Deuteronomy 7:4

For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.

For they will turn away {H5493} thy son {H1121} from following {H310} me, that they may serve {H5647} other {H312} gods {H430}: so will the anger {H639} of the LORD {H3068} be kindled {H2734} against you, and destroy {H8045} thee suddenly {H4118}.

For he will turn your children away from following me in order to serve other gods. If this happens, the anger of ADONAI will flare up against you, and he will quickly destroy you.

because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.

For he will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of Jehovah be kindled against you, and he will destroy thee quickly.

Commentary

Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:4 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 7:4 serves as a stern warning and a foundational principle for Israel's covenant relationship with God. It explains the severe consequences of disobeying the preceding commands to separate from the Canaanite nations, particularly concerning intermarriage.

Context

This verse is part of Moses' second major discourse to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 7:1-3, God commands Israel to utterly destroy the inhabitants of Canaan and to make no covenant with them nor intermarry. Verse 4 clarifies the primary reason for these strict instructions: to prevent spiritual apostasy. The danger was not merely physical contamination but, more critically, the corruption of their exclusive devotion to the Lord God.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Purity and Separation: The verse underscores the absolute necessity for God's people to maintain spiritual purity and separation from pagan influences. The surrounding nations' idolatrous practices posed an existential threat to Israel's unique identity as a nation set apart for God.
  • The Danger of Idolatry: The core warning is against serving "other gods." This encompasses any form of worship or devotion given to anything other than the one true God, which was the ultimate spiritual betrayal of their covenant.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: God's response to such infidelity is described as "the anger of the LORD" being "kindled" and a sudden destruction. This highlights God's holiness and His righteous judgment against spiritual unfaithfulness. It reminds us that God is a jealous God who will not tolerate rivalry for His devotion.
  • Intergenerational Impact: The phrase "turn away thy son from following me" emphasizes the devastating impact of parental choices on future generations. The spiritual health of the family and community was directly tied to the adults' faithfulness.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "turn away" (Χ‘Χ•ΦΌΧ¨, sur) suggests a deviation or a swerving from the correct path. It implies a deliberate shift from adherence to God's commands to embracing foreign practices. The "anger of the LORD" (אַף Χ™Φ°Χ”Χ•ΦΈΧ”, aph Yahweh) is a recurring biblical expression for God's righteous indignation against sin, particularly against idolatry and covenant breaking. It is not an arbitrary emotion but a just response to Israel's spiritual betrayal, emphasizing the seriousness with which God views their covenant fidelity.

Practical Application

While the specific command against intermarriage with Canaanite nations is historical, the spiritual principles remain profoundly relevant for believers today.

  • Guard Your Influences: We are called to be in the world but not of the world. This verse reminds us to be discerning about the relationships, media, and philosophies we embrace, ensuring they do not subtly lead us away from Christ.
  • Protect the Next Generation: Parents and spiritual leaders have a vital role in discipling children and creating an environment that fosters genuine faith, shielding them from influences that could draw them into spiritual compromise.
  • The Seriousness of Modern Idolatry: Idolatry today may not involve physical statues but can manifest as anything that takes God's rightful place in our hearts – whether it's career, money, pleasure, possessions, or self. Deuteronomy 7:4 serves as a stark reminder of God's intolerance for anything that competes with Him for our ultimate devotion and His swift judgment against such unfaithfulness.
  • Commitment to Covenant: For Christians, this verse underscores the importance of maintaining fidelity to our covenant with God through Christ. Just as Israel was chosen as a holy people, believers are called to live holy lives, set apart for God's purposes.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 6:15 (5 votes)

    (For the LORD thy God [is] a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

  • Deuteronomy 4:26 (3 votes)

    I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong [your] days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.

  • Judges 2:20 (3 votes)

    And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;

  • Deuteronomy 32:16 (3 votes)

    They provoked him to jealousy with strange [gods], with abominations provoked they him to anger.

  • Deuteronomy 32:17 (3 votes)

    They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new [gods that] came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

  • Exodus 20:5 (3 votes)

    Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;

  • Judges 3:7 (3 votes)

    And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.