2 Kings 17:37

And you must always be careful to observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments He wrote for you. Do not worship other gods.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Yahweh addresses the Israelites dwelling in the land, immediately after commanding exclusive worship and recalling His deliverance from Egypt. The instruction functions as a direct covenant mandate within the narrative's focus on proper conduct in the territory.

The words — The Hebrew terms חֻקִּים (ḥuqqîm, statutes) and מִצְוָה (miṣwâ, commandment) anchor the verse’s demand for strict adherence to divine instruction. Together with תּוֹרָה (tôrâ, law) and מִשְׁפָּטִים (mišpāṭîm, judgments), they form a cumulative list of obligations that Yahweh wrote for His people.

The thread — This emphasis on keeping statutes, ordinances, and commandments echoes Leviticus 19:37, where Yahweh commands Israel to keep all His statutes and ordinances, and Deuteronomy 4:44 and 5:31, which frame Moses’ delivery of these laws. The phrasing reinforces the continuity of covenant requirements across the Torah.

Why it lands — The verse demands consistent observance of every written directive without deviation or syncretism. It requires the reader to treat divine instruction as a fixed standard that precludes worship of any other deity.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>הַחֻקִּ֨יםha./chu.Kimthe/ statutes וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֜יםha./mish.pa.Timthe/ judgments וְהַתּוֹרָ֤הve./ha./to.Rahand/ the/ law וְהַמִּצְוָה֙ve./ha./mitz.Vahand/ the/ commandment אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhich כָּתַ֣בka.Tavhe wroteלָכֶ֔םla./Khemfor/ youתִּשְׁמְר֥וּןtish.me.Ru/nyou will take care/ !לַעֲשׂ֖וֹתla./'a.Sotto/ do כָּל־kol-all הַיָּמִ֑יםhai./ya.Mimthe/ days וְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not תִֽירְא֖וּti.re.'Uyou must fear אֱלֹהִ֥ים'E.lo.Himgods אֲחֵרִֽים׃'a.che.Rimother

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Leviticus 19:37 You must keep all My statutes and all My ordinances and follow them. I am the LORD.”
Deuteronomy 4:44 This is the law that Moses set before the Israelites.
Deuteronomy 5:31 But you stand here with Me, that I may speak to you all the commandments and statutes and ordinances you are to teach them to follow in the land that I am giving them to possess.”
Deuteronomy 12:32 See that you do everything I command you; do not add to it or subtract from it.
Nehemiah 9:13 You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You gave them just ordinances, true laws, and good statutes and commandments.
Deuteronomy 31:9 So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.
Psalms 105:44 He gave them the lands of the nations, that they might inherit the fruit of others’ labor,
Deuteronomy 31:11 when all Israel comes before the LORD your God at the place He will choose, you are to read this law in the hearing of all Israel.
1 Chronicles 29:19 And give my son Solomon a whole heart to keep and carry out all Your commandments, decrees, and statutes, and to build Your palace for which I have made provision.”
Psalms 19:8 The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.