Joshua 23:13

KJV

Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out [any of] these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

KJV (with Strong's)

Know {H3045} for a certainty {H3045} that the LORD {H3068} your God {H430} will no more {H3254} drive out {H3423} any of these nations {H1471} from before {H6440} you; but they shall be snares {H6341} and traps {H4170} unto you, and scourges {H7850} in your sides {H6654}, and thorns {H6796} in your eyes {H5869}, until ye perish {H6} from off this good {H2896} land {H127} which the LORD {H3068} your God {H430} hath given {H5414} you.

Complete Jewish Bible

know for certain that ADONAI your God will stop driving out these nations from your sight. Instead, they will become a snare and a trap for you, whipping your sides and pricking your eyes, until you perish from this good land which ADONAI your God has given you.

Berean Standard Bible

know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.

American Standard Version

know for a certainty that Jehovah your God will no more drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap unto you, and a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which Jehovah your God hath given you.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 23:13 delivers a stark and solemn warning from the aged leader Joshua to the Israelites. It underscores the severe consequences of their potential failure to fully dispossess the remaining Canaanite nations, as commanded by God. Joshua declares that if they compromise by allowing these peoples to remain, the Lord will cease to aid them in their removal. Instead, these unexpelled nations will become a perpetual source of spiritual danger, moral entanglement, and physical affliction, ultimately leading to Israel's expulsion from the very land God had graciously given them. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the conditional nature of God's covenant blessings and the grave perils of disobedience and spiritual compromise.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 23:13 is embedded within Joshua’s valedictory address to the leaders and all of Israel, spanning chapters 23 and 24. This address marks a pivotal moment in Israel’s history, occurring after the primary military campaigns of the conquest have largely concluded and the land has been apportioned among the tribes. Joshua, now "old and well stricken in age" (Joshua 23:1), gathers the nation to deliver his final exhortations and warnings. Preceding this verse, Joshua reminds the people of God's unwavering faithfulness in fulfilling every promise He made to them, specifically in driving out their enemies and giving them the land (Joshua 23:3-5). He then transitions to a stern warning, urging them to "be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses" (Joshua 23:6) and to avoid any association with the remaining pagan nations, particularly through intermarriage or idolatry (Joshua 23:7-8). Verse 13, therefore, serves as the explicit articulation of the dire consequences should they fail to heed these crucial warnings, directly linking their future well-being in the land to their covenant fidelity.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** At the time of Joshua's address, Israel stood at a critical juncture. While the major military strongholds had been conquered, significant pockets of Canaanite inhabitants remained throughout the land (as detailed later in [Judges 1](/judges/1 "Judges 1 - Israel's Failure to Dispossess")). These remaining peoples posed a constant spiritual and cultural threat. Their polytheistic religions, fertility cults, and immoral practices were antithetical to the monotheistic, covenantal worship of Yahweh. God had explicitly commanded Israel to utterly dispossess or destroy these nations (e.g., [Deuteronomy 7:1-6](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-6 - Command to Dispossess Nations")), not out of arbitrary cruelty, but to preserve Israel’s spiritual purity and distinct identity as His chosen people. The cultural norms of the time involved syncretism, where conquering nations often assimilated aspects of the defeated peoples' religions. Joshua's warning directly confronts this temptation, highlighting that such compromise would not lead to peaceful coexistence but to Israel's spiritual and physical ruin, ultimately jeopardizing their possession of the land which was a conditional inheritance based on their obedience to the covenant.
