Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 7:1-5

A Holy People Set Apart: Election, Separation, and the Logic of Covenant Love

From the separation and destruction command (vv. 1-5) through the election ground that explains why (vv. 6-11), to the blessing that follows obedience (vv. 12-16), and finally to the fear rebuttal that addresses Israel's likely objection (vv. 17-26) — the chapter moves from command through rationale through promise through confidence-building.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you—

2 and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.

3 Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons,

4 because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.

5 Instead, this is what you are to do to them: tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their idols in the fire.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Joshua 3:10 Classic cross-references Acts 13:19 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 31:3 Classic cross-references Exodus 3:8 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 4:38 Classic cross-references

Original words

When כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular brings יְבִֽיאֲךָ֙ H935 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular you into אֶל־ H413 Preposition the land הָאָ֕רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative you אַתָּ֥ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular are entering בָא־ H935 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular . . . שָׁ֖מָּה H8033 Adverb | third person feminine singular to possess לְרִשְׁתָּ֑הּ H3423 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular and He drives out וְנָשַׁ֣ל H5394 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular before you מִפָּנֶ֡יךָ H6440 Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular many רַבִּ֣ים׀ H7227 Adjective - masculine plural nations גּֽוֹיִם־ H1471 Noun - masculine plural the Hittites הַֽחִתִּי֩ H2850 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Girgashites וְהַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֨י H1622 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Amorites וְהָאֱמֹרִ֜י H567 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Canaanites וְהַכְּנַעֲנִ֣י H3669 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Perizzites וְהַפְּרִזִּ֗י H6522 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Hivites וְהַֽחִוִּי֙ H2340 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular and Jebusites וְהַיְבוּסִ֔י H2983 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular seven שִׁבְעָ֣ה H7651 Number - masculine singular nations גוֹיִ֔ם H1471 Noun - masculine plural larger רַבִּ֥ים H7227 Adjective - masculine plural and stronger וַעֲצוּמִ֖ים H6099 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural than you מִמֶּֽךָּ׃ H4480 Preposition | second person masculine singular

Verse 2

Cross-references

2 Corinthians 6:14 Classic cross-references Exodus 23:32 Classic cross-references Psalms 106:34 Classic cross-references Ezra 10:3 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 7:16 Classic cross-references

Original words

and when the LORD יְהוָ֧ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular has delivered them over וּנְתָנָ֞ם H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural to you לְפָנֶ֖יךָ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular to defeat them וְהִכִּיתָ֑ם H5221 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural then you must devote them to complete destruction הַחֲרֵ֤ם H2763 Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute . . . תַּחֲרִים֙ H2763 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - אֹתָ֔ם H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural Make תִכְרֹ֥ת H3772 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular no לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle treaty בְּרִ֖ית H1285 Noun - feminine singular with them לָהֶ֛ם Preposition | third person masculine plural and show them no וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle mercy תְחָנֵּֽם׃ H2603 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural

BSB notes

Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also twice in verse 26.
Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant.

Verse 3

Cross-references

Ezra 9:12 Classic cross-references 1 Kings 11:2 Classic cross-references Joshua 23:12 Classic cross-references Exodus 34:15 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 6:14 Classic cross-references

Original words

Do not וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle intermarry תִתְחַתֵּ֖ן H2859 Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular with them בָּ֑ם Preposition | third person masculine plural Do not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle give תִתֵּ֣ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular your daughters בִּתְּךָ֙ H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular to their sons לִבְנ֔וֹ H1121 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular or לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle take תִקַּ֥ח H3947 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular their daughters וּבִתּ֖וֹ H1323 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular for your sons לִבְנֶֽךָ׃ H1121 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

Verse 4

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 6:15 Classic cross-references Numbers 33:55 Classic cross-references 1 Kings 11:9 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 20:18 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 32:16 Classic cross-references

Original words

because כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction they will turn your sons בִּנְךָ֙ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular away יָסִ֤יר H5493 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker from following Me מֵֽאַחֲרַ֔י H310 Preposition-m | first person common singular to serve וְעָבְד֖וּ H5647 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural other אֲחֵרִ֑ים H312 Adjective - masculine plural gods אֱלֹהִ֣ים H430 Noun - masculine plural Then the anger אַף־ H639 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular will burn וְחָרָ֤ה H2734 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular against you בָּכֶ֔ם Preposition | second person masculine plural and He will swiftly מַהֵֽר׃ H4118 Adverb destroy you וְהִשְׁמִידְךָ֖ H8045 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular

Verse 5

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 12:2 Classic cross-references Exodus 23:24 Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 14:3 Classic cross-references Exodus 34:13 Classic cross-references 2 Kings 23:14 Classic cross-references

Original words

Instead כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction . . . אִם־ H518 Conjunction this is what כֹּ֤ה H3541 Adverb you are to do to them תַעֲשׂוּ֙ H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural . . . לָהֶ֔ם Preposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine plural tear down תִּתֹּ֔צוּ H5422 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural their altars מִזְבְּחֹתֵיהֶ֣ם H4196 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural smash תְּשַׁבֵּ֑רוּ H7665 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural their sacred pillars וּמַצֵּבֹתָ֖ם H4676 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural cut down תְּגַדֵּע֔וּן H1438 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun their Asherah poles וַאֲשֵֽׁירֵהֶם֙ H842 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural and burn תִּשְׂרְפ֥וּן H8313 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun their idols וּפְסִילֵיהֶ֖ם H6456 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural in the fire בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ H784 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular

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