But they will become his slaves, so that they may learn the difference between My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”
- KJV Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
- BSB Nevertheless, they will become his servants, so that they may learn the difference between serving Me and serving the kings of other lands.”
- NKJV Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may distinguish My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations.”
- NLT But they will become his subjects, so they will know the difference between serving me and serving earthly rulers.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Nevertheless, Judah will become Shishak's servants so they may learn the difference between serving God and serving earthly kingdoms. Discipline teaches the worth of God's service.
Overview
Though spared destruction, Judah must endure subjection to Egypt as instructive chastening. By tasting servitude to a pagan power, they would learn how good it is to serve the LORD. This teaches that God's service is freedom and blessing, while bondage to the world is bitter, a lesson fulfilled in Christ, whose yoke is easy (Matthew 11:30).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Deut 28:47–48Because you didn’t serve Yahweh your God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, by reason of the abundance of all things;
- Isa 26:13Yahweh our God, other lords besides you have had dominion over us, but by you only will we make mention of your name.
- Judg 3:1Now these are the nations which Yahweh left, to test Israel by them, even as many as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
- Hos 8:10But although they sold themselves among the nations, I will now gather them; and they begin to waste away because of the oppression of the king of mighty ones.
- Jer 10:24Yahweh, correct me, but in measure: not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing.
- Neh 9:36“Behold, we are servants today, and as for the land that you gave to our fathers to eat its fruit and its good, behold, we are servants in it.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 12:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.