* **Key Themes:** Joshua 23:13 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Joshua and the broader Old Testament narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Covenant Fidelity and Consequences of Disobedience**. God had faithfully fulfilled His promises to Israel, but their continued enjoyment of the land was contingent upon their unwavering obedience to His commands, particularly regarding the eradication of idolatry and the dispossessing of the Canaanites. The verse starkly illustrates that blessings are conditional, and disobedience leads to severe judgment. This ties into the theme of **Spiritual Compromise**, emphasizing that even seemingly minor compromises with pagan practices or peoples would lead to significant spiritual degradation and entanglement. The "snares and traps" represent the subtle allurements and moral pitfalls of idolatry and assimilation. Finally, the verse highlights the **Conditional Nature of the Land Inheritance**. The "good land" was a gift, but its retention was not an unconditional right. Israel's continued presence in Canaan was directly tied to their faithfulness to the Lord, foreshadowing the cycles of apostasy and judgment seen throughout the [Book of Judges](/judges/1 "The Book of Judges - Cycles of Apostasy and Deliverance") and culminating in the eventual exile (e.g., [2 Kings 17:7-23](/2_kings/17-7 "2 Kings 17:7-23 - The Exile of Israel")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Snares (מוֹקֵשׁ, _moqesh'_) and Traps (פַּח, _pach'_):** These two Hebrew words are often used together to describe devices for catching animals, signifying hidden dangers, entanglements, and unexpected pitfalls. In this context, they metaphorically represent the subtle, deceptive, and alluring influences of the remaining pagan nations that would draw Israel into idolatry, immorality, and covenant breaking. These "snares" are not overt attacks but insidious temptations that subtly lead to spiritual and moral destruction, making it difficult for Israel to escape once entangled.
* **Scourges (צִידִים, _tsidim'_) in your sides:** The Hebrew word _tsidim_ is challenging and has been translated variously. While some versions render it "adversaries" or "hunters," the KJV's "scourges in your sides" captures a metaphorical sense of constant, stinging pain and affliction, like a whip or goad repeatedly striking one's side. This imagery suggests that the unexpelled nations would not merely be a spiritual temptation but a source of perpetual physical, emotional, and political distress, perhaps through ongoing conflict, oppression, or internal strife, causing incessant vexation and weakening Israel.
* **Thorns (צִנִּים, _tsinnim'_) in your eyes:** This vivid metaphor depicts a constant, irritating, and blinding presence. Just as a thorn in the eye causes excruciating pain, impairs vision, and prevents clear sight, so too would the remaining nations be an incessant source of vexation, hindering Israel's spiritual discernment and ability to clearly perceive and follow God's path. It implies a constant obstruction to their spiritual vision, making them stumble and deviate from the covenant.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out [any of] these nations from before you;":** This opening clause serves as an unequivocal declaration of divine judgment. Joshua emphasizes that God's active assistance in dispossessing the nations, which had been so evident throughout the conquest, would cease. The phrase "know for a certainty" highlights the absolute reliability and inevitability of this consequence. God's withdrawal of aid is a direct result of Israel's failure to complete the task He commanded, demonstrating that His continued intervention is conditional upon their obedience.
* **"but they shall be snares and traps unto you, ":** This part of the verse shifts from God's cessation of action to the active negative role the remaining nations would play. They would become instruments of Israel's downfall. The "snares and traps" refer to the subtle, deceptive, and alluring influences of paganism and immorality that would entice Israel away from their covenant with Yahweh, leading them into idolatry and moral compromise. These are not direct military threats but insidious spiritual dangers that would entangle and corrupt the nation from within.
* **"and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, ":** These powerful metaphors intensify the description of the suffering. "Scourges in your sides" depicts constant, stinging pain and affliction, suggesting ongoing physical, emotional, or political distress caused by the unexpelled nations—perhaps through conflict, oppression, or internal strife. "Thorns in your eyes" illustrates an incessant irritation, hindrance, and spiritual blindness, implying that the presence of these nations would obstruct Israel's spiritual vision, making it difficult to discern God's will and follow His path clearly. Together, they paint a picture of perpetual vexation and spiritual debilitation.
* **"until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.":** This final clause articulates the ultimate and most severe consequence: expulsion from the Promised Land. The "good land" was a gracious gift from God, a physical manifestation of His covenant promises. However, Israel's continued enjoyment of this inheritance was contingent upon their fidelity. "Perish from off this good land" signifies not necessarily physical annihilation but a loss of their national identity and presence in the land, culminating in exile and the forfeiture of their covenantal inheritance, as tragically unfolded in later Israelite history.

