2 Kings 18 · Verse 4

2 Kings 18:4

He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

2 Kings 18:4, King James Version

2 Kings 18:4 in other translations

BSB	He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze snake called Nehushtan that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had burned incense to it.
WEB	He removed the high places, broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because in those days the children of Israel burned incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.
ASV	He removed the high places, and brake the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.
YLT	he hath turned aside the high places, and broken in pieces the standing-pillars, and cut down the shrine, and beaten down the brazen serpent that Moses made, for unto these days were the sons of Israel making perfume to it, and he calleth it ‘a piece of brass.'
DARBY	He removed the high places, and broke the columns, and cut down the Asherahs, and broke in pieces the serpent of brass that Moses had made; for to those days the children of Israel burned incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
BBE	He had the high places taken away, and the stone pillars broken to bits, and the Asherah cut down; and the brass snake which Moses had made was crushed to powder at his order, because in those days the children of Israel had offerings burned before it, and he gave it the name Nehushtan.
Webster	He removed the high places, and broke the images, and cut down the groves, and broke in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for till those days the children of Israel burnt incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

What does 2 Kings 18:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

4. He removed the high places and brake the images, &c.--The methods adopted by this good king for extirpating idolatry, and accomplishing a thorough reformation in religion, are fully detailed (2Ch 20:3; 31:19). But they are indicated very briefly, and in a sort of passing allusion. brake in pieces the brazen serpent--The preservation of this remarkable relic of antiquity (Nu 21:5-10) might, like the pot of manna and Aaron's rod, have remained an interesting and instructive monument of the divine goodness and mercy to the Israelites in the wilderness: and it must have required the exercise of no small courage and resolution to destroy it. But in the progress of degeneracy it had become an object of idolatrous worship and as the interests of true religion rendered its demolition necessary, Hezekiah, by taking this bold step, consulted both the glory of God and the good of his country. unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it--It is not to be supposed that this superstitious reverence had been paid to it ever since the time of Moses, for such idolatry would not have been tolerated either by David or by Solomon in the early part of his reign, by Asa or Jehoshaphat had they been aware of such a folly. But the probability is, that the introduction of this superstition does not date earlier than the time when the family of Ahab, by their alliance with the throne of Judah, exercised a pernicious influence in paving the way for all kinds of idolatry. It is possible, however, as some think, that its origin may have arisen out of a misapprehension of Moses' language (Nu 21:8). Serpent-worship, how revolting soever it may appear, was an extensively diffused form of idolatry; and it would obtain an easier reception in Israel because many of the neighboring nations, such as the Egyptians and Phoenicians, adored idol gods in the form of serpents as the emblems of health and immortality.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 4 Brake in pieces the brazen serpent - The history of this may be seen in Num 21:8 (note), Num 21:9 (note). We find that this brazen serpent had become an object of idolatry, and no doubt was supposed to possess, as a telesm or amulet, extraordinary virtues, and that incense was burnt before it which should have been burnt before the true God. And he called it Nehushtan - נהשתן. Not one of the versions has attempted to translate this word. Jarchi says, "He called it Nechustan, through contempt, which is as much as to say, a brazen serpent." Some have supposed that the word is compounded of נחש nachash, to divine, and תן tan, a serpent, so it signifies the divining serpent; and the Targum states that it was the people, not Hezekiah, that gave it this name. נחש nachash signifies to view, eye attentively, observe, to search, inquire accurately, etc.; and hence is used to express divination, augury. As a noun it signifies brass or copper, filth, verdigris, and some sea animal, Amo 9:3; see also Job 26:13, and Isa 26:1. It is also frequently used for a serpent; and most probably for an animal of the genus Simia, in Gen 3:1 (note), where see the notes. This has been contested by some, ridiculed by a few, and believed by many. The objectors, because it signifies a serpent sometimes, suppose it must have the same signification always! And one to express his contempt and show his sense, has said, "Did Moses hang up an ape on a pole?" I answer, No, no more than he hanged up you, who ask the contemptible question. But this is of a piece with the conduct of the people of Milan, who show you to this day the brazen serpent which Moses hung up in the wilderness, and which Hezekiah broke in pieces two thousand five hundred years ago! Of serpents there is a great variety. Allowing that נחש nachash signifies a serpent, I may ask in my turn, What kind of a serpent was it that tempted Eve? Of what species was that which Moses hung up on the pole, and which Hezekiah broke to pieces? Who of the wise men can answer these questions? Till this is done I assert, that the word, Gen 3:1, etc., does not signify a serpent of any kind; and that with a creature of the genus Simia the whole account best agrees.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Kings 18:1-8

