Exodus 34:16

And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.

And thou take {H3947} of their daughters {H1323} unto thy sons {H1121}, and their daughters {H1323} go a whoring {H2181} after {H310} their gods {H430}, and make {H2181} thy sons {H1121} go a whoring {H2181} after {H310} their gods {H430}.

and you will take their daughters as wives for your sons. Their daughters will prostitute themselves to their own gods and make your sons do the same!

And when you take some of their daughters as brides for your sons, their daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods and cause your sons to do the same.

and thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters play the harlot after their gods, and make thy sons play the harlot after their gods.

Commentary

Exodus 34:16 is a crucial warning given by God to the Israelites, emphasizing the severe dangers of intermarriage with the inhabitants of the land they were about to inherit. This verse highlights the primary concern: the spiritual corruption and idolatry that would inevitably follow such unions.

Context

This verse is part of God's renewed covenant instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai, given after the devastating incident of the golden calf. Chapter 34 outlines the terms of the covenant, emphasizing God's character as merciful yet just, and reiterating the foundational principles for Israel's relationship with Him as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. The immediate preceding verses (Exodus 34:12-15) establish the command to destroy the altars and images of the Canaanite gods and to make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land, specifically to avoid falling into their idolatrous practices. Verse 16 serves as a direct, grave consequence of failing to heed these warnings: intermarriage would directly lead to spiritual unfaithfulness.

Key Themes

  • Separation and Purity: God commanded Israel to be a distinct and holy nation, set apart for His worship. This required a strict separation from the pagan practices of the surrounding nations, which included avoiding marital alliances that would compromise their unique identity and calling.
  • The Danger of Idolatry: The core concern is the worship of false gods. The phrase "go a whoring after their gods" vividly portrays idolatry as spiritual adultery, a betrayal of the covenant relationship with the one true God. This highlights the insidious nature of idolatry, which can creep into the community through seemingly personal choices like marriage.
  • Covenant Fidelity: God is a "jealous God" (Exodus 34:14), demanding exclusive devotion. This verse underscores the importance of Israel's unwavering loyalty to the covenant, specifically to the first commandment: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "go a whoring after their gods" uses the Hebrew word zanah (Χ–ΦΈΧ ΦΈΧ”), which literally means to commit prostitution or fornication. In a spiritual context, as used here, it is a powerful metaphor for abandoning fidelity to God and engaging in idolatry. This strong imagery underscores the gravity of spiritual unfaithfulness, likening it to a betrayal of a sacred marital covenant. It implies not just a casual turning away, but a deliberate and illicit devotion to something other than God.

Practical Application

While modern believers are not entering a literal promised land to conquer pagan nations, the spiritual principles of Exodus 34:16 remain profoundly relevant. This verse serves as a timeless warning about the dangers of compromising one's faith through associations that lead to spiritual impurity:

  • Spiritual Discernment in Relationships: The principle extends beyond marriage to any close relationship that could pull one away from God. Believers are called to exercise discernment in choosing friends, partners, and influences that support, rather than undermine, their spiritual walk. The New Testament echoes this with warnings against being "unequally yoked" (2 Corinthians 6:14).
  • Guarding Against Modern Idolatry: "Gods" today may not be carved images, but can manifest as materialism, career success, self-worship, pleasure, or anything that takes precedence over God in our lives. This verse reminds us that even subtle compromises can lead to spiritual drift for ourselves and influence others negatively.
  • Maintaining Purity and Allegiance: The call is to maintain exclusive allegiance to God, resisting cultural pressures or personal desires that might draw us away from His truth and commands. It's a reminder to continually examine where our true devotion lies.

Exodus 34:16 powerfully illustrates God's unwavering commitment to His people's spiritual purity and His desire for their exclusive devotion, a message that transcends time and culture.

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

  • Ezra 9:2

    For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of [those] lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

  • Deuteronomy 7:3

    Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

  • 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.

  • 1 Kings 11:2

    Of the nations [concerning] which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: [for] surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

  • 1 Kings 11:4

    For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, [that] his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as [was] the heart of David his father.

  • Nehemiah 13:25

    And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, [saying], Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

  • Nehemiah 13:23

    ΒΆ In those days also saw I Jews [that] had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, [and] of Moab: