King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.
Complete Jewish Bible:
I will send hornets ahead of you to drive out the Hivi, Kena'ani and Hitti from before you.
Berean Standard Bible:
I will send the hornet before you to drive the Hivites and Canaanites and Hittites out of your way.
American Standard Version:
And I will send the hornet before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And I will send{H7971} hornets{H6880} before{H6440} thee, which shall drive out{H1644} the Hivite{H2340}, the Canaanite{H3669}, and the Hittite{H2850}, from before{H6440} thee.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 7:20
- Moreover the LORD thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed.
Joshua 24:11
- And ye went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand.
Joshua 24:12
- And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, [even] the two kings of the Amorites; [but] not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 23:28
Exodus 23:28 is part of a larger section in the book of Exodus known as the Book of the Covenant, which contains a series of laws and regulations given by God to the Israelites through Moses. This particular verse is situated within the context of God's promises to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land after their exodus from Egypt. The historical context is rooted in the period when the Israelites, having been enslaved in Egypt for centuries, are being led by Moses towards Canaan, the land promised to their ancestors by God.
In the verse, God assures the Israelites of divine assistance in their conquest of Canaan. The "hornets" mentioned are symbolic of a terror or a plague that God will send ahead of the Israelite army. This divine intervention is intended to afflict the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites—some of the indigenous peoples of Canaan—causing them to flee and thus allowing the Israelites to occupy the land without having to engage in direct, large-scale military conflict with these nations.
The theme of the verse is the assurance of God's presence and active participation in the affairs of His people. It underscores the idea that the Israelites' success in possessing the land is not solely due to their own strength or strategy but is contingent upon God's power and faithfulness to His covenantal promises. This promise also serves to instill confidence in the Israelites and to remind them of their special relationship with God, who is not only their deliverer from bondage but also their protector and ally in their future endeavors.
The verse reflects the broader biblical theme of God's sovereignty over nations and His ability to use various means to accomplish His purposes. It is a testament to the belief that God is actively involved in history, guiding and shaping the destinies of peoples in accordance with His divine will. The mention of specific peoples like the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites also highlights the historical specificity of the biblical narrative, rooting the Israelite experience in a particular time and place within the ancient Near East.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7971
There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלַח
Transliteration: shâlach
Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out). - Strong's Number: H6880
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צִרְעָה
Transliteration: tsirʻâh
Pronunciation: tsir-aw'
Description: from צָרַע; a wasp (as stinging); hornet. - Strong's Number: H6440
There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּנִים
Transliteration: pânîym
Pronunciation: paw-neem'
Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. - Strong's Number: H1644
There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּרַשׁ
Transliteration: gârash
Pronunciation: gaw-rash'
Description: a primitive root; to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorce; cast up (out), divorced (woman), drive away (forth, out), expel, [idiom] surely put away, trouble, thrust out. - Strong's Number: H2340
There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חִוִּי
Transliteration: Chivvîy
Pronunciation: khiv-vee'
Description: perhaps from חַוָּה; a villager; a Chivvite, one of the aboriginal tribes of Palestine; Hivite. - Strong's Number: H3669
There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כְּנַעַנִי
Transliteration: Kᵉnaʻanîy
Pronunciation: ken-ah-an-ee'
Description: patrial from כְּנַעַן; a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing for their neighbors the Ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile caravans); Canaanite, merchant, trafficker. - Strong's Number: H2850
There are 47 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חִתִּי
Transliteration: Chittîy
Pronunciation: khit-tee'
Description: patronymically from חֵת; a Chittite, or descendant of Cheth; Hittite, Hittities.