1 Samuel 7:4
New International Version
So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only.

New Living Translation
So the Israelites got rid of their images of Baal and Ashtoreth and worshiped only the LORD.

English Standard Version
So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the LORD only.

Berean Standard Bible
So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD.

King James Bible
Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

New King James Version
So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only.

New American Standard Bible
So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served the LORD alone.

NASB 1995
So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served the LORD alone.

NASB 1977
So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served the LORD alone.

Legacy Standard Bible
So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served Yahweh alone.

Amplified Bible
So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served the LORD alone.

Christian Standard Bible
So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths and only worshiped the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths and only worshiped the LORD.

American Standard Version
Then the children of Israel did put away the Baalim and the Ashtaroth, and served Jehovah only.

Contemporary English Version
The people got rid of their idols of Baal and Astarte and began worshiping only the LORD.

English Revised Version
Then the children of Israel did put away the Baalim and the Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So the Israelites got rid of the statues of Baal and Astarte and served only the LORD.

Good News Translation
So the Israelites got rid of their idols of Baal and Astarte, and worshiped only the LORD.

International Standard Version
So the Israelis removed the Baals and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

Majority Standard Bible
So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD.

NET Bible
So the Israelites removed the Baals and images of Ashtoreth. They served only the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
Then the children of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then the children of Israel put away Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

World English Bible
Then the children of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served Yahweh only.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the sons of Israel turn aside the Ba‘alim and Ashtaroth, and serve YHWH alone;

Young's Literal Translation
And the sons of Israel turn aside the Baalim and Ashtaroth, and serve Jehovah alone;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the sons of Israel will put away the Baalims and Ashtaroth, and will serve Jehovah alone.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then the children of Israel put away Baalim and Astaroth, and served the Lord only.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, the sons of Israel took away the Baals and Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord alone.

New American Bible
So the Israelites removed their Baals and Astartes, and served the LORD alone.

New Revised Standard Version
So Israel put away the Baals and the Astartes, and they served the LORD only.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So the children of Israel put away Baal and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the children of Israel took away Baala and the secret places and they worked for LORD JEHOVAH alone
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then the children of Israel did put away the Baalim and the Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the children of Israel took away Baalim and the groves of Astaroth, and served the Lord only.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Samuel Subdues the Philistines
3Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 4So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD. 5Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”…

Cross References
Judges 10:16
So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel.

Deuteronomy 6:14
Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you.

Joshua 24:23
“Now, therefore,” he said, “get rid of the foreign gods among you and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”

1 Kings 11:5-7
Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. / So Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD; unlike his father David, he did not follow the LORD completely. / At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites.

2 Kings 17:16
They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal.

2 Chronicles 33:3
For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had torn down, and he raised up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. And he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.

Jeremiah 11:13
Your gods are indeed as numerous as your cities, O Judah; the altars of shame you have set up—the altars to burn incense to Baal—are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.’

Hosea 14:3
Assyria will not save us, nor will we ride on horses. We will never again say, ‘Our gods!’ to the work of our own hands. For in You the fatherless find compassion.”

Zephaniah 1:4-5
“I will stretch out My hand against Judah and against all who dwell in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal, the names of the idolatrous and pagan priests— / those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven, those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom,

Exodus 20:3-5
You shall have no other gods before Me. / You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. / You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

1 Corinthians 10:14
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

2 Corinthians 6:16-17
What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” / “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

Galatians 4:8-9
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. / But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

Ephesians 5:5
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Colossians 3:5
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.


Treasury of Scripture

Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

Judges 2:11,13
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: …

Judges 10:15,16
And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day…

1 Kings 11:33
Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.

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Alone Ashtaroth Ash'taroth Ashtoreths Astarte Baal Baalim Baals Ba'als Children Israel Israelites Removed Serve Served Turn Worship Worshippers
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Alone Ashtaroth Ash'taroth Ashtoreths Astarte Baal Baalim Baals Ba'als Children Israel Israelites Removed Serve Served Turn Worship Worshippers
1 Samuel 7
1. They of Kiriath Jearim bring the ark to Abinadab, and sanctify Eleazar as guard
2. After twenty years,
3. the Israelites, by Samuel's means, solemnly repent at Mizpeh
7. While Samuel prays and sacrifices,
10. the Lord thwarts the Philistines by thunder at Ebenezer
13. The Philistines are subdued
15. Samuel judges Israel














