Exodus 34:15

KJV

Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and [one] call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;

KJV (with Strong's)

Lest thou make {H3772} a covenant {H1285} with the inhabitants {H3427} of the land {H776}, and they go a whoring {H2181} after {H310} their gods {H430}, and do sacrifice {H2076} unto their gods {H430}, and one call {H7121} thee, and thou eat {H398} of his sacrifice {H2077};

Complete Jewish Bible

Do not make a covenant with the people living in the land. It will cause you to go astray after their gods and sacrifice to their gods. Then they will invite you to join them in eating their sacrifices,

Berean Standard Bible

Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices.

American Standard Version

lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot after their gods, and sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee and thou eat of his sacrifice;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 34:15 delivers a stern warning from God to Israel, prohibiting them from forming covenants with the inhabitants of the land they were about to enter. This divine command was rooted in the understanding that such alliances would inevitably lead to spiritual compromise, causing Israel to "go a whoring" after the gods of these nations, participating in their idolatrous sacrifices and thereby violating their exclusive covenant relationship with Yahweh. The verse underscores God's demand for singular devotion and the severe consequences of spiritual unfaithfulness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Exodus 34 occurs immediately after the profound crisis of the golden calf incident in [Exodus 32](/exodus/32 "Exodus 32 - The Golden Calf"). Moses has interceded for Israel, and God, in an act of immense grace, agrees to renew His covenant with His people. This chapter details the second giving of the Ten Commandments (though not explicitly listed, the principles are reiterated) and further covenant stipulations. Verses 10-26 outline specific commands related to worship and separation, emphasizing God's jealousy for His exclusive worship. Exodus 34:15 is part of a series of prohibitions (vv. 12-17) designed to prevent Israel from falling back into idolatry, a sin that had just brought them to the brink of destruction. It is a direct application of the first two commandments found in [Exodus 20:3-6](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3-6 - The First Two Commandments").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** As the Israelites prepared to enter Canaan, they would encounter various indigenous peoples—the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (mentioned in [Exodus 34:11](/exodus/34-11 "Exodus 34:11 - God's Promise to Drive Out Nations")). These groups practiced polytheism, often centered around fertility cults (e.g., Baal and Asherah worship) that involved ritual prostitution, child sacrifice, and other abominable practices. Covenants in the ancient Near East were not merely political treaties but often included religious components, requiring participants to acknowledge and even swear by each other's gods. Thus, making a covenant with these nations would inevitably lead to syncretism and participation in their worship. Eating sacrifices was a profound act of communion and identification with the deity to whom the sacrifice was offered, signifying allegiance and shared fellowship. God's command was a radical call for Israel to be a distinct, holy nation, set apart from the corrupting influences of the surrounding cultures.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Covenant (Hebrew, _bĕrît'_):** This term signifies a solemn, binding agreement, often sealed with an oath and accompanied by specific stipulations, blessings, and curses. In the ancient Near East, covenants could be between kings, nations, or individuals. Here, it refers to a treaty or alliance with the Canaanite inhabitants. For Israel, God's covenant with them was exclusive and foundational to their identity. Making a covenant with other nations implicitly involved acknowledging their gods, thereby compromising Israel's unique relationship with Yahweh.
* **Whoring (Hebrew, _zanah'_):** Literally meaning "to commit prostitution" or "to be unfaithful," this verb is used here as a powerful metaphor for spiritual infidelity. Just as a spouse betrays their marriage vows through adultery, Israel would betray their covenant with God by turning to other deities. This vivid imagery emphasizes the deep personal and relational offense of idolatry in God's eyes, portraying it as a breach of the sacred marriage covenant between God and His people.
* **Sacrifice (Hebrew, _zevach'_):** This refers to an offering made to a deity, typically involving the slaughter of an animal. Sacrifices were central to ancient worship, serving as acts of propitiation, thanksgiving, or communion. Eating from a sacrifice was a communal act that signified participation in the worship of that deity and shared fellowship with the worshippers. The prohibition against eating pagan sacrifices was therefore a direct command to avoid any form of participation or identification with idolatrous worship.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land":** This is the primary prohibition. God forbids Israel from entering into treaties, alliances, or any binding agreements with the Canaanite peoples. Such political or social integration was seen as the gateway to spiritual compromise.
* **"and they go a whoring after their gods":** This clause describes the inevitable consequence of making such covenants. The "whoring" signifies spiritual adultery, meaning the inhabitants, and by extension, the Israelites who would intermarry or assimilate, would turn away from Yahweh to worship the pagan deities of the land.
* **"and do sacrifice unto their gods":** This specifies the act of idolatry. The inhabitants would offer sacrifices to their false gods, a practice God strictly forbade for His people.
* **"and [one] call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;":** This highlights the social pressure and the direct act of participation. If Israel made covenants, they would be invited to feasts where pagan sacrifices were consumed. Eating these sacrifices was not a neutral act; it was a profound religious act of communion with the pagan deity, directly violating Israel's exclusive devotion to Yahweh.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey its urgent warning. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, specifically the use of "go a whoring after their gods" to describe idolatry. This powerful imagery likens Israel's turning away from God to sexual infidelity, emphasizing the deep betrayal and broken covenant relationship. It underscores God's view of His relationship with Israel as a sacred marriage, where exclusive devotion is paramount. Additionally, the phrase "eat of his sacrifice" functions as a form of **Synecdoche** or **Meronymy**, where a part (eating the sacrifice) represents the whole (full participation in and allegiance to pagan worship). The entire verse also serves as a **Prohibition** and a **Warning**, clearly stating a forbidden action and outlining the severe, inevitable spiritual consequences of disobedience, thereby highlighting the absolute necessity of maintaining Israel's distinct identity and exclusive loyalty to Yahweh.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 34:15 is foundational to understanding God's demand for exclusive worship and His absolute intolerance for idolatry. It reveals God's holy nature, His jealousy for His people's devotion, and the profound spiritual danger of syncretism. Idolatry is not merely a breaking of a rule but a betrayal of a covenant relationship, likened to spiritual adultery. This verse establishes a core principle for God's people throughout history: the necessity of spiritual separation from practices and influences that would draw one away from singular devotion to the one true God. It underscores the purity required in worship and the inherent danger of compromising one's faith through seemingly innocuous social or political alliances.

