| Josh 1:7 | "Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you..." | Joshua commanded to keep the Law diligently. |
| Jer 7:23 | "But this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God...'" | Call to obedience of God's voice. |
| Jer 32:39 | "Then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever..." | Future blessing of heart for God-fear. |
| Mat 4:10 | "You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve." | Jesus' affirmation of exclusive worship. |
| Jn 14:15 | "If you love Me, keep My commandments." | Love for Christ expressed through obedience. |
| Jn 15:10 | "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love." | Abiding in Christ's love through obedience. |
| Rom 2:13 | "for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified..." | Importance of doing, not just hearing, the Law. |
| Jas 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | Call to actively apply God's word. |
| 1 Pet 1:14-15 | "...do not conform yourselves to the former lusts... but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct..." | Holy conduct reflecting obedience. |
| 1 Jn 5:3 | "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome." | Love for God expressed through keeping His commands. |
| Rev 14:12 | "Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." | Believers distinguished by obedience and faith. |
2 Kings 17 verses
2 Kings 17 37 Meaning
2 Kings 17:37 declares God's steadfast requirement for His people: to perpetually observe and carry out His divine instructions as written by Him, emphasizing exclusive worship and reverence for Him alone, thereby rejecting any fear or allegiance to other deities. It encapsulates the core covenant demand for wholehearted obedience and monotheistic devotion.
2 Kings 17 37 Context
This verse appears within a profound and somber chapter (2 Kings 17) that recounts the spiritual demise of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and their eventual exile by the Assyrians. The preceding verses detail Israel's persistent idolatry, abandonment of God's covenant, and adoption of pagan practices despite repeated warnings from prophets. Verse 37 specifically serves as a powerful summary and indictment, articulating the unchanging divine standard that Israel so dramatically failed to uphold. It emphasizes the foundational requirements of the Mosaic Covenant, providing a sharp contrast to the syncretistic practices of the Samaritans, who were brought into the land after Israel's exile and mixed the worship of Yahweh with their native gods. The verse asserts God's ultimate authority and the perpetual validity of His written law, demanding absolute and exclusive loyalty in stark opposition to the fear and worship of "other gods" that permeated their society.
2 Kings 17 37 Word analysis
- And the statutes (וְאֶת־הַחֻקִּים - wəʾeṯ-haḥuqqîm):
ḥuqqîmrefers to decreed laws, fixed regulations, often laws enacted by God that are immutable, pointing to their divine origin and enduring nature. - and the ordinances (וְאֶת־הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים - wəʾeṯ-hammišpāṭîm):
mišpāṭîmsignifies judgments or justice, referring to legal rulings and case laws. These are specific applications of God's justice in daily life, demonstrating how the abstractḥuqqîmare to be put into practice. - and the law (וְאֶת־הַתּוֹרָה - wəʾeṯ-hatōrâ):
tōrâis a comprehensive term meaning "instruction" or "teaching," often referring to the entire body of God's revealed will, especially the Pentateuch. It denotes divine guidance for living. - and the commandment (וְאֶת־הַמִּצְוָה - wəʾeṯ-hammiṣwâ):
miṣwâdesignates a specific divine command or precept, emphasizing individual divine orders. - which he wrote for you: This phrase highlights the divine authorship and written form of the Law, indicating its authenticity, authority, and the permanency of its record. It signifies that these were not human inventions but directly communicated divine will.
- ye shall observe to do: The Hebrew
תִּשְׁמְרוּן לַעֲשׂוֹת(tišmərûn laʿăśôṯ) combinesšāmar(to guard, keep, observe carefully) withʿāśāh(to do, perform). It stresses not merely knowledge or passive agreement, but active, diligent, and obedient performance. - for evermore:
כָּל־הַיָּמִים(kol-hayyāmîm) literally means "all the days" or "perpetually," underlining the eternal and unchanging nature of God's requirements. This mandate is not temporal or subject to human change. - and ye shall not fear other gods: The word "fear" (יָרֵא - yārēʾ) in this context implies reverential awe, worship, and devotion. This is a direct prohibition against polytheism and syncretism, which were pervasive issues in ancient Israel and among the foreign peoples settling in Samaria. It underscores the exclusivity of worship due to Yahweh alone.
- "statutes, and ordinances, and the law, and the commandment": This comprehensive grouping emphasizes the totality of God's divine revelation. It covers moral laws, ritualistic requirements, civil laws, and specific instructions, leaving no aspect of life outside of God's authoritative Word. It functions as a powerful summary of the entirety of the Mosaic Covenant.
- "which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore": This phrase ties divine authority ("he wrote") to the timeless demand for practical obedience ("observe to do for evermore"). It conveys that God's revealed will is binding, unchanging, and requires active participation across generations.
2 Kings 17 37 Bonus section
The repetitive use of conjunctions "and" connecting the various terms for God's law ("statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment") in the original Hebrew serves to cumulatively emphasize the breadth and exhaustive nature of God's divine instruction. It signals that all aspects of His revealed will are significant and interconnected. This verse functions as a divinely issued standard, by which the actions of Israel (and later, the inhabitants of Samaria) are to be measured. Its placement after the recounting of Israel's persistent disobedience highlights that their rejection was not of a minor aspect, but of the very totality of God's established way of life, leading directly to the stated consequence of exile and judgment. The implication for believers across all dispensations is that faithfulness to God requires a holistic and lifelong commitment to His word and singular worship.
2 Kings 17 37 Commentary
2 Kings 17:37 stands as a timeless declaration of God's unchanging nature and His unwavering demands for His people. Against the backdrop of Israel's spiritual failure, this verse articulates the foundational principles of the covenant: total submission to God's revealed will and exclusive allegiance to Him alone. The enumeration of "statutes," "ordinances," "law," and "commandment" underscores the comprehensive scope of God's requirements, which touch every facet of life. The emphasis on "observing to do" stresses active obedience over mere intellectual assent. Furthermore, the imperative "for evermore" signifies the perpetual validity of these divine mandates, transcending any cultural shifts or temporal conditions. The concluding prohibition, "ye shall not fear other gods," serves as the ultimate test of true faith, demanding singular devotion to Yahweh and rejection of all forms of idolatry or syncretism, a critical error that led to Israel's downfall. This verse serves as a crucial reminder that God's covenant relationship is predicated on an unreserved and practical commitment to His Word and His unique identity as the only true God.