Exodus 34:16

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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!

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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

### SUMMARY
Exodus 34:16 delivers a solemn divine warning to the Israelites, prohibiting intermarriage with the inhabitants of Canaan. This command underscores the profound spiritual danger inherent in such unions, predicting that the daughters of the land would lead Israelite sons into idolatry, effectively causing them to "go a whoring" after false gods. This prohibition is a critical component of God's covenant stipulations, designed to safeguard Israel's unique identity as a holy nation set apart for exclusive worship of the one true God, preventing the insidious corruption of pagan practices from infiltrating the covenant community.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within God's renewed covenant instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai, following the catastrophic incident of the [golden calf](/exodus/32 "Exodus 32 - The Golden Calf Incident"). After Israel's profound betrayal, God mercifully re-establishes His covenant, inscribing new tablets of the Law. Chapter 34 outlines the terms of this renewed covenant, emphasizing God's character as both merciful and just, and reiterating foundational principles for Israel's relationship with Him as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. The immediate preceding verses, [Exodus 34:12-15](/exodus/34-12 "Exodus 34:12-15 - Commands Against Idolatry"), explicitly command Israel to make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land, to destroy their altars, break their images, and to worship no other god, for the Lord is a "jealous God" ([Exodus 34:14](/exodus/34-14 "Exodus 34:14 - God's Jealousy")). Verse 16 serves as the direct, grave consequence of failing to heed these specific warnings against assimilation: intermarriage would inevitably lead to spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry, directly violating the covenant's core demand for exclusive devotion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** As Israel stood on the precipice of entering Canaan, they were poised to encounter a highly polytheistic and morally corrupt culture. The Canaanite religion was characterized by fertility cults, often involving ritual prostitution, and the worship of deities like Baal and Asherah, which included practices such as child sacrifice. God's command in [Exodus 34:16](/exodus/34-16 "Exodus 34:16 - Warning Against Intermarriage") was not merely a social directive but a spiritual imperative for the preservation of Israel's unique identity as God's chosen people. The Canaanite worldview was antithetical to the monotheistic worship of Yahweh. Marital alliances were often strategic, cementing political and economic ties, but in this context, they also served as conduits for religious syncretism. God understood that the intimate bond of marriage would inevitably expose Israelite sons to the pagan practices of their wives and their families, leading them away from the covenant and into the very idolatry from which God sought to deliver them. This warning is echoed throughout the Pentateuch, particularly in [Deuteronomy 7:1-4](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-4 - Warnings Against Intermarriage and Idolatry"), which further elaborates on the rationale for this strict separation.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Zanah (זָנָה, _zanah'_):** This Hebrew verb literally means "to commit fornication" or "to be a harlot." In the context of Exodus 34:16, and frequently throughout the Old Testament, it is employed as a powerful and vivid metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness, particularly idolatry. By likening the worship of false gods to prostitution, the text emphasizes the profound betrayal of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. Just as marital infidelity breaks a sacred bond of trust and exclusive devotion, so too does idolatry represent a heinous abandonment of the exclusive allegiance owed to Yahweh, the true "husband" of Israel. This imagery underscores the gravity of the sin, portraying it not as a minor transgression but as a deep, illicit devotion to something other than God, with devastating consequences for the covenant community.
* **Elohim (אֱלֹהִים, _elohim'_):** While this Hebrew word can refer to the one true God, in the context of "their gods" (אֱלֹהֵיהֶם, _elohehem_), it refers to the deities of the Canaanite nations. These were not merely alternative spiritual expressions but were considered "no-gods" or "worthless things" by Yahweh, often associated with demonic forces in later biblical thought. The use of _elohim_ here highlights the stark contrast between the living God of Israel and the lifeless, impotent idols of the surrounding cultures. The danger was not just adopting a different deity, but abandoning the source of life and covenant blessing for entities that offered only spiritual death and moral corruption.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons":** This initial clause directly addresses Moses (and through him, Israel) with a stern prohibition against forming marital alliances with the daughters of the Canaanite inhabitants. The act of "taking" (לָקַח, _laqach_) implies an active choice to integrate these individuals into the Israelite family structure through marriage, which was a common practice for establishing social and political ties in the ancient Near East. However, in this specific context, such integration is presented as a grave spiritual risk, setting the stage for the subsequent clauses.
* **"and their daughters go a whoring after their gods":** This clause explains the immediate and inevitable consequence of the prohibited intermarriage. The "daughters" (of the Canaanites) are depicted as actively engaging in spiritual "whoring" (idolatry) with "their gods." This highlights the deeply ingrained nature of their pagan worship and the strong influence they would exert within the marital and familial sphere. The spiritual infidelity is not a passive act but an active pursuit of false deities, which would then be introduced into the Israelite household.
* **"and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods":** This final clause reveals the ultimate and most devastating outcome. The influence of the Canaanite wives would be so profound that they would "make" (or cause) the Israelite sons to also "go a whoring" after these same false gods. This demonstrates the insidious and contagious nature of idolatry, particularly within the intimate and formative context of the family. The warning emphasizes that the seemingly personal choice of marriage has generational spiritual ramifications, leading the covenant community away from exclusive devotion to Yahweh and into the very spiritual adultery that God vehemently opposes.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 34:16 employs several potent literary devices to convey its urgent warning. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, specifically the extended metaphor of "whoring" (or spiritual adultery) to describe idolatry. This vivid imagery, using the Hebrew term _zanah_, powerfully conveys the idea of an illicit and unfaithful relationship, likening the worship of false gods to a betrayal of the sacred marital covenant between God and Israel. This metaphor underscores the depth of God's personal offense at Israel's unfaithfulness and the profound intimacy of the covenant relationship He desires. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Repetition** ("go a whoring after their gods") to emphasize the core danger and the inevitable outcome of the prohibited intermarriage. This repetition serves as a rhetorical device to hammer home the central message, ensuring its gravity is not missed. The structure also exhibits a form of **Cause and Effect**, clearly delineating the sequence from intermarriage to the wives' idolatry, and finally to the sons' spiritual corruption, thereby illustrating the direct and devastating spiritual consequences of disobedience.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 34:16 is deeply theological, articulating God's demand for exclusive worship and His commitment to the purity of His covenant people. It underscores the theme of **covenant fidelity**, portraying idolatry as spiritual adultery—a profound betrayal of the unique relationship between Yahweh and Israel. God, as a "jealous God" ([Exodus 34:14](/exodus/34-14 "Exodus 34:14 - God's Jealousy")), demands undivided allegiance, recognizing that even seemingly personal choices like marriage have communal and generational spiritual ramifications. This verse also highlights the crucial theme of **separation and holiness**, emphasizing that Israel's distinct identity as God's chosen nation required strict separation from the pagan practices of the surrounding cultures. The insidious nature of idolatry, which can creep into the community through intimate relationships, is a central concern, demonstrating how external influences can compromise internal purity and devotion to the one true God.

* [Exodus 20:3](/exodus/20-3 "The First Commandment")
* [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Prohibition of Intermarriage")
* [2 Corinthians 6:14](/2_corinthians/6-14 "Do Not Be Unequally Yoked")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While believers today are not commanded to literally conquer pagan nations or avoid all interaction with non-believers, the spiritual principles embedded in Exodus 34:16 remain profoundly relevant for contemporary life. This verse serves as a timeless warning against any compromise that threatens our exclusive devotion to God. It calls us to exercise profound spiritual discernment in all our relationships, especially those of deep intimacy, ensuring that our closest associations draw us nearer to Christ rather than away from Him. Modern idolatry may not involve carved images, but it manifests in anything that takes precedence over God in our lives—be it career success, material possessions, personal comfort, or even self-worship. The passage reminds us that spiritual drift often begins subtly, through seemingly innocuous compromises that, over time, can lead to a complete abandonment of faith, influencing not only ourselves but also those within our sphere of influence, including our families and future generations. Therefore, the call is to maintain unwavering allegiance to God, resisting the cultural pressures and personal desires that might subtly or overtly draw our hearts away from His truth and commands, continually examining where our true devotion lies.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be tempted to form "unequal yokes" or compromises that could subtly pull my devotion away from God?**
* **What are the "gods" of my modern culture that vie for my ultimate allegiance, and how might they infiltrate my life through seemingly benign relationships or pursuits?**
* **How can I actively cultivate a deeper, more exclusive devotion to God in my daily life, safeguarding my spiritual purity and influencing my family positively?**

### FAQ
**Why was intermarriage such a grave concern for God in ancient Israel?**

Answer: Intermarriage was a grave concern because it posed an existential threat to Israel's unique identity and spiritual purity as God's covenant people. Unlike modern secular societies, ancient Near Eastern marriages were not merely personal unions but often strategic alliances that integrated families, cultures, and, crucially, religions. God knew that marrying into Canaanite families would inevitably expose Israelites to, and eventually lead them into, the pagan worship practices of their spouses. These practices, including fertility cults and child sacrifice, were an abomination to Yahweh and directly violated the First Commandment: "[Thou shalt have no other gods before me](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3 - The First Commandment")." The historical record, particularly in books like [Judges](/judges/3 "Judges 3 - Israel's Disobedience") and [1 Kings](/1_kings/11 "1 Kings 11 - Solomon's Idolatry"), tragically demonstrates the fulfillment of this warning, as many Israelite kings and their people fell into idolatry precisely through such unions. God's prohibition was therefore a protective measure, designed to preserve Israel's exclusive devotion to Him and ensure their role as a holy nation set apart to bear witness to the one true God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 34:16, with its stark warning against spiritual whoredom through idolatrous unions, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament's repeated portrayal of Israel's unfaithfulness as spiritual adultery against Yahweh, their divine "husband," highlights humanity's inherent inability to maintain perfect covenant fidelity. Christ, however, is the perfectly faithful Son who never "went a whoring" after other gods, but perfectly honored His Father. He establishes a new covenant, not based on human obedience to external prohibitions alone, but on His own atoning sacrifice, which cleanses us from the "whoring" of our hearts ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Cleansing from Dead Works")). Through His death and resurrection, Christ purifies for Himself a people—the Church—who are presented as His pure bride, cleansed from all spiritual defilement ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ and the Church")). He enables us to have true, exclusive devotion to God, not through legalistic separation from the world, but through the indwelling Holy Spirit who empowers us to resist the idolatries of our age and live in genuine fidelity to the true God. In Christ, the danger of being "unequally yoked" ([2 Corinthians 6:14](/2_corinthians/6-14 "2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do Not Be Unequally Yoked")) is overcome by the power of His transformative grace, which calls us to a deeper spiritual union with Him, the only one worthy of our complete and undivided devotion, thereby fulfilling the spirit of the command to be set apart for God alone.

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.