Deuteronomy 7:24

KJV

And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand, and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he shall deliver {H5414} their kings {H4428} into thine hand {H3027}, and thou shalt destroy {H6} their name {H8034} from under heaven {H8064}: there shall no man {H376} be able to stand {H3320} before {H6440} thee, until thou have destroyed {H8045} them.

Complete Jewish Bible

He will hand their kings over to you, and you will wipe out their name from under heaven; none of them will be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them.

Berean Standard Bible

He will hand their kings over to you, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven. No one will be able to stand against you; you will annihilate them.

American Standard Version

And he will deliver their kings into thy hand, and thou shalt make their name to perish from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 7:24 presents a powerful divine assurance to Israel, promising God's active and decisive intervention in their conquest of Canaan. It declares that the Lord Himself will empower His people to defeat the kings of the land, utterly obliterating the very memory and influence of the pagan nations. This comprehensive victory ensures that no adversary will be able to withstand Israel's advance until the mission of complete destruction, crucial for preserving Israel's spiritual purity and unique covenant relationship with God, is fully accomplished.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Deuteronomy 7:24 is strategically placed within Moses' second major address to the Israelites, delivered on the plains of Moab as they stand poised to enter the Promised Land. This chapter, commencing from [Deuteronomy 7:1](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1 - Command to Destroy Nations"), outlines stringent commands regarding Israel's interaction with the Canaanite inhabitants. Following a reaffirmation of God's sovereign choice of Israel as His treasured possession in [Deuteronomy 7:6-8](/deuteronomy/7-6-8 "Deuteronomy 7:6-8 - Israel, God's Chosen People"), Moses emphasizes the absolute necessity of radical separation from the pagan nations. The preceding verses ([Deuteronomy 7:21-23](/deuteronomy/7-21-23 "Deuteronomy 7:21-23 - God's Gradual Expulsion of Nations")) assure Israel that God will gradually but surely drive out the inhabitants, preparing the way for the climactic promise of total victory found in the verse itself. The subsequent commands in [Deuteronomy 7:25-26](/deuteronomy/7-25-26 "Deuteronomy 7:25-26 - Destruction of Idols") reinforce the imperative to destroy idols and avoid bringing detestable things into their homes, underscoring the profound spiritual danger posed by any compromise with Canaanite practices.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The commands in [Deuteronomy 7:24](/deuteronomy/7-24 "Deuteronomy 7:24 - Victory Over Kings") are deeply rooted in the unique historical context of ancient Israel's entry into Canaan. The Canaanite nations were notorious for their pervasive idolatry, which included abhorrent practices such as child sacrifice (e.g., to Molech), cultic prostitution, and a pantheon of gods like Baal and Asherah whose worship directly defied Yahweh's holiness. God's command for their complete destruction, often referred to as *herem* (devotion to destruction), was not a general license for ethnic cleansing but a specific, limited divine judgment against nations whose wickedness had reached its full measure, as foretold in [Genesis 15:16](/genesis/15-16 "Genesis 15:16 - Iniquity of the Amorites"). Furthermore, this radical measure served as a prophylactic against Israel's corruption by these pagan practices, which posed an existential threat to their covenant relationship with God and the purity of their monotheistic worship. The land itself was considered holy, and its defilement by idolatry necessitated a thorough purification.
* **Key Themes:** This verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes within Deuteronomy and the broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, it powerfully asserts **Divine Sovereignty and Empowerment**, emphasizing that Israel's victory is not achieved by their own military might but through God's active intervention: "He shall deliver their kings into thine hand." This theme resonates throughout the conquest narrative, particularly in [Joshua 1:5](/joshua/1-5 "Joshua 1:5 - No One Will Be Able to Stand Against You"). Secondly, it highlights the theme of **Total Eradication of Idolatry and Corruption**. The command to "destroy their name from under heaven" signifies a complete obliteration of their identity, culture, and, crucially, their religious influence, which was vital for preserving Israel's distinctiveness as God's holy nation. Thirdly, it promises **Unstoppable Victory**, conveyed by the phrase "there shall no man be able to stand before thee," a recurring motif of divine assurance for those who obey God, as seen in [Deuteronomy 11:25](/deuteronomy/11-25 "Deuteronomy 11:25 - No One Will Be Able to Stand Against You"). Finally, the concluding phrase, "until thou have destroyed them," subtly introduces the theme of **Conditional Obedience and Consequence**, implying that God's continued assistance and Israel's ultimate success are contingent upon their diligent and complete execution of His divine commands.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Deliver (Hebrew, _nâthan'_):** This verb (H5414) is a primitive root meaning "to give," but used with a wide latitude of application, including "to put, make, appoint, bestow, bring, commit, send, set." In the context of Deuteronomy 7:24, it signifies God's sovereign act of handing over the kings and their armies into Israel's power and control. It underscores that the victory is not merely a result of Israel's military prowess but is fundamentally a divine initiative and empowerment, emphasizing God's active agency and control over the outcomes of battle.
* **Hand (Hebrew, _yâd'_):** This primitive word (H3027) refers to "a hand" (the open one), but is used extensively in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, often indicating "power, means, direction, dominion, control." When the text states that God will deliver the kings "into thine hand," it metaphorically conveys that God will grant Israel complete power, authority, and control over their enemies, ensuring their subjugation and defeat. It is a powerful image of divine enablement for conquest.
* **Destroy (Hebrew, _shâmad'_):** This primitive root (H8045) means "to desolate, annihilate, exterminate, bring to nought, overthrow, perish, pluck down, utterly." When applied to "their name from under heaven" and "until thou have destroyed them," it denotes a complete and utter obliteration, not just of physical presence but of memory, legacy, and influence. It implies a definitive act of removing any trace of the pagan systems and their practitioners that could corrupt Israel, ensuring a thorough and final eradication.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand":** This opening clause immediately establishes Yahweh, the God of Israel, as the primary agent of Israel's success. The phrase "he shall deliver" highlights God's sovereign initiative and active involvement. "Their kings" refers to the rulers of the Canaanite nations, symbolizing their military and political power. "Into thine hand" is a powerful idiom signifying that God will grant Israel complete power, control, and victory over these formidable adversaries. This emphasizes that Israel's triumph is a divine gift and empowerment, not solely a human achievement.
* **"and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven":** This is a profound and comprehensive command, placing the responsibility for the action squarely on Israel, though it is God who empowers them to do it. "Thou shalt destroy" indicates the active role Israel must play. "Their name" signifies not merely their personal identity but their entire legacy, reputation, culture, and, most critically, their idolatrous religious systems and influence. "From under heaven" denotes a complete and universal obliteration, leaving no trace or memory of their corrupting presence. This radical measure was essential to prevent spiritual contamination and preserve Israel's unique covenant relationship with God.
* **"there shall no man be able to stand before thee":** This clause serves as a divine promise of overwhelming superiority and invincibility in battle. It assures Israel that no individual or army will be able to successfully resist or oppose them as they carry out God's command. "No man be able to stand before thee" paints a picture of decisive, divinely-granted victory, highlighting the supernatural advantage Israel possesses when God fights on their behalf. This promise is contingent on their obedience and God's active presence.
* **"until thou have destroyed them":** This concluding phrase functions as a conditional clause, specifying the duration and prerequisite for the continuous divine assistance and unstoppable victory. God's promise of invincibility ("no man able to stand") holds true "until" Israel has completed the formidable task of utterly destroying the pagan nations. This implies that partial obedience or failure to complete the task would jeopardize God's ongoing support and the full realization of the promised victory, underscoring the importance of complete faithfulness.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 7:24 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of divine promise and human responsibility. **Divine Promise** is central, as God explicitly assures Israel of victory and His active participation in their conquest. The phrase "destroy their name from under heaven" is a powerful instance of **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the totality and finality of the destruction, extending beyond mere physical defeat to the complete eradication of memory and influence. It also functions as **Metonymy**, where "name" stands for the entire identity, culture, and religious system of the Canaanites. The use of "hand" in "into thine hand" is a **Synecdoche**, where a part (hand) represents the whole (power, control, dominion). Finally, the verse concludes with a clear **Conditional Clause** ("until thou have destroyed them"), which, while appearing to limit the promise, actually underscores the necessity of Israel's complete obedience for the full realization of God's blessing and continued divine assistance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 7:24 reveals profound theological truths about God's character and His relationship with His covenant people. It showcases God's absolute holiness, demonstrating His intolerance for idolatry and wickedness that defiles His creation and threatens His chosen people. His command for the complete destruction of the Canaanites, while ethically challenging to modern sensibilities, was a unique act of divine judgment against a specific people whose iniquity had reached its full measure, and a necessary measure to protect Israel's spiritual purity and distinctiveness as the vessel through which salvation would ultimately come. The verse also underscores God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, as He actively intervenes to give Israel the land He swore to their forefathers. It teaches that true victory and flourishing come not from human strength or strategic prowess, but from radical obedience to God's commands and complete reliance on His divine power and presence.

* [Joshua 1:5](/joshua/1-5 "Joshua 1:5 - No One Will Be Able to Stand Against You")
* [Deuteronomy 9:3](/deuteronomy/9-3 "Deuteronomy 9:3 - God Goes Before You")
* [Exodus 23:27](/exodus/23-27 "Exodus 23:27 - God Sends Terror Before You")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the literal command to destroy nations was specific to ancient Israel's unique historical and redemptive context, the spiritual principles embedded in Deuteronomy 7:24 resonate powerfully for believers today. We are called to engage in a spiritual warfare, not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil and the pervasive influence of sin within our own lives and in the world around us. Just as Israel was commanded to utterly eradicate the idolatrous practices that threatened to corrupt them, so too are we called to ruthlessly put to death the desires of the flesh, the idols of our hearts, and any compromise with the world's systems that would draw us away from our complete devotion to God. Our victory in this spiritual battle is not achieved by our own strength or willpower, but by the power of God working through us as we rely on His Spirit, His Word, and His divine assistance. We are to pursue complete obedience, understanding that partial surrender to sin or compromise with worldly values will inevitably lead to spiritual contamination and hinder our walk with God and our effectiveness for His kingdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "idols" or "pagan practices" (habits, desires, influences) in your life or environment need to be utterly destroyed, leaving no trace, to ensure your spiritual purity?**
* **In what specific areas of your life are you relying on your own strength rather than God's divine empowerment for victory over persistent sins or temptations?**
* **How does the concept of "no man able to stand before thee" translate into your confidence in God's power to overcome spiritual obstacles and challenges in your Christian journey?**
* **What does "destroying their name from under heaven" metaphorically mean for how you deal with persistent sinful patterns or harmful influences that seek to define you or your environment?**

