King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.
Complete Jewish Bible:
You are not to make a covenant with them or with their gods.
Berean Standard Bible:
You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods.
American Standard Version:
Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Thou shalt make{H3772} no covenant{H1285} with them, nor with their gods{H430}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 7:2
- And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, [and] utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:
Exodus 34:12
- Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:
Exodus 34:15
- Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and [one] call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;
Deuteronomy 7:16
- And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that [will be] a snare unto thee.
Psalms 106:35
- But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
Numbers 25:1
- ¶ And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
Numbers 25:2
- And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 23:32
Exodus 23:32 is part of the Law of Moses, specifically within the Book of the Covenant, which outlines various laws and regulations given to the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt. The verse reads, "Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods." This commandment is situated within a broader context of God's instructions to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, which is inhabited by various nations with their own gods and practices.
The historical context of this verse is crucial for understanding its themes. The Israelites were surrounded by polytheistic cultures, and the risk of religious syncretism—merging their worship of Yahweh with the worship of other gods—was a constant threat. This verse is a direct command from God to the Israelites to maintain a distinct religious identity and to avoid forming political or religious alliances with the nations in Canaan. Such alliances often involved the worship of the other nation's gods, which was considered spiritual adultery in the eyes of Yahweh.
The themes of Exodus 23:32 include exclusive loyalty to Yahweh, the one true God in the Israelite faith, and the importance of maintaining religious purity. The prohibition against making covenants with other nations and their gods underscores the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, which demanded fidelity and exclusivity. This commandment served to protect the Israelites from idolatry and to ensure that they would not adopt the religious practices of their neighbors, which were seen as both spiritually harmful and a violation of their unique relationship with God. The verse emphasizes the need for the Israelites to trust in God alone for their security and prosperity, rather than seeking alliances with other nations, which could lead them away from their faith.
*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: H3772
There are 280 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּרַת
Transliteration: kârath
Pronunciation: kaw-rath'
Description: a primitive root; to 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. - Strong's Number: H1285
There are 264 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּרִית
Transliteration: bᵉrîyth
Pronunciation: ber-eeth'
Description: from בָּרָה (in the sense of cutting (like בָּרָא)); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh); confederacy, (con-) feder(-ate), covenant, league. - Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.