Focused Passage

Exodus 23:20-33

Justice, Sabbath Mercy, Festivals, and Covenant Faithfulness

The chapter moves from commands about truthful justice and impartial courts, to mercy toward enemies and vulnerable workers, to Sabbath and sabbatical rest, to Israel’s festival calendar, to worship instructions, and finally to covenant promises and warnings concerning the angel of the LORD, conquest, idolatry, and life in the promised land.

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

20Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.

21Pay attention to him and listen to his voice; do not defy him, for he will not forgive rebellion, since My Name is in him.

22But if you will listen carefully to his voice and do everything I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes.

23For My angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and I will annihilate them.

24You must not bow down to their gods or serve them or follow their practices. Instead, you are to demolish them and smash their sacred stones to pieces.

25So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take away sickness from among you.

26No woman in your land will miscarry or be barren; I will fulfill the number of your days.

27I will send My terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn and run.

28I will send the hornet before you to drive the Hivites and Canaanites and Hittites out of your way.

29I will not drive them out before you in a single year; otherwise the land would become desolate and wild animals would multiply against you.

30Little by little I will drive them out ahead of you, until you become fruitful and possess the land.

31And I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.

32You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods.

33They must not remain in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 20

Original words

Beholdהִנֵּ֨הH2009InterjectionIאָנֹכִ֜יH595Pronoun - first person common singularam sendingשֹׁלֵ֤חַH7971Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularan angelמַלְאָךְ֙H4397Noun - masculine singularbefore youלְפָנֶ֔יךָH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularto protect youלִשְׁמָרְךָ֖H8104Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singularalong the wayבַּדָּ֑רֶךְH1870Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singularand to bring youוְלַהֲבִ֣יאֲךָ֔H935Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe placeהַמָּק֖וֹםH4725Article | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeI have preparedהֲכִנֹֽתִי׃H3559Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular
Verse 21

Original words

Pay attentionהִשָּׁ֧מֶרH8104Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singularto himמִפָּנָ֛יוH6440Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singularand listenוּשְׁמַ֥עH8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularto his voiceבְּקֹל֖וֹH6963Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singulardo notאַל־H408Adverbdefyתַּמֵּ֣רH4843Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singularhimבּ֑וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularforכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionhe will notלֹ֤אH3808Adverb - Negative particleforgiveיִשָּׂא֙H5375Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularrebellionלְפִשְׁעֲכֶ֔םH6588Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine pluralsinceכִּ֥יH3588ConjunctionMy Nameשְׁמִ֖יH8034Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularis in himבְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃H7130Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 22

Original words

Butכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionifאִם־H518Conjunctionyou will listen carefullyשָׁמֹ֤עַH8085Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute. . .תִּשְׁמַע֙H8085Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularto his voiceבְּקֹל֔וֹH6963Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularand doוְעָשִׂ֕יתָH6213Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singulareverythingכֹּ֖לH3605Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeI sayאֲדַבֵּ֑רH1696Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularI will be an enemyאֹ֣יְבֶ֔יךָH341Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularto your enemiesוְאָֽיַבְתִּי֙H340Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerand a foeוְצַרְתִּ֖יH6696Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerto your foesצֹרְרֶֽיךָ׃H6887Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 23

Original words

Forכִּֽי־H3588ConjunctionMy angelמַלְאָכִי֮H4397Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularwill goיֵלֵ֣ךְH1980Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularbefore youלְפָנֶיךָ֒H6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularand bring youוֶהֱבִֽיאֲךָ֗H935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularintoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe land of the Amoritesהָֽאֱמֹרִי֙H567Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularHittitesוְהַ֣חִתִּ֔יH2850Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularPerizzitesוְהַפְּרִזִּי֙H6522Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularCanaanitesוְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔יH3669Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularHivitesהַחִוִּ֖יH2340Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularand Jebusitesוְהַיְבוּסִ֑יH2983Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularand I will annihilate themוְהִכְחַדְתִּֽיו׃H3582Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

You must notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlebow downתִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֤הH7812Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singularto their godsלֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶם֙H430Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralor serve themתָֽעָבְדֵ֔םH5647Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural. . .וְלֹ֥אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleorוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlefollowתַעֲשֶׂ֖הH6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singulartheir practicesכְּמַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑םH4639Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralInsteadכִּ֤יH3588Conjunctionyou are to demolish themהָרֵס֙H2040Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute. . .תְּהָ֣רְסֵ֔םH2040Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine pluraland smash their sacred stonesמַצֵּבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃H4676Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine pluralto piecesוְשַׁבֵּ֥רH7665Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute. . .תְּשַׁבֵּ֖רH7665Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Verse 25

Original words

So you shall serveוַעֲבַדְתֶּ֗םH5647Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural-אֵ֚תH853Direct object markerthe LORDיְהוָ֣הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔םH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluraland He will blessוּבֵרַ֥ךְH1288Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶֽת־H853Direct object markeryour breadלַחְמְךָ֖H3899Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularandוְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markeryour waterמֵימֶ֑יךָH4325Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularAnd I will take awayוַהֲסִרֹתִ֥יH5493Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularsicknessמַחֲלָ֖הH4245Noun - feminine singularfrom among youמִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃H7130Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • LXX and Vulgate I will bless
Verse 26

