Deuteronomy 7:16

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And thou shalt consume {H398} all the people {H5971} which the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430} shall deliver {H5414} thee; thine eye {H5869} shall have no pity {H2347} upon them: neither shalt thou serve {H5647} their gods {H430}; for that will be a snare {H4170} unto thee.

Complete Jewish Bible

You are to devour all the peoples that ADONAI your God hands over to you - show them no pity, and do not serve their gods, because that will become a trap for you.

Berean Standard Bible

You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God will deliver to you. Do not look on them with pity. Do not worship their gods, for that will be a snare to you.

American Standard Version

And thou shalt consume all the peoples that Jehovah thy God shall deliver unto thee; thine eye shall not pity them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 7:16 presents a stringent divine directive to the Israelites on the precipice of entering Canaan, commanding them to utterly destroy the indigenous populations without any compassion. Crucially, it also forbids them from serving the gods of these nations, warning that such worship would inevitably become a dangerous "snare." This mandate powerfully underscores God's absolute holiness, His righteous judgment against the pervasive wickedness of the Canaanites, and the paramount necessity of Israel's unwavering, exclusive devotion to Yahweh, lest spiritual compromise lead them astray from their covenant relationship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is intricately woven into Moses' second major discourse in Deuteronomy, specifically within the section (chapters 7-11) that meticulously details the covenant stipulations for Israel's life in the Promised Land. Following God's profound declaration of Israel as His chosen, beloved people—selected not for their numerical strength but by His sovereign grace and faithful oath to the patriarchs, as articulated in [Deuteronomy 7:7-8](/deuteronomy/7-7-8 "Deuteronomy 7:7-8 - God's Choice of Israel")—Moses immediately outlines the severe consequences for the Canaanite nations. The preceding verses, particularly [Deuteronomy 7:1-6](/deuteronomy/7-1-6 "Deuteronomy 7:1-6 - Commands Against Canaanite Practices"), already commanded the destruction of their altars, sacred pillars, Asherim, and graven images, alongside a strict prohibition on intermarriage. This comprehensive set of instructions sets the stage for the uncompromising command in verse 16 to eradicate the people themselves, thereby preventing spiritual contamination. Thus, [Deuteronomy 7:16](/deuteronomy/7-16 "Deuteronomy 7:16 - Command to Consume and Not Serve") serves as a direct, uncompromising instruction flowing from the foundational principle of maintaining Israel's holy distinctiveness and covenant purity before the LORD.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** At the historical juncture of this command, Israel stood on the plains of Moab, poised to enter the land of Canaan. This land was inhabited by various peoples—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, as explicitly listed in [Deuteronomy 7:1](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1 - Nations to be Dispossessed"). These cultures were deeply entrenched in polytheistic worship, often involving practices utterly anathema to Yahweh, such as child sacrifice ([Deuteronomy 12:31](/deuteronomy/12-31 "Deuteronomy 12:31 - Abominable Practices")), cultic prostitution, and various forms of divination. God's judgment upon these nations was not arbitrary but represented the culmination of their pervasive iniquity, which had reached its full measure over centuries, as foretold in [Genesis 15:16](/genesis/15-16 "Genesis 15:16 - The Iniquity of the Amorites"). The command to "consume all the people" and show "no pity" must therefore be understood within the unique historical context of a specific divine judgment against utterly corrupt cultures. Its primary intent was to preserve the spiritual integrity of God's chosen nation and prevent the insidious spread of evil that would ultimately undermine the very purpose of Israel's existence as a light to the nations.

