King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.
Complete Jewish Bible:
They are not to live in your land; otherwise they will make you sin against me by ensnaring you to serve their gods."
Berean Standard Bible:
They must not remain in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”
American Standard Version:
They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me; for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
They shall not dwell{H3427} in thy land{H776}, lest they make thee sin{H2398} against me: for if thou serve{H5647} their gods{H430}, it will surely be a snare{H4170} unto thee.
Cross-References (KJV):
Psalms 106:36
- And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
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.
Judges 2:3
- Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be [as thorns] in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
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:
Joshua 23:13
- Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out [any of] these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
Deuteronomy 12:30
- Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
1 Kings 14:16
- And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 23:33
**Themes:**
1. **Purity of Worship:** The verse emphasizes the importance of exclusive worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel, and warns against the integration and adoption of foreign gods and religious practices.
2. **Avoidance of Idolatry:** It underscores the dangers of idolatry, presenting it as a trap or snare that can lead the Israelites away from their covenantal relationship with God.
3. **Divine Command:** The instruction not to allow foreign peoples to dwell in the land is a direct command from God to the Israelites, highlighting the theocratic nature of their society where religious and civil laws are intertwined.
4. **Protection of Identity:** The verse reflects a concern for preserving the unique religious and cultural identity of Israel, which was integral to their covenant with God.
**Historical Context:**
Exodus 23:33 is part of the Covenant Code, a collection of laws given to the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt and while they were encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai. This code, found in Exodus 20:22 through 23:33, outlines various civil, social, religious, and moral laws that were to govern the life of the Israelite community.
The historical context suggests that these laws were given to a people who were about to enter the Promised Land, a land already inhabited by various nations. The command to prevent these nations from dwelling in their land was a means of protecting the Israelites from being influenced by the pagan religions and practices of the Canaanites and other groups.
This verse reflects the broader ancient Near Eastern concern for maintaining cultural and religious purity, which was often tied to the worship of specific deities associated with particular lands. By keeping foreign gods out of their midst, the Israelites were to ensure their loyalty to Yahweh, who had delivered them from slavery and established a covenant with them.
In summary, Exodus 23:33 is a reflection of the need to maintain religious purity and fidelity to Yahweh in the face of potential religious syncretism, and it is set against the backdrop of Israel's formative years as a nation under God's guidance and law.
*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: H3427
There are 980 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָשַׁב
Transliteration: yâshab
Pronunciation: yaw-shab'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry; (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H2398
There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָטָא
Transliteration: châṭâʼ
Pronunciation: khaw-taw'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn; bear the blame, cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass. - Strong's Number: H5647
There are 263 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָבַד
Transliteration: ʻâbad
Pronunciation: aw-bad'
Description: a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.; [idiom] be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, [phrase] husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper, - 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. - Strong's Number: H4170
There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוֹקֵשׁ
Transliteration: môwqêsh
Pronunciation: mo-kashe'
Description: or מֹקֵשׁ; from יָקֹשׁ; a noose (for catching animals) (literally or figuratively); by implication, a hook (for the nose); be ensnared, gin, (is) snare(-d), trap.