### FAQ
**Was God's command in Deuteronomy 7:24 (and chapter 7 generally) a call for genocide?**

Answer: This is a common and important question that requires careful theological nuance. It is crucial to understand that the command for *herem* (devotion to destruction) in Deuteronomy was a unique, limited, and specific divine judgment against the Canaanite nations, whose moral depravity and idolatry (including child sacrifice and pervasive sexual immorality) had reached its full measure, as explicitly stated in [Genesis 15:16](/genesis/15-16 "Genesis 15:16 - Iniquity of the Amorites"). It was not a general command for ethnic cleansing or a blueprint for future military conquest. The purpose was twofold: to execute divine judgment upon an exceedingly wicked culture and to prevent Israel, God's chosen covenant people, from being corrupted by the pervasive pagan practices of the land. This command was tied to Israel's unique role in salvation history and the establishment of a holy nation from which the Messiah would ultimately come. It is not a model for how nations should interact today, nor does it justify violence in the name of God in other contexts.

**How does this verse apply to Christians today, since we are not literally conquering nations?**

Answer: While the literal command was specific to ancient Israel's historical context, the spiritual principles are profoundly relevant for believers today. For Christians, this passage serves as a powerful metaphor for **spiritual warfare**. We are called to "destroy" (or put to death) the "old self" with its sinful desires and practices, as exhorted in [Colossians 3:5-10](/colossians/3-5-10 "Colossians 3:5-10 - Put to Death Earthly Things"). We are also called to "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God" ([2 Corinthians 10:4-5](/2_corinthians/10-4-5 "2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - Demolishing Strongholds")), and to resist the devil, who will flee from us ([James 4:7](/james/4-7 "James 4:7 - Resist the Devil")). The "kings" and "names" to be destroyed represent the strongholds of sin, idolatry, and worldly influences in our lives that seek to usurp God's rightful authority. Our victory in this spiritual battle comes not from our own strength, but from God's power working through us, just as Israel's victory was divinely empowered. It calls for radical obedience and a complete eradication of anything that compromises our devotion to Christ and His kingdom.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 7:24, with its promise of total victory over enemies and the complete eradication of their influence, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While Israel's conquest was a physical one, serving as a type and shadow, Christ's work on the cross and His glorious resurrection represent the decisive and eternal victory over the true enemies of humanity: sin, death, and the spiritual powers of darkness. Just as God delivered the kings into Israel's hand, so too did God "deliver" the powers of evil into Christ's hand. [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Powers") powerfully declares that Christ "disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." He utterly "destroyed their name from under heaven," not by physical annihilation, but by rendering their power null and void, stripping them of their dominion over humanity. The author of Hebrews states that through His death, Jesus "destroyed him who has the power of death, that is, the devil" ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Destroying the One Who Has the Power of Death")). There is indeed "no man able to stand before" Christ, for He is the victorious King of Kings and Lord of Lords, before whom "every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth" ([Philippians 2:10](/philippians/2-10 "Philippians 2:10 - Every Knee Shall Bow")). His victory is complete and eternal, culminating in the final judgment where all evil will be cast into the lake of fire, utterly "destroyed" from under heaven's influence forever ([Revelation 20:10](/revelation/20-10 "Revelation 20:10 - Final Destruction of Evil")). Thus, the promise of Deuteronomy 7:24 points forward to the definitive and all-encompassing triumph of Christ, who enables His followers to share in His victory over sin and death, living in the freedom of His accomplished work.

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

Deuteronomy 11:25

There shall no man be able to stand before you: [for] the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you.

Joshua 23:9

For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but [as for] you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.

Joshua 10:8

And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.

Deuteronomy 9:14

Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.

Joshua 10:42

And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.

Joshua 1:5

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, [so] I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Joshua 10:24

And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.