* [Deuteronomy 7:1-5](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-5 - Command to Destroy Idols and Avoid Covenants")
* [1 Corinthians 10:14-22](/1_corinthians/10-14 "1 Corinthians 10:14-22 - Flee Idolatry, Do Not Participate with Demons")
* [Hosea 1:2](/hosea/1-2 "Hosea 1:2 - Israel's Spiritual Harlotry")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While believers today are not entering a literal promised land inhabited by pagan nations, the spiritual principles embedded in Exodus 34:15 remain profoundly relevant. We are called to an exclusive devotion to God, recognizing that anything that takes His rightful place in our hearts, minds, or lives becomes an idol. This warning challenges us to critically examine the "covenants" we might be tempted to make with the prevailing philosophies, values, or trends of our culture that subtly promote self-worship, materialism, or any agenda contrary to God's Word. We must discern influences in our relationships, media consumption, and career pursuits that could lead us to "go a whoring" after modern "gods," subtly diminishing our allegiance to Christ. The call to avoid "eating of his sacrifice" translates to a vigilance against participating in activities or adopting mindsets that compromise our faith, dilute our spiritual purity, or align us with anything that rivals God's supreme authority in our lives. Our ultimate loyalty must be to Him alone.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "covenants" or alliances (e.g., social, professional, philosophical) in my life that could potentially compromise my exclusive devotion to God?**
* **In what subtle or overt ways might I be "going a whoring" after modern "gods" such as success, comfort, approval, or self-gratification?**
* **How can I ensure that my daily choices, relationships, and consumption of media reflect a commitment to spiritual purity and singular allegiance to Christ?**

### FAQ
**Why was making a covenant with the inhabitants of the land so dangerous?**

Answer: Making a covenant (a binding treaty or alliance) with the Canaanite inhabitants was dangerous because such agreements in the ancient Near East were often sealed with oaths sworn by the gods of both parties. This would implicitly acknowledge the legitimacy of pagan deities, leading Israel into syncretism—the blending of their worship of Yahweh with the worship of false gods. Furthermore, these covenants often led to intermarriage, which [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition of Intermarriage") explicitly warns against, as it would inevitably turn Israel's hearts away from God to serve other gods. It was a direct threat to Israel's unique identity as God's chosen, holy nation.

**What does "go a whoring after their gods" mean in this context?**

Answer: The phrase "go a whoring after their gods" is a powerful metaphor for spiritual infidelity or idolatry. In the Old Testament, God's covenant with Israel is often likened to a marriage (e.g., [Ezekiel 16](/ezekiel/16 "Ezekiel 16 - Allegory of Israel as an Unfaithful Wife")). Just as a spouse commits adultery by being unfaithful to their marriage vows, Israel would commit spiritual adultery by turning away from their exclusive covenant with Yahweh to worship other deities. This strong language emphasizes the deep betrayal and personal offense that idolatry represents to God.

**How does "eating of his sacrifice" relate to idolatry?**

Answer: In ancient cultures, eating food offered in sacrifice was not merely a social act but a profound religious one. It signified communion and identification with the deity to whom the sacrifice was made. By eating the sacrifices offered to pagan gods, Israelites would be participating in the worship of those false deities, thereby acknowledging their power and aligning themselves with them. The Apostle Paul later addresses a similar issue in the New Testament, warning believers that they cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons ([1 Corinthians 10:20-21](/1_corinthians/10-20 "1 Corinthians 10:20-21 - You Cannot Drink the Cup of the Lord and the Cup of Demons")). It was a direct act of spiritual allegiance.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 34:15, with its stern warning against spiritual idolatry and compromise, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant's repeated failures to maintain exclusive devotion to God, as epitomized by Israel's persistent "whoring" after other gods, highlighted humanity's inherent inability to keep God's perfect law. This inability pointed to the desperate need for a new covenant and a perfect mediator. Jesus, the true Israelite, perfectly fulfilled the demand for exclusive worship of God, resisting every temptation to compromise His allegiance, even when offered all the kingdoms of the world ([Matthew 4:8-10](/matthew/4-8 "Matthew 4:8-10 - Jesus Resists Temptation")). He is the ultimate sacrifice, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), whose single, perfect offering on the cross forever removes the need for other sacrifices and purifies us from all unrighteousness ([Hebrews 10:10-14](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10-14 - Christ's One Sacrifice")). Through His atoning work, believers are brought into a new covenant where the Holy Spirit empowers them to live lives of genuine, exclusive devotion to God, fulfilling the spirit of the law that Israel so often broke. We are now called to put to death what is earthly in us, including "idolatry" ([Colossians 3:5](/colossians/3-5 "Colossians 3:5 - Put to Death Earthly Things")), because Christ is all and in all, our sole object of worship and allegiance.

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

Judges 2:17

And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; [but] they did not so.

Psalms 106:28

They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

1 Corinthians 8:4

¶ As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that [there is] none other God but one.

Numbers 25:2

And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.

Deuteronomy 31:16

And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go [to be] among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.

1 Corinthians 10:27

If any of them that believe not bid you [to a feast], and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

1 Corinthians 8:10

For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;