Tobit 14:6 - And all the nations will turn to fear the Lord God truly, and will bury their idols.

Generated Verse: Tobit 14:6

What does "Tobit 14:6" mean?


Tobit 14:6, "And all the nations will turn to fear the Lord God truly, and will bury their idols," expresses a hope for universal recognition and worship of the one true God, and a rejection of idolatry. Here's a breakdown of what it means:

"And all the nations will turn to fear the Lord God truly...": This signifies a future time when all people, regardless of their origin or current beliefs, will acknowledge and revere the God of Israel. The phrase "fear the Lord" doesn't necessarily mean being scared, but rather a deep respect, awe, and obedience based on understanding God's power, justice, and goodness. It's a wholehearted commitment and allegiance.

"...and will bury their idols.": This part emphasizes the abandonment of false gods and the practices associated with them. "Burying their idols" symbolizes a complete renunciation of idolatry. It's a physical act representing a spiritual transformation. Burying suggests that the idols are not just discarded, but actively hidden away and treated as something shameful and defunct, never to be used again.

In summary, the verse speaks of a future Messianic age where:

Monotheism (belief in one God) will be universally accepted.
False religions and the worship of idols will be abandoned.
Humanity will live in reverence and obedience to God.

Context within Tobit:

The Book of Tobit is considered a work of religious fiction. It contains many homiletic lessons, with this particular verse coming near the end of the book when Tobit makes prophesies on his deathbed. The general theme of the book concerns the righteous prospering and the wicked being punished, with the Jewish people restored to prominence in their homeland. The line then, is part of Tobit's belief in the restoration of the Jewish people, and also that the rest of the world will come to see the Jewish God as the only true God.