#### Literary Devices
Joshua 23:13 is rich in **Metaphor**, employing vivid imagery to convey the severity of the consequences of disobedience. The unexpelled nations are likened to "snares and traps," which are devices designed to capture and entangle, symbolizing the insidious spiritual and moral dangers they would pose to Israel. They are also described as "scourges in your sides," evoking the constant, stinging pain of a whip, representing perpetual affliction and distress. Furthermore, they are "thorns in your eyes," a powerful image of incessant irritation that impairs vision and causes suffering, signifying spiritual blindness and hindrance. These metaphors combine to create a potent and memorable warning, emphasizing the pervasive and debilitating nature of the problems that would arise from compromise. The verse also functions as a **Prophetic Warning**, foretelling the future trajectory of Israel's history if they deviate from God's commands, a prophecy tragically fulfilled throughout the period of the Judges and beyond. The cumulative effect of these images also leans towards **Hyperbole**, underscoring the extreme and inescapable nature of the impending suffering, though rooted in a very real threat.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 23:13 encapsulates a foundational principle of the Old Covenant: God's blessings and the security of Israel's inheritance in the land were conditional upon their covenant fidelity and obedience. This verse highlights God's unwavering commitment to His holiness and His expectation of exclusive worship from His people. The failure to fully dispossess the nations was not merely a military oversight but a profound spiritual compromise that directly violated God's commands and opened the door to idolatry and moral corruption. This warning foreshadows the cyclical pattern of disobedience, oppression, and repentance that defines much of the [Book of Judges](/judges/1 "The Book of Judges - Cycles of Apostasy and Deliverance"), where the unexpelled nations indeed became "thorns in their sides" and "snares" to them. Ultimately, it demonstrates God's consistent justice and the seriousness with which He regards His covenant demands, illustrating that persistent rebellion against His clear commands leads to the forfeiture of promised blessings.

* [Deuteronomy 7:1-6](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-6 - Command to Dispossess Nations")
* [Judges 2:1-5](/judges/2-1 "Judges 2:1-5 - The Angel of the LORD's Rebuke")
* [Psalm 106:34-42](/psalm/106-34 "Psalm 106:34-42 - Israel's Disobedience and God's Mercy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua's warning in verse 13 transcends its historical context, offering profound spiritual lessons for believers today. Just as Israel was called to fully conquer the Promised Land and remove influences that would compromise their relationship with God, so too are Christians called to engage in spiritual warfare, dispossessing sinful habits, worldly values, and influences that threaten our fidelity to Christ. The "nations" in our lives can manifest as unconfessed sins, unmortified desires, lingering resentments, or uncritical assimilation of secular ideologies that subtly draw us away from God. Failing to address these spiritual "enemies" can lead to spiritual "snares" (temptations and entanglements that hinder our walk), "scourges" (constant inner turmoil, guilt, or external consequences of compromise), and "thorns in our eyes" (a diminished ability to discern God's will, spiritual blindness, and a loss of clarity in our faith). This verse serves as a powerful call to radical obedience, spiritual vigilance, and the necessity of rooting out anything that would compromise our devotion to God and jeopardize our spiritual inheritance in Christ. It reminds us that God's warnings are not arbitrary but are given out of His desire for our holiness, joy, and continued blessing.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "nations" or "unexpelled influences" in my own life that God is calling me to fully dispossess or renounce?**
* **In what ways might I be experiencing "snares," "scourges," or "thorns in my eyes" as a result of spiritual compromise or unaddressed sin?**
* **How does this verse challenge my understanding of spiritual warfare and the importance of active, ongoing sanctification?**
* **What practical steps can I take to ensure my full commitment to God and avoid spiritual complacency?**