Hezekiah was a true son of David. Some others did that which was right, but not like David. Let us not suppose that when times and men are bad, they must needs grow worse and worse; that does not follow: after many bad kings, God raised one up like David himself. The brazen serpent had been carefully preserved, as a memorial of God's goodness to their fathers in the wilderness; but it was idle and wicked to burn…

Read the full comment on 2 Kings 18:1-8 →

2 Kings 18:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ה֣וּא\׀hu'heH1931

הֵסִ֣ירhe.Sirhe removedH5493

אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853

הַבָּמ֗וֹתha.ba.Motthe high placesH1116

וְשִׁבַּר֙ve.shi.Barand he brokeH7665

אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853

הַמַּצֵּבֹ֔תha.ma.tze.Votthe sacred pillarsH4676

וְכָרַ֖תve.kha.Ratand he cut downH3772

אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853

הָֽאֲשֵׁרָ֑הha.'a.she.Rahthe Asherah poleH842

וְכִתַּת֩ve.khi.Tatand he crushed to piecesH3807

נְחַ֨שׁne.Chash[the] snake ofH5175

הַנְּחֹ֜שֶׁתha.ne.Cho.shet<the> bronzeH5178

אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whichH834

עָשָׂ֣ה'a.Sahhe had madeH6213

מֹשֶׁ֗הmo.ShehMosesH4872

כִּ֣יkiforH3588

עַד\־'ad-untilH5704

הַיָּמִ֤יםhai.ya.Mimthe daysH3117

הָהֵ֙מָּה֙ha.He.mah<the> thoseH1992

הָי֤וּha.Yuthey wereH1961

בְנֵֽי\־ve.nei-[the] people ofH1121

יִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478

מְקַטְּרִ֣יםme.ka.te.Rimmaking smokeH6999

ל֔וֹloto it

וַיִּקְרָא\־vai.yik.ra'-and someone had calledH7121

ל֖וֹlo<to> it

נְחֻשְׁתָּֽן\׃ne.chush.TanNehushtanH5180

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Kings 18:4

2 Chronicles 31:1
Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
Numbers 21:8-9
And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
2 Kings 18:22
But if ye say unto me, We trust in the Lord our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?
Judges 6:28
And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.
1 Kings 15:12-14
And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron. But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa’s heart was perfect with the Lord all his days.
Exodus 23:24
Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
Deuteronomy 12:2-3
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: And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.
1 Kings 22:43
And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.
Leviticus 26:30
And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
1 Kings 3:2-3
Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the Lord, until those days. And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
2 Kings 12:3
But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
Judges 6:25
And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

removed.
12:3; 14:4; 15:4,35; Le 26:30; 1Ki 3:2,3; 15:14; 22:43; Ps 78:58
Eze 20:28,29
brake.
23:4; De 7:5; 12:2,3; Jud 6:25,28; 1Ki 15:12,13; 2Ch 19:3; 31:1
2Ch 33:3
images. Heb. statues. the brasen serpent.
Nu 21:8,9; Joh 3:14,15
unto those days.
16:15
Nehushtan.That is, a piece of brass.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 Kings 18:3
And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did.
2 Kings 18:4
He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
2 Kings 18:5
He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.

Read all of 2 Kings 18

2 Kings 18:4 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	El quitó los altos, y quebró las imágenes, y taló los bosques, é hizo pedazos la serpiente de bronce que había hecho Moisés, porque hasta entonces le quemaban perfumes los hijos de Israel; y llamóle por nombre Nehustán.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Il ôta les hauts lieux, et brisa les statues, et coupa les ashères, et mit en pièces le serpent d’airain que Moïse avait fait, car jusqu’à ces jours-là les fils d’Israël lui brûlaient de l’encens; et il l’appela: Nehushtan.
German Elberfelder 1871	Er tat die Höhen hinweg und zerschlug die Bildsäulen, und rottete die Aschera aus, und zertrümmerte die eherne Schlange, welche Mose gemacht hatte; denn bis zu jenen Tagen hatten die Kinder Israel ihr geräuchert, und man nannte sie Nechustan.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Ipse dissipavit excelsa, et contrivit statuas, et succidit lucos, confregitque serpentem æneum quem fecerat Moyses: siquidem usque ad illud tempus filii Israël adolebant ei incensum: vocavitque nomen ejus Nohestan.