So the Israelites
This phrase refers to the collective people of Israel, God's chosen nation. Historically, the Israelites were descendants of Jacob, also known as Israel, and were set apart by God to be a holy nation. In the context of 1 Samuel, the Israelites were experiencing a period of spiritual renewal under the leadership of Samuel. This phrase indicates a communal action, emphasizing the unity and collective responsibility of the people in their relationship with God.

put away
The Hebrew root for "put away" is "סוּר" (sur), which means to turn aside, remove, or depart. This action signifies a deliberate and decisive rejection of idolatry. It implies a conscious choice to abandon practices that were contrary to God's commandments. The act of putting away idols is a physical and spiritual cleansing, demonstrating repentance and a return to covenant faithfulness.

the Baals
"Baal" was a title meaning "lord" or "master" and was used for various local deities in the ancient Near East. The worship of Baal was widespread among the Canaanites and often involved rituals that were abhorrent to the God of Israel. Archaeological findings have uncovered numerous Baal idols, highlighting the pervasive nature of this cult. By putting away the Baals, the Israelites were rejecting the influence of surrounding pagan cultures and reaffirming their allegiance to Yahweh.

and Ashtoreths
"Ashtoreths" refers to the Canaanite goddess Astarte, associated with fertility, love, and war. The worship of Ashtoreth often included immoral practices. The plural form suggests the presence of multiple representations or manifestations of this goddess. The Israelites' decision to put away the Ashtoreths indicates a renunciation of these corrupt practices and a commitment to purity and holiness.

and served
The Hebrew word for "served" is "עָבַד" (avad), which means to work, worship, or serve. This term conveys the idea of devotion and obedience. Serving God involves both worship and the practical outworking of faith in daily life. It is an active, ongoing commitment to live according to God's will and commands.

only the LORD
The word "only" underscores the exclusivity of the Israelites' worship and devotion. The LORD, represented by the Hebrew name "Yahweh," is the covenant God of Israel, who delivered them from Egypt and established them as His people. This phrase highlights the monotheistic faith of Israel, distinguishing their worship from the polytheistic practices of surrounding nations. Serving only the LORD is a declaration of loyalty and trust in the one true God, who is sovereign and worthy of all worship.

(4) Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth.--The answer of the people showed how well and thoroughly the prophet-statesman had done his Master's work. Through the land of Israel the graven images of the Ph?nician idols were thrown down, and their impious worship everywhere was boldly dishonoured, and once more, in bold defiance of the idol-worshipping Philistines, the Invisible and Eternal was throughout the land acknowledged as the one God. These acts, of course, were an open act of rebellion against that warlike people who for so long had ruled them with an iron rule.

Verse 4. - Then the children of Israel did put away [the] Baalim and [the] Ashtaroth. This must have been done by a public act, by which at some time previously arranged the images of their Baals and Astartes were torn from their shrines, thrown down, and broken in pieces. Of course this was an overt act of rebellion, for these deities were especially Phoenician idols, and subsequently it was the Phoenician Jezebel who tried so fanatically to introduce their worship into Israel in Ahab's time. To cast off the Philistine deities was equivalent to a rebellion generally against Philistine supremacy. Baal and Astarte, the husband and the wife, represented the reproductive powers of nature, and under various names were worshipped throughout the East, and usually with lewd and wanton orgies.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So the Israelites
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

put away
וַיָּסִ֙ירוּ֙ (way·yā·sî·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

the Baals
הַבְּעָלִ֖ים (hab·bə·‘ā·lîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1168: Baal -- a heathen god

and
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

Ashtoreths
הָעַשְׁתָּרֹ֑ת (hā·‘aš·tā·rōṯ)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6252: A place East of the Jordan

and served
וַיַּעַבְד֥וּ (way·ya·‘aḇ·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

only
לְבַדּֽוֹ׃ (lə·ḇad·dōw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 905: Separation, a part of the body, branch of a, tree, bar for, carrying, chief of

the LORD.
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT History: 1 Samuel 7:4 Then the children of Israel did put (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 7:3
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