Exodus 34:11

KJV

Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

KJV (with Strong's)

Observe {H8104} thou that which I command {H6680} thee this day {H3117}: behold, I drive out {H1644} before {H6440} thee the Amorite {H567}, and the Canaanite {H3669}, and the Hittite {H2850}, and the Perizzite {H6522}, and the Hivite {H2340}, and the Jebusite {H2983}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Observe what I am ordering you to do today. Here! I am driving out ahead of you the Emori, Kena'ani, Hitti, P'rizi, Hivi and Y'vusi.

Berean Standard Bible

Observe what I command you this day. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

American Standard Version

Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 34:11 stands as a pivotal declaration within the renewed covenant at Mount Sinai, emphasizing God's unwavering commitment to Israel's inheritance of the Promised Land. It combines a divine imperative for Israel's active obedience to God's commands with an emphatic promise of God's sovereign power to dispossess the formidable inhabitants of Canaan. This verse underscores the foundational principle that while God's promises are sure, their full realization in the life of His people is intrinsically linked to their diligent adherence to His revealed will, paving the way for a holy nation in a land cleared by divine intervention.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the profound narrative of the covenant's renewal following Israel's catastrophic sin with the golden calf in [Exodus 32](/exodus/32 "Exodus 32 - The Golden Calf"). Moses has ascended Mount Sinai again, interceding for the nation and seeking God's continued presence (cf. [Exodus 33:12-17](/exodus/33-12 "Exodus 33:12-17 - Moses' Intercession for God's Presence")). God has just revealed His glorious character as merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, yet also just (cf. [Exodus 34:6-7](/exodus/34-6 "Exodus 34:6-7 - God's Self-Revelation of His Character")). Immediately preceding verse 11, God declares His intention to make a covenant, promising to perform wonders never before seen (cf. [Exodus 34:10](/exodus/34-10 "Exodus 34:10 - God's Promise to Make a Covenant")). Verse 11 then introduces the first specific command and promise related to the land, setting the stage for further stipulations regarding worship, separation from pagan practices, and the observance of holy days, which follow in [Exodus 34:12-26](/exodus/34-12 "Exodus 34:12-26 - Covenant Stipulations and Laws").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** At this point in their journey, the Israelites are encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai, having recently escaped Egyptian bondage and received the Law. They are on the cusp of entering the land of Canaan, a territory long promised to their patriarch Abraham (cf. [Genesis 15:18-21](/genesis/15-18 "Genesis 15:18-21 - God's Covenant with Abraham Regarding the Land")). This land, however, was not empty; it was inhabited by numerous indigenous peoples, including the six tribes specifically listed in this verse: the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. These groups were known for their idolatrous practices, moral depravity, and resistance to Yahweh's sovereignty. God's command to "drive out" these nations was not merely a territorial conquest but a divine judgment against their wickedness, as well as a necessary measure to protect Israel from spiritual contamination and ensure their distinctness as a holy nation dedicated to Yahweh (cf. [Deuteronomy 9:4-5](/deuteronomy/9-4 "Deuteronomy 9:4-5 - God's Judgment on the Nations")). The promise of divine assistance in this formidable task was crucial, as Israel's military strength alone would be insufficient against such entrenched inhabitants.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Observe (Hebrew, _shamar'_):** This verb carries significant weight, meaning "to keep, guard, watch, preserve, or diligently obey." It implies more than passive hearing or intellectual assent; it demands active, careful, and vigilant adherence to God's instructions. In the context of the covenant, _shamar_ signifies a commitment to live in accordance with God's revealed will, safeguarding the relationship and the blessings that flow from it. It points to a life of intentional, practical obedience.
* **Drive out (Hebrew, _garash'_):** This powerful verb means "to expel, cast out, put away, or divorce." It denotes a forceful and complete removal. When God states, "I drive out," it emphasizes His sovereign agency and irresistible power in clearing the land for Israel. It is not Israel's might or strategy that will accomplish this, but God's direct, decisive action. This term highlights the divine initiative in the conquest and the certainty of the outcome, provided Israel fulfills its part.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Observe thou that which I command thee this day":** This opening clause is a direct, singular imperative to Moses, representing the entire nation. The phrase "this day" emphasizes the immediacy and present relevance of the commands being given, marking the renewed covenant as a fresh, urgent call to obedience. It establishes human responsibility as a prerequisite for divine blessing, highlighting the conditional aspect of the covenant's full experience.
* **"behold, I drive out before thee":** The interjection "behold" (הִנֵּה, _hinneh_) serves to draw immediate attention to the following declaration, underscoring its importance and certainty. God emphatically states "I drive out," asserting His personal, active, and sovereign role in the dispossession of the land's inhabitants. This promises divine intervention and power, assuring Israel that the seemingly impossible task of conquering Canaan will be accomplished by God Himself, leading the way for His people.
* **"the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite":** This specific enumeration of six of the prominent tribes inhabiting Canaan serves several purposes. It concretizes the promise, identifying the formidable "giants" that Israel would face. It also reminds Israel of the reality of the pagan cultures they would encounter, emphasizing the necessity of their removal to prevent spiritual compromise. The list reinforces the scope of God's promised action and the magnitude of the inheritance He was providing.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 34:11 employs several significant literary devices. The most prominent is **Imperative Mood** in "Observe thou," which functions as a direct command, emphasizing the non-negotiable requirement of obedience from Israel. This is immediately followed by a **Divine Assertion** ("I drive out"), a declarative statement of God's sovereign intent and power, creating a powerful juxtaposition between human responsibility and divine omnipotence. The use of "behold" (הִנֵּה, _hinneh_) acts as an **Exclamatory Interjection**, drawing the reader's attention to the momentous promise that follows. Finally, the **Enumeration** or **Listing** of the six specific tribes (Amorite, Canaanite, Hittite, Perizzite, Hivite, and Jebusite) provides concrete detail and underscores the vastness of the task God promises to undertake, making the divine promise more tangible and impactful.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 34:11 profoundly illustrates the intricate relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility within the covenant. God, in His absolute power and faithfulness, promises to clear the way for His people, yet He simultaneously calls for their diligent obedience. This verse reveals God's commitment to His covenant promises, even in the face of Israel's recent rebellion, demonstrating His enduring grace and mercy. It also highlights the theme of holiness, as the expulsion of the idolatrous nations was essential for Israel to maintain its distinct identity and worship Yahweh alone. The land, as a gift, was tied to a life of covenant fidelity, underscoring that God's blessings are often contingent upon our active participation and obedience to His commands.

