Exodus 33:2

And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:

And I will send {H7971} an angel {H4397} before {H6440} thee; and I will drive out {H1644} the Canaanite {H3669}, the Amorite {H567}, and the Hittite {H2850}, and the Perizzite {H6522}, the Hivite {H2340}, and the Jebusite {H2983}:

I will send an angel ahead of you; and I will drive out the Kena'ani, Emori, Hitti, P'rizi, Hivi and Y'vusi.

And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

and I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:

Commentary

Exodus 33:2 is a significant verse in the narrative of Israel's journey through the wilderness, following the devastating incident of the golden calf. It reveals God's continued commitment to His covenant promises, even in the face of the people's grievous sin.

Context

This verse comes directly after the Lord tells Moses to lead the people from Mount Horeb towards the promised land (Exodus 33:1). Critically, it follows the severe judgment for the golden calf idolatry (Exodus 32:1-35) and Moses' fervent intercession for the people. Initially, God had expressed His reluctance to go with them personally due to their "stiffnecked" nature, fearing He might consume them on the way (Exodus 33:3). This verse, therefore, represents a concession: God will still ensure their journey and the land's conquest, but through an angel rather than His direct, personal presence, a point Moses would later challenge.

Key Themes

  • Divine Guidance and Assistance: God promises to send an "angel" (mal'akh in Hebrew, meaning 'messenger') to lead the Israelites. This highlights God's unwavering resolve to guide His people towards their destination, even when His direct, manifest presence is temporarily withheld due to their sin. This concept of divine guidance through an angel was not new, having been promised earlier.
  • Conquest of the Promised Land: The verse explicitly lists six of the Canaanite tribes—the Canaanite, Amorite, Hittite, Perizzite, Hivite, and Jebusite—who inhabited the land God had promised to Abraham's descendants (Genesis 12:7). God reiterates His commitment to drive these inhabitants out, fulfilling His covenant and preparing the land for Israel. This promise of dispossessing the nations is a cornerstone of the Mosaic covenant.
  • God's Faithfulness Amidst Unfaithfulness: Despite Israel's profound betrayal with the golden calf, God does not abandon His ultimate plan for them. He remains faithful to His promises, demonstrating His mercy and long-suffering. This verse underscores that God's covenant is ultimately upheld by His character, not by human perfect obedience.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "angel" is mal'akh (מַלְאָךְ), which broadly means "messenger." While it can refer to a celestial being, in some contexts, it refers to a human messenger or even, significantly, to the pre-incarnate Christ, often called the "Angel of the Lord." Here, it signifies a divine agent sent by God to perform His will, distinct from the full, glorious presence Moses sought later in the chapter (Exodus 33:15).

Practical Application

Exodus 33:2 offers timeless truths for believers today. It reminds us that even when we falter or stray, God remains committed to His ultimate purposes for us. While our actions may affect the mode of His presence or blessing, His foundational promises endure. We can trust in God's faithfulness to guide us through life's challenges and to help us overcome obstacles, just as He promised to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan for Israel. This verse encourages us to continue seeking God's presence and guidance, knowing He is true to His word, even when we are not.

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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 32:34 (4 votes)

    Therefore now go, lead the people unto [the place] of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.

  • Joshua 24:11 (4 votes)

    And ye went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand.

  • Exodus 23:27 (3 votes)

    I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.

  • Exodus 23:31 (3 votes)

    And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.

  • Exodus 23:20 (3 votes)

    ¶ Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

  • Exodus 3:17 (2 votes)

    And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

  • Deuteronomy 7:22 (2 votes)

    And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.