Exodus 34:12

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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:

Complete Jewish Bible:

Be careful not to make a covenant with the people living in the land where you are going, so that they won't become a snare within your own borders.

Berean Standard Bible:

Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest they become a snare in your midst.

American Standard Version:

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:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Take heed^{H8104} to thyself, lest thou make^{H3772} a covenant^{H1285} with the inhabitants^{H3427} of the land^{H776} whither thou goest^{H935}, lest it be for a snare^{H4170} in the midst^{H7130} of thee:

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Exodus 34:12

Exodus 34:12 is a part of the narrative where God is giving Moses specific instructions on Mount Sinai after the incident of the golden calf. The verse is situated within the broader context of God reaffirming His covenant with the Israelites, providing Moses with the second set of the Ten Commandments. In this particular verse, God warns Moses to be vigilant and not to enter into treaties or covenants with the native inhabitants of the land that the Israelites are destined to possess—the land of Canaan.

The historical context of this warning is rooted in the concern that alliances with the local populations could lead the Israelites into idolatry and apostasy, as these peoples worshiped a pantheon of gods. The verse reflects a recurring theme in the Pentateuch, emphasizing the importance of maintaining religious and cultural purity, and avoiding the influence of pagan practices that could threaten the unique relationship between God and His chosen people.

The command to avoid making covenants with the inhabitants of Canaan is both a religious and a political directive. It underscores the necessity of the Israelites' exclusive loyalty to Yahweh, as well as the potential political entanglements that could arise from such alliances, which might compromise their mission to establish a nation in the Promised Land under God's laws. Exodus 34:12 thus encapsulates the intertwining of religious identity and national sovereignty, a theme that is central to the narrative of the Israelites' journey from slavery to nationhood.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H8104
   There are 440 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַר
   Transliteration: shâmar
   Pronunciation: shaw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.; beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
   
2. 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.
   
3. 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.
   
4. 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.
   
5. 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.
   
6. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
7. 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.
   
8. Strong's Number: H7130
   There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קֶרֶב
   Transliteration: qereb
   Pronunciation: keh'-reb
   Description: from קָרַב; properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition); [idiom] among, [idiom] before, bowels, [idiom] unto charge, [phrase] eat (up), [idiom] heart, [idiom] him, [idiom] in, inward ([idiom] -ly, part, -s, thought), midst, [phrase] out of, purtenance, [idiom] therein, [idiom] through, [idiom] within self.