King James Version

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.

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Hebrew

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ה֣וּאhuas for herהוּאpronoun, personal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “as for her”H1931he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or arehe, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who.הֵסִ֣ירhesirturnסוּרverb, hiphil, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “turn”, a completed actionH5493to turn off (literal or figurative)be(-head), bring, call back, decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), [idiom] grievous, lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away, down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, [idiom] be sour, take (away, off), turn…אֶתetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).הַבָּמ֗וֹתhabamotthe heightבָּמָהdefinite article, noun, common, feminine, plural, absolute — “the height”, the ordinary formH1116an elevationheight, high place, wave.וְשִׁבַּר֙veshibarand breakשָׁבַרconjunction, verb, piel, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and break”, a completed actionH7665to burst (literally or figuratively)break (down, off, in pieces, up), broken (-hearted), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt, quench, [idiom] quite, tear, view (by mistake for H7663 (שָׂבַר)).אֶתetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).הַמַּצֵּבֹ֔תhamatsevotthe garrisonמַצֵּבָהdefinite article, noun, common, feminine, plural, absolute — “the garrison”, the ordinary formH4676something stationed, i.e. a column or (memorial stone); by analogy, an idolgarrison, (standing) image, pillar.וְכָרַ֖תvekharatand covenantכָּרַתconjunction, verb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and covenant”, a completed actionH3772to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces)be chewed, be con-(feder-) ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league (covenant), [idiom] lose, perish, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] want.אֶתetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).הָֽאֲשֵׁרָ֑הhaasherahthe grove. Compare H6253אֲשֵׁרָהdefinite article, noun, proper name — “the grove. Compare H6253”H842Asherah (or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the samegrove. Compare H6253 (עַשְׁתֹּרֶת).וְכִתַּת֩vekhitatand beatכָּתַתconjunction, verb, piel, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and beat”, a completed actionH3807to bruise or violently strikebeat (down, to pieces), break in pieces, crushed, destroy, discomfit, smite, stamp. lנְחַ֨שׁnechashserpentנָחָשׁnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “serpent”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH5175a snake (from its hiss)serpent.הַנְּחֹ֜שֶׁתhanchoshetthe copperנְחֹשֶׁתdefinite article, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “the copper”, the ordinary formH5178copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as compared with gold or silver)brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass), filthiness, steel.אֲשֶׁרasherbecauseאֲשֶׁרparticle, relative — “because”H834who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.[idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever,…עָשָׂ֣הasahdoעָשָׂהverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “do”, a completed actionH6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationaccomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, f…מֹשֶׁ֗הmoshehMosesמֹשֶׁהnoun, proper name — “Moses”H4872Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverMoses.כִּ֣יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…עַדadevenעַדpreposition — “even”H5704as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)against, and, as, at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as), (hither-) to, [phrase] how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that, till, toward, until, when, while, ([phrase] as) yet.הַיָּמִ֤יםhayamimthe as long asיוֹםdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “the as long as”, the ordinary formH3117a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) lon…הָהֵ֨מָּה֙hahemahthe theyהֵםdefinite article, pronoun, personal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “the they”H1992they (only used when emphatic)it, like, [idiom] (how, so) many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, [idiom] so, [idiom] such, their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.הָי֤וּhayvbeהָיָהverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “be”, a completed actionH1961to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use.בְנֵֽיvenesonבֵּןnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct — “son”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)[phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, […יִשְׂרָאֵל֙yisraelIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלnoun, proper name — “Israel”H3478Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterityIsrael.מְקַטְּרִ֣יםmeqatrimburnקָטַרverb, piel, participle, absolute — “burn”, a verb used as a describing wordH6999to smoke, i.e. turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship)burn (incense, sacrifice) (upon), (altar for) incense, kindle, offer (incense, a sacrifice).ל֔וֹlvotoל֔וֹpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “to”toוַיִּקְרָאvayiqraand callקָרָאconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and call”, the next action in the storyH7121to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.ל֖וֹlvotoל֖וֹpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “to”toנְחֻשְׁתָּֽןnechushtanNehushtanנְחֻשְׁתָּןnoun, proper name — “Nehushtan”H5180something made of copper, i.e. the copper serpent of the DesertNehushtan.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah; and he broke in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did offer to it; and it was called Nehushtan.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

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.

Young’s Literal Translation

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.'

World English Bible

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.

Darby Translation

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.

Douay-Rheims

He destroyed the high places, and broke the statues in pieces, and cut down the groves, and broke the brazen serpent, which Moses had made: for till that time the children of Israel burnt incense to it: and he called its name Nohestan.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

He removed the high places, and broke in pieces the pillars, and utterly destroyed the groves, and the brazen serpent which Moses made: because until those days the children of Israel burnt incense to it: and he called it Neesthan.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Αὐτὸς ἐξῆρε τὰ ὑψηλὰ, καὶ συνέτριψε τὰς στήλας, καὶ ἐξωλέθρευσε τὰ ἄλση, καὶ τὸν ὄφιν τὸν χαλκοῦν ὃν ἐποίησε Μωυσῆς, ὅτι ἕως τῶν ἡμερῶν ἐκείνων ἦσαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ θυμιῶντες αὐτῷ· καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸν Νεεσθάν.