Original words

Noלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particle{woman} in your landבְּאַרְצֶ֑ךָH776Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular. . .תִהְיֶ֛הH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularwill miscarryמְשַׁכֵּלָ֥הH7921Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singularor be barrenוַעֲקָרָ֖הH6135Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerI will fulfillאֲמַלֵּֽא׃H4390Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularthe numberמִסְפַּ֥רH4557Noun - masculine singular constructof your daysיָמֶ֖יךָH3117Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 27

Original words

-אֶת־H853Direct object markerI will sendאֲשַׁלַּ֣חH7971Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularMy terrorאֵֽימָתִי֙H367Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularahead of youלְפָנֶ֔יךָH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularand throw into confusionוְהַמֹּתִי֙H2000Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markereveryכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructnationהָעָ֔םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeyou encounterתָּבֹ֖אH935Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularI will make allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructyour enemiesאֹיְבֶ֛יךָH341Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularturnוְנָתַתִּ֧יH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerand runאֵלֶ֖יךָH413Preposition | second person masculine singular. . .עֹֽרֶף׃H6203Noun - masculine singular
Verse 28

Original words

I will sendוְשָׁלַחְתִּ֥יH7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe hornetהַצִּרְעָ֖הH6880Article | Noun - feminine singularbefore youלְפָנֶ֑יךָH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularto driveוְגֵרְשָׁ֗הH1644Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe Hivitesהַחִוִּ֧יH2340Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerand Canaanitesהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֛יH3669Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand Hittitesהַחִתִּ֖יH2850Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularout of your wayמִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ׃H6440Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 29

Original words

I will notלֹ֧אH3808Adverb - Negative particledrive them outאֲגָרְשֶׁ֛נּוּH1644Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singularbefore youמִפָּנֶ֖יךָH6440Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularin a singleאֶחָ֑תH259Number - feminine singularyearבְּשָׁנָ֣הH8141Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singularotherwiseפֶּן־H6435Conjunctionthe landהָאָ֙רֶץ֙H776Article | Noun - feminine singularwould becomeתִּהְיֶ֤הH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singulardesolateשְׁמָמָ֔הH8077Noun - feminine singularand wildהַשָּׂדֶֽה׃H7704Article | Noun - masculine singularanimalsחַיַּ֥תH2416Noun - feminine singular constructwould multiplyוְרַבָּ֥הH7231Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularagainst youעָלֶ֖יךָH5921Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 30

Original words

Littleמְעַ֥טH4592Adjective - masculine singularby littleמְעַ֛טH4592Adjective - masculine singularI will drive them outאֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּH1644Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singularahead of youמִפָּנֶ֑יךָH6440Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularuntilעַ֚דH5704Preposition-אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeyou become fruitfulתִּפְרֶ֔הH6509Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularand possessוְנָחַלְתָּ֖H5157Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe landהָאָֽרֶץ׃H776Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 31

Original words

And I will establishוְשַׁתִּ֣יH7896Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeryour bordersגְּבֻלְךָ֗H1366Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularfrom the Redסוּף֙H5488Noun - masculine singularSeaמִיַּם־H3220Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructtoוְעַד־H5704Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe Seaיָ֣םH3220Noun - masculine singular constructof the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםH6430Noun - proper - masculine pluraland from the desertוּמִמִּדְבָּ֖רH4057Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singulartoעַד־H5704Prepositionthe [Euphrates]הַנָּהָ֑רH5104Article | Noun - masculine singularForכִּ֣י׀H3588ConjunctionI will deliverאֶתֵּ֣ןH5414Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularthe inhabitantsיֹשְׁבֵ֣יH3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct. . .הָאָ֔רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularinto your handבְּיֶדְכֶ֗םH3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural-אֵ֚תH853Direct object markerand you will drive them outוְגֵרַשְׁתָּ֖מוֹH1644Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine pluralbefore youמִפָּנֶֽיךָ׃H6440Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or the Sea of Reeds
  • Hebrew the River
Verse 32

Original words

You shall makeתִכְרֹ֥תH3772Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularnoלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlecovenantבְּרִֽית׃H1285Noun - feminine singularwith themלָהֶ֛םPreposition | third person masculine pluralor with their godsוְלֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶ֖םH430Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Verse 33

Original words

They must notלֹ֤אH3808Adverb - Negative particleremainיֵשְׁבוּ֙H3427Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralin your landבְּאַרְצְךָ֔H776Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularlestפֶּן־H6435Conjunctionthey cause you to sinיַחֲטִ֥יאוּH2398Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural-אֹתְךָ֖H853Direct object marker | second person masculine singularagainst Meלִ֑יPreposition | first person common singularForכִּ֤יH3588Conjunctionif you serveתַעֲבֹד֙H5647Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markertheir godsאֱלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔םH430Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralit will surelyכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionbeיִהְיֶ֥הH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singulara snareלְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃פH4170Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularto youלְךָ֖Preposition | second person masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.