2 Kings 17:35-39 Meaning: What It Means to Fear God and No One Else
35with whom Yahweh had made a covenant and commanded them, saying, “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them;
36but you shall fear Yahweh, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, and you shall bow yourselves to him, and you shall sacrifice to him.
37The statutes and the ordinances, and the law and the commandment which he wrote for you, you shall observe to do forever more. You shall not fear other gods.
38You shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you. You shall not fear other gods.
39But you shall fear Yahweh your God, and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.”
35With 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:
36But 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.
37And 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.
38And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods.
39But the Lord your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
35with 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:
36but Jehovah, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, him shall ye fear, and unto him shall ye bow yourselves, and to him shall ye sacrifice:
37and 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:
38and the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods:
39but Jehovah your God shall ye fear; and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
35and Jehovah maketh with them a covenant, and chargeth them, saying, `Ye do not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them,
36but Jehovah who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a stretched-out arm, Him ye do fear, and to Him ye bow yourselves, and to Him ye do sacrifice;
37and the statutes, and the judgments, and the law, and the command, that He wrote for you, ye observe to do all the days, and ye do not fear other gods;
38and the covenant that I have made with you ye do not forget, and ye do not fear other gods;
39but Jehovah your God ye do fear, and He doth deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies;'
35And Jehovah had made a covenant with them, and charged them saying, Ye shall not fear othergods, nor bow down yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them;
36but Jehovah alone, 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.
37And 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 othergods.
38And ye shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you, neither shall ye fear othergods;
39but ye shall fear Jehovah your God, and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
Meaning in one sentence
What does it mean to 'fear the Lord'? In 2 Kings 17:35-39, God commands His people to fear Him alone, remembering His saving power and His covenant.
Context
The northern kingdom of Israel has fallen to Assyria. The land is filled with foreigners who do not know the God of Israel. When lions begin attacking, the king of Assyria sends an Israelite priest back to teach them 'how they should fear the Lord.'
This passage records the core of that teaching: the covenant command God gave His people at Sinai. It is a solemn recitation of what it means to belong to Him. The people who heard it were surrounded by other gods, like Baal and Asherah, the gods of their neighbors. God speaks into that pressure, reminding them that allegiance cannot be split. The verse echoes through a story of failure, the fall of Israel, and confusion, the syncretistic religion that followed. It stands as a clear, unhurried statement of what God has always asked: whole-hearted fear, reverence, and love for the One who rescued them.
Key Words
The same Hebrew word runs through all seven commands in this passage: yare', meaning 'to fear.' When it comes to other gods, it describes a life crouched in dread, running to them for safety, terrified of their power. When the word is turned toward God, it becomes something else entirely: awe. Reverence. The quiet, strong trust of a child who knows their Father is mighty.
Another word carries the weight: berit, covenant. God cut a covenant with Israel. The image is bloody and binding, an oath so serious it could cost your life. Forgetting it, as verse 38 warns, is not misplacing a thought. It is walking away from a bond forged in fire.
And then there is the stretched out arm. This is God's personal reach into history. He did not save from a distance. He reached down, pulled His people out of Egypt, and said, 'You belong to me. Now you can trust me alone.'
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions read this passage as a description of true loyalty. Protestant commentators like Matthew Henry and Adam Clarke stress that fearing God means revering Him as our only Lawgiver and Judge, a fear that shapes the whole of life. Catholic readers might emphasize the covenantal bond and the 'stretched out arm' as a type of God's saving grace, which calls for a response of exclusive worship. Eastern Orthodox readers often reflect on how the commands here guard the heart from spiritual adultery, protecting the single-minded devotion that leads to union with God. All traditions affirm that this fear is not cowering terror but a holy awe that frees us from our lesser fears. The passage serves as a touchstone for the first commandment: no rivals.
A common misunderstanding
A common mistake is to read 'fear the Lord' and think God wants us to be scared of Him in a cowering way. In fact, the same Hebrew word is used for both commands. Fearing other gods means being enslaved and intimidated, scrambling for their approval. Fearing the God who rescued you is reverence and trust. It is the healthy awe a child feels for a strong, loving parent, not the terror of a slave under a cruel master.
Living This Out
What would it look like to take the 'fear of other gods' seriously this week? It might mean paying attention to what steals your peace. What makes you anxious? What keeps you up at night? What do you turn to for comfort when you are afraid?
That thing might be your 'other god.' It could be money, approval, control, or worry about the future. The passage does not just say 'don't.' It gives you a replacement. Remember what God has done. He brought you up out of your Egypt. He stretched out His arm for you. This week, when you feel that pull toward another 'god,' stop. Remember the covenant. Say out loud, 'The Lord is the one I fear. He is the one who saves.' Turn your awe back where it belongs.
Main takeaway: All our lesser fears melt away when we learn to fear the one true God, who saved us and keeps His covenant.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God told His people not to be scared of anything else because He was bigger and stronger than everything. Have you ever been scared at night? You can remember that God is with you.
For ages 9, 12
This passage comes right after the northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed, partly because they worshipped other gods. God's people mixed their faith with the faith of the nations around them. The command here is clear: give your whole heart to God. An 'other god' today might be your phone, worrying about what friends think, or trying to get perfect grades to feel worthy. God wants you to 'fear' Him. That means to love and trust Him so much that those other things do not control you. He is the one who really saves you.
Questions People Ask
What does it mean to 'fear' God in the Old Testament?
It means awe, reverence, and worship. It is not being terrified of God like a slave is terrified of a cruel master. It means respecting His power, trusting His love, and making Him the center of your life. The same Hebrew word is used for fearing other gods, but that fear is a cowering dread.
Why does the passage say 'do not fear other gods' over and over?
The repetition shows how urgent this command was. Israel was surrounded by nations who worshipped many gods. There was constant pressure to blend in and hedge their bets. The northern kingdom had just fallen because of this exact sin. The repetition is a desperate plea from God's heart: do not walk away from the only One who can save you.
Who is speaking in 2 Kings 17:35-39?
The context suggests this is a summary of what the Lord commanded Israel when He made the covenant with them. It is framed as a lesson taught by the priest sent to the new inhabitants of Samaria, but the words are the words of God's ancient covenant. It is God Himself retelling the people what He has always asked of them.
What is the 'covenant' being referred to?
The covenant God made with Israel at Mount Sinai, recorded in Exodus 19 through 24. God promised to be their God, and they promised to be His people, living by His laws. The covenant was sealed with blood and was meant to be a bond of exclusive loyalty and love.
For pastors & researchers
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