This verse urges God’s people to remember the LORD’s mighty salvation and maintain an undivided allegiance to Him.
“But the LORD, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, and to Him you shall bow yourselves down, and to Him you shall sacrifice.” (v.36)
In 2 Kings 17, the northern kingdom of Israel faces destruction at the hands of the Assyrians because of their persistent idolatry. Despite God’s gracious acts of deliverance—particularly bringing them up from the land of Egypt—His people turned to worship other deities, neglecting the very One who had rescued them centuries earlier (2 Kings 17:4-6). In verse 36, the inspired writer reminds Israel of the LORD’s proven faithfulness and power. The phrase “with great power and with an outstretched arm” points back to the Exodus, when God unleashed miraculous signs against Egypt. Egypt itself, with its fertile Nile valley in northeastern Africa, was the location of Israel’s bondage before the LORD’s mighty deliverance. The text commands Israel to remember that He alone is worthy of fear, reverence, and worship.
The verse underscores three expressions of exclusive devotion: fearing the LORD, bowing down to Him, and sacrificing to Him. To “fear” the LORD means to revere and honor His holiness above all else. Bowing down is a physical posture that conveys humility and surrender, reminding Israel to place itself entirely under God’s rule. Sacrificing to the LORD involves giving Him the first and best of one’s possessions in gratitude and dependence. In the New Testament, believers are likewise called to present their lives as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1), looking to Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:10). Where Israel’s misplaced worship led them to exile, Christ’s perfect devotion to the Father provides the model for faithful obedience.
This verse also highlights God’s heart for covenant relationship. He had established His people to honor Him and image His character. Even when Israel failed, the covenant pointed forward to a greater deliverance through Jesus, who redeems those in bondage to sin and calls them to genuine worship (Romans 6:17-18). In practical terms, 2 Kings 17:36 teaches us that properly acknowledging God’s powerful acts in the past should anchor our worship in the present and foster our hope for the future.
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2 Kings 17:36 meaning
“But the LORD, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, and to Him you shall bow yourselves down, and to Him you shall sacrifice.” (v.36)
In 2 Kings 17, the northern kingdom of Israel faces destruction at the hands of the Assyrians because of their persistent idolatry. Despite God’s gracious acts of deliverance—particularly bringing them up from the land of Egypt—His people turned to worship other deities, neglecting the very One who had rescued them centuries earlier (2 Kings 17:4-6). In verse 36, the inspired writer reminds Israel of the LORD’s proven faithfulness and power. The phrase “with great power and with an outstretched arm” points back to the Exodus, when God unleashed miraculous signs against Egypt. Egypt itself, with its fertile Nile valley in northeastern Africa, was the location of Israel’s bondage before the LORD’s mighty deliverance. The text commands Israel to remember that He alone is worthy of fear, reverence, and worship.
The verse underscores three expressions of exclusive devotion: fearing the LORD, bowing down to Him, and sacrificing to Him. To “fear” the LORD means to revere and honor His holiness above all else. Bowing down is a physical posture that conveys humility and surrender, reminding Israel to place itself entirely under God’s rule. Sacrificing to the LORD involves giving Him the first and best of one’s possessions in gratitude and dependence. In the New Testament, believers are likewise called to present their lives as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1), looking to Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:10). Where Israel’s misplaced worship led them to exile, Christ’s perfect devotion to the Father provides the model for faithful obedience.
This verse also highlights God’s heart for covenant relationship. He had established His people to honor Him and image His character. Even when Israel failed, the covenant pointed forward to a greater deliverance through Jesus, who redeems those in bondage to sin and calls them to genuine worship (Romans 6:17-18). In practical terms, 2 Kings 17:36 teaches us that properly acknowledging God’s powerful acts in the past should anchor our worship in the present and foster our hope for the future.