### FAQ

**Why did God command Israel to drive out the nations, and why was it so serious if they didn't?**

Answer: God commanded Israel to drive out the Canaanite nations primarily to preserve Israel's spiritual purity and distinct identity as His covenant people. These nations practiced idolatry, child sacrifice, and various immoral cultic rituals (e.g., [Deuteronomy 12:29-31](/deuteronomy/12-29 "Deuteronomy 12:29-31 - Warning Against Idolatry")). God knew that if Israel allowed these influences to remain, they would inevitably be drawn into syncretism and apostasy, violating the first commandment to have no other gods before Him ([Exodus 20:3](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3 - The First Commandment")). The seriousness of their failure lay in its direct threat to the very foundation of their covenant relationship with Yahweh, jeopardizing their spiritual integrity and their unique role as a light to the nations.

**What does it mean to "perish from off this good land"? Was it literal annihilation?**

Answer: "Perish from off this good land" does not necessarily mean literal annihilation of every individual, but rather the loss of their national presence, identity, and inheritance in the Promised Land. It refers to a severe judgment that would result in their removal from the land God had given them, leading to exile and dispersion. This was a direct fulfillment of the covenant curses outlined in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses"), where disobedience would lead to being "plucked off the land" ([Deuteronomy 28:63](/deuteronomy/28-63 "Deuteronomy 28:63 - Plucked from the Land")). While some individuals would die in the process, the primary threat was the forfeiture of their national home and covenant status in the land.

**Is this warning relevant for Christians today, given we are not conquering a physical land?**

Answer: Absolutely. While Christians are not called to a physical conquest of land or the literal extermination of peoples, the spiritual principles embedded in Joshua 23:13 are profoundly relevant. The "good land" for believers can be understood as the spiritual inheritance we have in Christ—our salvation, sanctification, and the abundant life in the Holy Spirit ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ")). The "nations" represent sinful desires, worldly influences, ungodly habits, and spiritual strongholds that seek to compromise our faith and draw us away from full devotion to God ([2 Corinthians 10:3-5](/2_corinthians/10-3 "2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - Spiritual Warfare")). Just as Israel's blessing was conditional on obedience, our spiritual vitality and experience of God's grace are deeply tied to our willingness to "put off the old man" and "put on the new man" ([Ephesians 4:22-24](/ephesians/4-22 "Ephesians 4:22-24 - Putting Off the Old, Putting On the New")), actively resisting and dispossessing anything that would hinder our walk with Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua 23:13, with its stern warning of the consequences of Israel's failure and compromise, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in Jesus Christ. Where Israel failed to perfectly obey and fully dispossess the "nations" within their borders, leading to their eventual exile and the loss of their promised land, Christ perfectly fulfilled all righteousness and completely disarmed the spiritual "nations" that seek to ensnare humanity. He is the true and faithful Israelite who perfectly obeyed God's will, even to the point of death on a cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death")). Through His atoning sacrifice, Jesus has conquered sin and death, the ultimate "snares and traps" that hold humanity captive ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). He bore the "scourges" and "thorns" of our sin and judgment upon Himself, suffering the full wrath of God so that we might be set free from the curse of disobedience ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse")). Believers in Christ do not inherit a physical land conditionally, but an eternal, spiritual inheritance that is "imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" ([1 Peter 1:4](/1_peter/1-4 "1 Peter 1:4 - An Imperishable Inheritance")). Our security in this inheritance is not based on our perfect dispossessing of every spiritual "nation" within us, but on Christ's finished work and His ongoing power to sanctify us. He empowers us by His Spirit to overcome sin and worldly influences, transforming us from within so that we might truly live in the freedom and abundance of the "good land" of His kingdom, a kingdom that "shall never be destroyed" ([Daniel 2:44](/daniel/2-44 "Daniel 2:44 - God's Everlasting Kingdom")).

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

Deuteronomy 7:16

And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that [will be] a snare unto thee.

Numbers 33:55

But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them [shall be] pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.

Exodus 23:33

They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.

Judges 2:2

And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?

Judges 2:3

Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be [as thorns] in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

Luke 21:24

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Psalms 106:35

But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.