but you shall fear the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm. You shall bow yourselves to him, and to him you shall sacrifice.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Notice how the verse doesn't just tell us to fear God, but who we're supposed to fear: the One who actively delivered you from slavery. This emphasis on God's powerful, personal intervention is the very reason for worship, not just a historical footnote. It's a reminder that our obedience stems from remembering His immense acts of salvation in our own lives.
but you shall fear the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm. You shall bow yourselves to him, and to him you shall sacrifice.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just before this, the prophet explains that the Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered and exiled because they’d turned to worshipping other gods instead of the LORD. This verse is a powerful reminder from God that He is the only true God, the one who rescued them from slavery in Egypt with undeniable might, and He alone deserves their worship and sacrifice. It’s a call back to their foundational relationship with God, emphasizing their unique deliverance as the basis for their loyalty.
God's commands aren't just rules; they're rooted in His incredible actions. Before you obey, you need to remember WHO you're obeying.
The verse begins by reminding the people of a specific, monumental act of God: bringing them out of Egypt. This wasn't a small thing; it was done with "great power and an outstretched arm." This imagery isn't just poetic; it’s meant to impress upon us the sheer, uncontainable might of God. He is not a distant, passive deity, but an active, powerful force who intervenes in history. Remembering this foundational act is key to understanding why He deserves our allegiance.
The Bible talks a lot about 'fearing God.' What does that actually mean, and why is it so important?
When Scripture says 'fear the LORD,' it's not talking about being terrified or living in anxious dread. Instead, it's describing a deep, reverent awe and respect for God's absolute holiness and authority. It's recognizing Him for who He truly is – the Creator, the Almighty, the One who is utterly separate from sin. This fear leads to a life of obedience, not out of compulsion, but out of a profound recognition of His worth and goodness. It’s the foundation upon which all true worship and service are built.
God doesn't just want our thoughts; He desires our whole lives. What does this total commitment look like?
The verse concludes with two actions: bowing down and sacrificing. These aren't just religious rituals; they represent a complete submission of one's entire being to God. To 'bow yourselves to him' means to yield everything – your will, your desires, your plans – to His authority. To 'sacrifice' speaks to offering ourselves and our possessions as a response to His grace and power. This isn't a one-time event but a continuous posture of life, acknowledging that everything we have and are belongs to Him who redeemed us.
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Understand the original words
yare' · Hebrew Verb
In a biblical context, fear refers to a reverential awe, profound respect, and trembling obedience toward God, recognizing His supreme authority, holiness, and power. It is the beginning of wisdom and the foundation of a right relationship with the Creator.
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name for God, revealing Him as the self-existent, faithful, and personal God who keeps His promises to His people. It is the name by which God made Himself known to Israel, signifying His intimate and redemptive relationship with them.
zeroa' netuyah · Hebrew Noun phrase
An anthropomorphic metaphor used to describe God’s active, mighty intervention in human history to rescue His people. It emphasizes His supreme strength and His ability to accomplish His purposes against any opposition.
hishtachavah · Hebrew Verb
An act of prostration or physical lowering of oneself before a superior, symbolizing absolute submission, homage, and worship. It signifies the acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty and worthiness.
zabach · Hebrew Verb
A ritual act of offering an animal or gift to God, serving as a means of worship, thanksgiving, atonement for sin, or consecration. It represents the dedication of one’s life or resources to God as an act of obedience.
This passage is a direct reminder to the people of Judah, after the fall of the northern Kingdom of Israel, that the same God who powerfully rescued their ancestors from Egypt demands exclusive loyalty and worship, warning them against the same idolatry that led to their brethren's destruction.
~1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt under Moses, demonstrating His great power and establishing His covenant with them.
c. 1050 BC
Anointed First King of Israel
Saul was anointed king, marking the transition from a period of judges to a monarchy in Israel.
c. 970 BC
United Monarchy Splits
After King Solomon's reign, the united kingdom split into two: the northern Kingdom of Israel (ten tribes) and the southern Kingdom of Judah (two tribes).
732 BC
Assyrian Conquest Begins
Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria began his campaigns against the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting some of its people and increasing pressure on the remaining tribes.
722 BC— this verse
Fall of Samaria and Northern Exile
Samaria, the capital of the northern Kingdom of Israel, fell to the Assyrian king Shalmaneser V. The majority of the remaining Israelite population was exiled to Assyria, and their land was repopulated by foreigners, leading to the 'ten lost tribes'.
c. 622 BC
Josiah's Reforms
King Josiah of Judah discovered the Book of the Law in the Temple and initiated widespread religious reforms, attempting to purge idolatry and centralize worship. This occurred after the fall of the northern kingdom.
This passage from the Ten Commandments echoes the call to exclusively fear and worship the LORD who rescued Israel from Egypt, reinforcing the core command found in 2 Kings.
Deuteronomy 6:13Just as 2 Kings 17:36 emphasizes fearing and serving the LORD, Deuteronomy commands the Israelites to fear the LORD their God, serve him, and swear by his name, connecting the obedience demanded with the LORD's mighty acts.
Joshua 24:14This verse speaks directly to the Israelites' call to honor and serve the LORD alone, presenting the same choice to fear and obey the one who delivered them, mirroring the foundational truth in 2 Kings.
Jeremiah 10:6-7Jeremiah highlights the incomparable power and majesty of the LORD, reinforcing why He alone is worthy of fear and worship, just as 2 Kings 17:36 asserts concerning the God who brought them out of Egypt.
Notice how the verse doesn't just tell us to fear God, but who we're supposed to fear: the One who actively delivered you from slavery. This emphasis on God's powerful, personal intervention is the very reason for worship, not just a historical footnote. It's a reminder that our obedience stems from remembering His immense acts of salvation in our own lives.
Just before this, the prophet explains that the Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered and exiled because they’d turned to worshipping other gods instead of the LORD. This verse is a powerful reminder from God that He is the only true God, the one who rescued them from slavery in Egypt with undeniable might, and He alone deserves their worship and sacrifice. It’s a call back to their foundational relationship with God, emphasizing their unique deliverance as the basis for their loyalty.
Just before this, the prophet explains that the Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered and exiled because they’d turned to worshipping other gods instead of the LORD. This verse is a powerful reminder from God that He is the only true God, the one who rescued them from slavery in Egypt with undeniable might, and He alone deserves their worship and sacrifice. It’s a call back to their foundational relationship with God, emphasizing their unique deliverance as the basis for their loyalty.
"but you shall fear the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm. You shall bow yourselves to him, and to him you shall sacrifice." — Notice how the verse doesn't just tell us to fear God, but who we're supposed to fear: the One who actively delivered you from slavery. This emphasis on God's powerful, personal intervention is t…
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Last reviewed October 2026