* **Key Themes:** [Deuteronomy 7:16](/deuteronomy/7-16 "Deuteronomy 7:16 - Command to Consume and Not Serve") profoundly contributes to several overarching themes evident throughout Deuteronomy and the broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, it emphatically underscores **Divine Judgment and Holiness**, demonstrating God's absolute intolerance for sin and His righteous wrath against pervasive evil that corrupts humanity and defiles the land. Secondly, it highlights the critical importance of **Covenant Faithfulness and Purity**. God demanded exclusive allegiance from Israel, and the eradication of the Canaanites and their idolatrous practices was a necessary, albeit severe, measure to safeguard Israel's spiritual purity and their unique, uncompromised relationship with the LORD. The explicit warning, "neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that [will be] a snare unto thee," emphasizes the insidious danger of **Warning Against Idolatry**. This theme recurs throughout Israel's history, vividly illustrating the constant temptation to adopt the religious practices of surrounding cultures, which invariably led to spiritual apostasy and divine discipline, as tragically depicted in the cyclical narratives of the book of [Judges](/judges/1 "The Book of Judges - Cycles of Disobedience"). Lastly, the verse powerfully reinforces the theme of **Separation and Distinction**, as Israel was called to be a distinct, holy people, a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" ([Exodus 19:5-6](/exodus/19-5-6 "Exodus 19:5-6 - Israel as a Priestly Kingdom")), set apart from the corrupting influences of the world to bear witness to the one true God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Consume (Hebrew, _ʼâkal'_):** From the primitive root H398, this word primarily means "to eat," but in this context, it carries the strong sense of "to burn up," "to devour," or "to utterly destroy." It denotes a complete and decisive eradication, emphasizing the totality of the judgment and the thoroughness required of Israel in executing God's command against the Canaanite nations, ensuring no remnant of their idolatrous practices or people remained to corrupt Israel.
* **Pity (Hebrew, _chûwç'_):** Derived from H2347, this verb means "to cover," and figuratively, "to compassionate," "to pity," "to regard," or "to spare." Its negation ("thine eye shall have no pity") is a forceful imperative, underscoring the absolute nature of the command to execute divine judgment without compromise. It signifies that Israel was not to allow human sentiment or emotional attachment to override God's clear directive, recognizing that such mercy, in this specific context, would lead to spiritual compromise and the eventual corruption of Israel itself.
* **Snare (Hebrew, _môwqêsh'_):** From H4170, this noun refers to a "noose (for catching animals)," a "gin," or a "trap." In a spiritual sense, as used here, it vividly illustrates the insidious and deceptive danger that the Canaanite gods and their worship would pose to Israel. It implies a hidden, subtle peril that, once encountered, would entangle and capture them, drawing them away from their covenant with [the LORD](/deuteronomy/7-16 "Deuteronomy 7:16 - The LORD") and leading to spiritual destruction.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee;":** This clause issues a direct, non-negotiable command to Israel to utterly destroy the inhabitants of the land that God would supernaturally enable them to conquer. The phrase "the LORD thy God shall deliver thee" highlights the divine initiative and empowerment behind the conquest, emphasizing that this was God's war and His righteous judgment, executed through His chosen people. It underscores that the success of the conquest was entirely dependent on God's active involvement and provision, not Israel's own might.
* **"thine eye shall have no pity upon them:":** This is a severe and absolute prohibition against showing mercy or compassion to the condemned nations. It reinforces the completeness of the judgment and the necessity for Israel to act as unwavering instruments of divine justice. This command was not an endorsement of indiscriminate cruelty but a specific instruction for a unique historical moment, designed to prevent any spiritual contamination that would inevitably arise from co-existence or assimilation with idolatrous cultures.
* **"neither shalt thou serve their gods;":** This is the crucial spiritual prohibition, directly linking the physical eradication to the spiritual purity of Israel. It explicitly forbids Israel from adopting or participating in the worship of the Canaanite deities. This command is the ultimate rationale for the preceding harsh directives, as the primary danger was not merely the physical presence of the Canaanites but the pervasive and corrupting spiritual influence of their idolatry.
* **"for that [will be] a snare unto thee.":** This final clause provides the compelling reason and dire warning behind the prohibition against serving other gods. It explains that engaging with Canaanite religious practices would act as a "snare," a spiritual trap that would ensnare Israel, leading them away from Yahweh and into apostasy. This highlights the inherent danger of idolatry as a deceptive force that subtly draws people into spiritual bondage and ultimately brings divine judgment upon those who succumb to it.

#### Literary Devices
[Deuteronomy 7:16](/deuteronomy/7-16 "Deuteronomy 7:16 - Command to Consume and Not Serve") employs several potent **Literary Devices** to convey its urgent and authoritative message. The pervasive use of **Imperative Mood** throughout the verse ("shalt consume," "shall have no pity," "shalt not serve") creates an unmistakable sense of absolute command and non-negotiable divine will, emphasizing the gravity and authority of the instructions. The phrase "thine eye shall have no pity" functions as a form of **Merism** or **Synecdoche**, where "eye" represents the whole person's capacity for compassion and moral judgment, thereby emphasizing the complete and unwavering suppression of mercy in this specific context. Furthermore, the term "snare" operates as a powerful **Metaphor**, vividly illustrating the deceptive, insidious, and ultimately destructive nature of idolatry. It evokes the image of a hidden trap that, once encountered, will entangle and capture, leading to spiritual downfall and bondage. The entire passage also serves as a strong example of **Didacticism**, as Moses is actively teaching, warning, and instructing the Israelites about the severe consequences of disobedience and the paramount importance of exclusive devotion to God as they prepare to enter and inhabit the Promised Land.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[Deuteronomy 7:16](/deuteronomy/7-16 "Deuteronomy 7:16 - Command to Consume and Not Serve") stands as a profound statement on God's unblemished holiness, His righteous judgment against pervasive sin, and His unwavering demand for exclusive worship from His covenant people. It reveals that God's primary concern is the purity and integrity of His relationship with Israel, and that anything threatening this purity, especially idolatry, must be decisively dealt with. The severity of the command underscores both the gravity of spiritual compromise and the insidious nature of idolatry, which, if left unchecked, inevitably leads to a departure from God and invites His righteous wrath. This passage establishes a foundational principle for all time: true devotion to God requires a radical separation from anything that would compete for His rightful place in our hearts and lives. The "snare" of idolatry represents any false god, worldly philosophy, or misplaced allegiance that promises fulfillment but ultimately leads to spiritual bondage and destruction.