* [Deuteronomy 7:1-2](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Command to Drive Out Nations")
* [Joshua 23:5](/joshua/23-5 "God's Continued Promise to Drive Out Nations")
* [Genesis 15:18-21](/genesis/15-18 "God's Covenant with Abraham Regarding the Land")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 34:11 offers timeless truths for the contemporary believer. Just as Israel was called to "observe" God's commands as a prerequisite for inheriting the Promised Land, we too are called to active and diligent obedience to God's Word in our lives. This isn't a legalistic burden but a pathway to experiencing the fullness of God's blessings and purpose for us. We often face "giants" in our spiritual journey—temptations, sinful habits, spiritual opposition, or seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This verse reminds us that while our part is to faithfully "observe" God's will, it is ultimately God who "drives out" these spiritual enemies and clears the path for us to walk in His victory and inheritance. It fosters a posture of humble reliance on God's power while simultaneously calling us to disciplined discipleship, trusting that His faithfulness will prevail over every challenge.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What specific "commands" or principles from God's Word is the Holy Spirit calling me to "observe" more diligently in my life today?**
* **What are the "giants" or obstacles in my spiritual walk that I need to trust God to "drive out" through His power and my obedience?**
* **How does God's unwavering faithfulness to Israel, despite their past failures, encourage me in my own journey of faith and obedience?**

### FAQ

**Why does God command the driving out of these specific nations?**

Answer: God commanded the driving out of these nations primarily as an act of divine judgment against their profound wickedness and deeply entrenched idolatry. Passages like [Leviticus 18:24-28](/leviticus/18-24 "Leviticus 18:24-28 - Abominations of the Land") and [Deuteronomy 9:4-5](/deuteronomy/9-4 "Deuteronomy 9:4-5 - Why God Dispossessed the Nations") reveal that their land was defiled by abominable practices, including child sacrifice, sexual perversions, and widespread polytheism. Furthermore, their expulsion was crucial for Israel's spiritual preservation. God knew that if these nations remained, their idolatrous practices would corrupt Israel and lead them away from exclusive worship of Yahweh (cf. [Exodus 34:15-16](/exodus/34-15 "Exodus 34:15-16 - Warning Against Idolatry") and [Deuteronomy 7:2-4](/deuteronomy/7-2 "Deuteronomy 7:2-4 - Command Not to Make Covenants with Inhabitants")). It was a necessary, albeit severe, measure to establish a holy nation dedicated to Him alone.

**Is God's promise to "drive out" these nations conditional on Israel's obedience?**

Answer: Yes, the opening imperative, "Observe thou that which I command thee this day," clearly indicates that Israel's obedience was a crucial condition for experiencing the full realization of God's promise to drive out the nations and possess the land. While God's ultimate faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham was unconditional, the *experience* of its blessings and the *speed and completeness* of the conquest were directly tied to Israel's fidelity. Disobedience, as seen in later biblical narratives (e.g., [Judges 1](/judges/1 "Judges 1 - Incomplete Conquest")), led to incomplete conquest and ongoing struggles with the remaining inhabitants. God's power was always sufficient, but His people's receptiveness and obedience were necessary for its full manifestation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 34:11 finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While the Old Covenant called Israel to "observe" commands to inherit a physical land, Christ perfectly observed all of God's commands, fulfilling the Law in its entirety (cf. [Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")). He is the obedient Son, whose perfect life and sacrificial death established a new and better covenant (cf. [Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6 - Jesus, the Mediator of a Better Covenant")). Furthermore, just as God promised to "drive out" the physical enemies before Israel, Jesus Christ, through His death and resurrection, has definitively "driven out" and triumphed over the ultimate spiritual enemies: sin, death, and the devil (cf. [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Principalities and Powers") and [Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Jesus Destroys the Power of Death")). Through faith in Him, believers are led into a spiritual "promised land" of rest, peace, and eternal inheritance, not through their own works, but through His completed work (cf. [Hebrews 4:9-10](/hebrews/4-9 "Hebrews 4:9-10 - The Rest for the People of God") and [Ephesians 1:11](/ephesians/1-11 "Ephesians 1:11 - Our Inheritance in Christ")). Our "observance" in the New Covenant is now a life of faith and love, empowered by the Spirit, reflecting the perfect obedience of Christ Himself (cf. [Galatians 5:6](/galatians/5-6 "Galatians 5:6 - Faith Working Through Love")).

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 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:

Exodus 3:17

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 6:25

And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.

Deuteronomy 7:1

¶ When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;

Exodus 3:8

And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Genesis 15:18

In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

Genesis 15:21

And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.