Deuteronomy 12:2
Deuteronomy 12:2 in Multiple Translations
Destroy completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods—atop the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree.
Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:
Ye shall surely destroy all the places wherein the nations that ye shall dispossess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:
You are to give up to the curse all those places where the nations, whom you are driving out, gave worship to their gods, on the high mountains and the hills and under every green tree:
You are to completely destroy all the pagan shrines where the nations you're driving out worshiped their gods: on the top of high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree.
Yee shall vtterly destroy all the places wherein the nations which ye shall possesse, serued their gods vpon the hie mountaines and vpon the hilles, and vnder euery greene tree.
ye do utterly destroy all the places where the nations which ye are dispossessing served their gods, on the high mountains, and on the heights, and under every green tree;
You shall surely destroy all the places in which the nations that you shall dispossess served their gods: on the high mountains, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
Ye shall utterly destroy all the places in which the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:
Destroy all the places in which the nations, that you shall possess, worshipped their gods upon high mountains, and hills, and under every shady tree:
You must destroy all the places where the people-groups that you will expel worship their gods, on the tops of mountains and hills and under big green trees.
Berean Amplified Bible — Deuteronomy 12:2
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Deuteronomy 12:2 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Deuteronomy 12:2
Study Notes — Deuteronomy 12:2
- Context
- Cross References
- Deuteronomy 12:2 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 12:2
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 12:2
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Deuteronomy 12:2
- Trapp's Commentary on Deuteronomy 12:2
- Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 12:2
- Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 12:2
- Whedon's Commentary on Deuteronomy 12:2
- Sermons on Deuteronomy 12:2
Context — One Place for Worship
2Destroy completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods—atop the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree.
3Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, burn up their Asherah poles, cut down the idols of their gods, and wipe out their names from every place. 4You shall not worship the LORD your God in this way.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 7:5 | Instead, this is what you are to do to them: tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their idols in the fire. |
| 2 | 2 Kings 16:4 | And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree. |
| 3 | Numbers 33:51–52 | “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, you must drive out before you all the inhabitants of the land, destroy all their carved images and cast idols, and demolish all their high places. |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 7:25–26 | You must burn up the images of their gods; do not covet the silver and gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it; for it is detestable to the LORD your God. And you must not bring any detestable thing into your house, or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. You are to utterly detest and abhor it, because it is set apart for destruction. |
| 5 | Exodus 34:12–17 | Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest they become a snare in your midst. Rather, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and chop down their Asherah poles. For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices. And when you take some of their daughters as brides for your sons, their daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods and cause your sons to do the same. You shall make no molten gods for yourselves. |
| 6 | 2 Kings 17:10–11 | They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger. |
| 7 | Hosea 4:13 | They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery. |
| 8 | Jeremiah 3:6 | Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there. |
| 9 | Ezekiel 20:28–29 | When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, presented offerings that provoked Me, sent up their fragrant incense, and poured out their drink offerings. So I asked them: ‘What is this high place to which you go?’ (And to this day it is called Bamah. ) |
| 10 | 2 Kings 23:13 | The king also desecrated the high places east of Jerusalem, to the south of the Mount of Corruption, which King Solomon of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. |
Deuteronomy 12:2 Summary
[This verse is telling the Israelites to completely get rid of all the places where the other nations were worshiping their false gods, as seen in Deuteronomy 12:2. This is because God wants His people to worship Him alone, as stated in Exodus 20:3-5. By destroying these places, the Israelites can stay faithful to God and avoid being tempted to worship other gods. This is still important for us today, as we are called to worship God alone and avoid anything that might lead us away from Him, as seen in Matthew 22:37-38.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to destroy completely all the places where the nations have served their gods?
This means to completely eliminate any remnants of idolatrous worship, as seen in Deuteronomy 12:2, to prevent the Israelites from being tempted to worship other gods, as warned in Exodus 20:3-5.
Why were the Israelites instructed to destroy the high places and idols of the nations they dispossessed?
The Israelites were instructed to do so to prevent the influence of idolatry and to maintain their covenant with the one true God, as stated in Deuteronomy 12:2 and reinforced in Deuteronomy 6:14-15.
How does this verse relate to the concept of spiritual warfare?
This verse highlights the importance of removing any obstacles or strongholds that could lead to spiritual compromise, as seen in Deuteronomy 12:2, and is reminiscent of the spiritual warfare described in Ephesians 6:10-18.
What is the significance of the locations mentioned in this verse, such as high mountains and under every green tree?
These locations were often associated with pagan worship and idolatry, as seen in Deuteronomy 12:2, and the Israelites were to destroy these places to prevent any temptation to participate in such worship, as warned in Deuteronomy 16:21-22.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I may be unknowingly serving 'other gods', and how can I destroy those strongholds?
- How can I apply the principle of completely destroying idolatrous influences in my own life, as seen in Deuteronomy 12:2?
- What are some ways I can protect myself from the influence of worldly ideologies and stay true to my faith, as instructed in Romans 12:2?
- In what ways can I be a part of destroying the 'high places' of idolatry in my community, as seen in Deuteronomy 12:2, and sharing the gospel with those around me?
Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 12:2
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 12:2
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Deuteronomy 12:2
Trapp's Commentary on Deuteronomy 12:2
Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 12:2
Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 12:2
Whedon's Commentary on Deuteronomy 12:2
Sermons on Deuteronomy 12:2
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Acts 17_pt2 by Bill Gallatin | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the unity and harmony that will be experienced in the kingdom age. He highlights that God has a special plan and purpose for each individual |
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What Time I Am Afraid, I Will Trust in Thee by A.B. Simpson | The preacher delves into the meaning of stumbling (ptaio) in the New Testament, emphasizing its figurative use to denote error, sin, and failure to keep God's law. Through the stud |
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God's Truth About Alliances by Russell Kelfer | In this sermon series titled "How Can Two Walk Together Except They Be Agreed?", the speaker addresses the topic of Satan's lies about holiness, separation, and false alliances. Th |
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The Vow of the Nicolaitan Bride by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of going beyond personal convenience in order to fulfill God's plans for our lives. He quotes the scripture where Paul urges |
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The Candlestick - Pergamos by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher criticizes the current state of preaching, claiming that many sermons focus on worldly pleasures rather than addressing sin and the significance of the |
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(Through the Bible) Jeremiah 3-5 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need for people to turn away from worldly distractions and dedicate themselves fully to God and spiritual matters. He quotes from the bo |
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(Through the Bible) Jeremiah 6-10 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of obeying the inner conscience that God has placed in each person. He questions the wisdom of those who claim to be wise but |