* [Exodus 23:33](/exodus/23-33 "Exodus 23:33 - Idols as a Snare")
* [Joshua 23:13](/joshua/23-13 "Joshua 23:13 - Consequences of Disobedience")
* [1 Kings 11:4](/1_kings/11-4 "1 Kings 11:4 - Solomon's Idolatry")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific command to physically "consume" nations belongs to a unique historical context of divine judgment and the establishment of Israel in the land, the profound spiritual principles embedded in [Deuteronomy 7:16](/deuteronomy/7-16 "Deuteronomy 7:16 - Command to Consume and Not Serve") remain profoundly relevant for believers today. We are called to exercise uncompromising spiritual vigilance, recognizing that anything that takes God's rightful place in our lives—be it materialism, self-worship, worldly philosophies, or even good things elevated to ultimate things—can become a "snare." Just as Israel was to maintain its distinctiveness from the corrupting influences of Canaan, Christians are called to live in the world but not be "of the world" ([John 17:16](/john/17-16 "John 17:16 - In the World, Not of the World")), maintaining spiritual purity and an exclusive devotion to Christ. This involves a decisive, "no pity" approach to sin in our own lives, recognizing that even small compromises can lead to greater spiritual entanglement and hinder our relationship with God. We must actively identify and dismantle the "altars" of modern idolatry in our hearts, ensuring that our allegiance remains solely with the Lord.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "gods" or "snares" in my life today that compete for my ultimate devotion to God?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be showing "pity" to sin or worldly influences that God calls me to decisively "consume"?**
* **How does my daily life demonstrate a clear separation from the values and practices of the world that contradict God's holiness?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a more exclusive and uncompromising devotion to Christ in my thoughts, words, and actions?**

### FAQ

**Does Deuteronomy 7:16 promote genocide or justify violence against those of different faiths today?**

Answer: No, [Deuteronomy 7:16](/deuteronomy/7-16 "Deuteronomy 7:16 - Command to Consume and Not Serve") does not promote or justify genocide in a universal sense, nor does it advocate for violence against people of different faiths in contemporary society. This command must be understood within its unique, divinely ordained historical context. It was a specific judgment against the Canaanite nations, whose wickedness, including child sacrifice and pervasive idolatry, had reached a point where divine judgment was enacted through Israel as God's instrument ([Genesis 15:16](/genesis/15-16 "Genesis 15:16 - Iniquity of the Amorites")). This was not a general directive for all nations or all times, but a singular, limited command for the establishment of a holy nation in a specific land, intended to prevent the spiritual contamination of Israel and preserve the lineage through which the Messiah would come. The New Testament calls believers to spiritual warfare against "principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" ([Ephesians 6:12](/ephesians/6-12 "Ephesians 6:12 - Spiritual Warfare")), not physical warfare against people. The Christian mission is one of evangelism and discipleship, proclaiming the good news of salvation through Christ to all nations ([Matthew 28:19-20](/matthew/28-19-20 "Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[Deuteronomy 7:16](/deuteronomy/7-16 "Deuteronomy 7:16 - Command to Consume and Not Serve"), with its stern command for total destruction and uncompromising devotion, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment not in physical conquest, but in the spiritual battle waged by Christ and His church. Jesus, as the true Israel, perfectly fulfilled the demand for exclusive devotion to God, never succumbing to the "snares" of the world or the insidious temptations of the enemy ([Matthew 4:1-11](/matthew/4-1-11 "Matthew 4:1-11 - Temptation of Jesus")). He is the ultimate judge who will one day "consume" all evil and wickedness, not with human armies, but with the "breath of his mouth" and the "brightness of his coming" ([2 Thessalonians 2:8](/2_thessalonians/2-8 "2 Thessalonians 2:8 - The Lawless One Destroyed")). For believers, the call to "consume" and have "no pity" transforms into a radical commitment to crucify the flesh with its passions and desires ([Galatians 5:24](/galatians/5-24 "Galatians 5:24 - Crucifying the Flesh")), to put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit ([Romans 8:13](/romans/8-13 "Romans 8:13 - Life by the Spirit")), and to decisively reject all forms of idolatry that would ensnare the soul. Christ's redemptive work on the cross broke the power of sin and death, freeing us from the ultimate "snare" of spiritual bondage, enabling us to offer Him undivided allegiance as our Lord and Savior. Our "conquest" is spiritual, tearing down strongholds of false ideologies and bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ ([2 Corinthians 10:4-5](/2_corinthians/10-4-5 "2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - Spiritual Weapons")), establishing His kingdom not through physical force, but through the transformative power of the Gospel and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 23:33

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.

Judges 8:27

And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, [even] in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

Deuteronomy 25:12

Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not pity [her].

Deuteronomy 19:13

Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away [the guilt of] innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.

Deuteronomy 13:8

Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:

1 Corinthians 15:33

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Deuteronomy 19:21

And thine eye shall not pity; [but] life [shall go] for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.