Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 7:17-24

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

17 You may say in your heart, “These nations are greater than we are; how can we drive them out?”

18 But do not be afraid of them. Be sure to remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and all Egypt:

19 the great trials that you saw, the signs and wonders, and the mighty hand and outstretched arm by which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.

20 Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet against them until even the survivors hiding from you have perished.

21 Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.

22 The LORD your God will drive out these nations before you little by little. You will not be enabled to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals would multiply around you.

23 But the LORD your God will give them over to you and throw them into great confusion, until they are destroyed.

24 He will hand their kings over to you, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven. No one will be able to stand against you; you will annihilate them.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 17

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 8:17 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 13:22 Classic cross-references Numbers 13:32 Classic cross-references Numbers 33:53 Classic cross-references

Original words

vvv כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction You may say תֹאמַר֙ H559 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular in your heart בִּלְבָ֣בְךָ֔ H3824 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular These הָאֵ֖לֶּה H428 Article | Pronoun - common plural nations הַגּוֹיִ֥ם H1471 Article | Noun - masculine plural are greater רַבִּ֛ים H7227 Adjective - masculine plural than we are מִמֶּ֑נִּי H4480 Preposition | first person common singular how אֵיכָ֥ה H349 Interjection can אוּכַ֖ל H3201 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular we drive them out לְהוֹרִישָֽׁם׃ H3423 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural

Verse 18

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 31:6 Classic cross-references Isaiah 43:18 Classic cross-references Numbers 14:9 Classic cross-references Joshua 8:1 Classic cross-references Psalms 105:5 Classic cross-references

Original words

But do not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle be afraid תִירָ֖א H3372 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular of them מֵהֶ֑ם Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural Be sure to remember זָכֹ֣ר H2142 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . תִּזְכֹּ֗ר H2142 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - אֵ֤ת H853 Direct object marker what אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular did עָשָׂה֙ H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to Pharaoh לְפַרְעֹ֖ה H6547 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular and all וּלְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct Egypt מִצְרָֽיִם׃ H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular

Verse 19

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 4:34 Classic cross-references Joshua 10:25 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 34:11 Classic cross-references Nehemiah 9:10 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 32:20 Classic cross-references

Original words

the great הַגְּדֹלֹ֜ת H1419 Article | Adjective - feminine plural trials הַמַּסֹּ֨ת H4531 Article | Noun - feminine plural that אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative you עֵינֶ֗יךָ H5869 Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular saw רָא֣וּ H7200 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural the signs וְהָאֹתֹ֤ת H226 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - common plural and wonders וְהַמֹּֽפְתִים֙ H4159 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural and the mighty הַחֲזָקָה֙ H2389 Article | Adjective - feminine singular hand וְהַיָּ֤ד H3027 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular and outstretched הַנְּטוּיָ֔ה H5186 Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular arm וְהַזְּרֹ֣עַ H2220 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular by which אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular brought you out הוֹצִֽאֲךָ֖ H3318 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular The LORD יְהוָ֤ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular will do יַעֲשֶׂ֞ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the same כֵּֽן־ H3651 Adverb to all לְכָל־ H3605 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct the peoples הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים H5971 Article | Noun - masculine plural - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative you אַתָּ֥ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular now fear יָרֵ֖א H3373 Adjective - masculine singular . . . מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃ H6440 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural

Verse 20

Cross-references

Joshua 24:12 Classic cross-references Exodus 23:28 Classic cross-references Isaiah 7:18 Classic cross-references

Original words

Moreover וְגַם֙ H1571 Conjunction the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular אֶת־ אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker will send יְשַׁלַּ֛ח H7971 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the hornet הַצִּרְעָ֔ה H6880 Article | Noun - feminine singular against them בָּ֑ם Preposition | third person masculine plural until עַד־ H5704 Preposition even the survivors הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֛ים H7604 Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural hiding וְהַנִּסְתָּרִ֖ים H5641 Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural from you מִפָּנֶֽיךָ׃ H6440 Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular have perished אֲבֹ֗ד H6 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct

Verse 21

Cross-references

Genesis 18:14 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 10:17 Classic cross-references Nehemiah 1:5 Classic cross-references Nehemiah 9:32 Classic cross-references Joshua 3:10 Classic cross-references

Original words

Do not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle be terrified תַעֲרֹ֖ץ H6206 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular by them מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם H6440 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction the LORD יְהוָ֤ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular who [is] among you בְּקִרְבֶּ֔ךָ H7130 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular [is] a great גָּד֖וֹל H1419 Adjective - masculine singular and awesome וְנוֹרָֽא׃ H3372 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular God אֵ֥ל H410 Noun - masculine singular

Verse 22

Cross-references

Exodus 23:29 Classic cross-references Proverbs 2:22 Classic cross-references Judges 3:1 Classic cross-references Joshua 21:44 Classic cross-references Psalms 59:13 Classic cross-references

Original words

The LORD יְהוָ֨ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker will drive out וְנָשַׁל֩ H5394 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular these הָאֵ֛ל H411 Article | Pronoun - common plural nations הַגּוֹיִ֥ם H1471 Article | Noun - masculine plural before you מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ H6440 Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular little מְעַ֣ט H4592 Adjective - masculine singular by little מְעָ֑ט H4592 Adjective - masculine singular You will not לֹ֤א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle be enabled תוּכַל֙ H3201 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular to eliminate them כַּלֹּתָ֣ם H3615 Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural all at once מַהֵ֔ר H4118 Adverb or פֶּן־ H6435 Conjunction the wild הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ H7704 Article | Noun - masculine singular animals חַיַּ֥ת H2416 Noun - feminine singular construct would multiply תִּרְבֶּ֥ה H7235 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular around you עָלֶ֖יךָ H5921 Preposition | second person masculine singular

Verse 23

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 9:3 Classic cross-references Exodus 23:27 Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 17:46 Classic cross-references

Original words

But the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular will give them over וּנְתָנָ֛ם H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural to you לְפָנֶ֑יךָ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular and throw them וְהָמָם֙ H2000 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural into great גְדֹלָ֔ה H1419 Adjective - feminine singular confusion מְהוּמָ֣ה H4103 Noun - feminine singular until עַ֖ד H5704 Preposition they are destroyed הִשָּׁמְדָֽם׃ H8045 Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural

Verse 24

Cross-references

Joshua 1:5 Classic cross-references Joshua 6:2 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 11:25 Classic cross-references Joshua 10:8 Classic cross-references Joshua 23:9 Classic cross-references

Original words

He will hand their kings מַלְכֵיהֶם֙ H4428 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural over to וְנָתַ֤ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular you בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular and you will wipe out וְהַאֲבַדְתָּ֣ H6 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker their names שְׁמָ֔ם H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural from under מִתַּ֖חַת H8478 Preposition-m heaven הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם H8064 Article | Noun - masculine plural No לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle one אִישׁ֙ H376 Noun - masculine singular will be able to stand יִתְיַצֵּ֥ב H3320 Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular against you בְּפָנֶ֔יךָ H6440 Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular . . . עַ֥ד H5704 Preposition you will annihilate them הִשְׁמִֽדְךָ֖ H8045 Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular - אֹתָֽם׃ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural

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