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

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

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

22 But 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.

23 For 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.

24 You 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.

25 So 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.

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

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

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

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

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

31 And 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.

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

33 They 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

Behold הִנֵּ֨ה H2009 Interjection I אָנֹכִ֜י H595 Pronoun - first person common singular am sending שֹׁלֵ֤חַ H7971 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular an angel מַלְאָךְ֙ H4397 Noun - masculine singular before you לְפָנֶ֔יךָ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular to protect you לִשְׁמָרְךָ֖ H8104 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular along the way בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ H1870 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular and to bring you וְלַהֲבִ֣יאֲךָ֔ H935 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the place הַמָּק֖וֹם H4725 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative I have prepared הֲכִנֹֽתִי׃ H3559 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular
Verse 21

Original words

Pay attention הִשָּׁ֧מֶר H8104 Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular to him מִפָּנָ֛יו H6440 Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular and listen וּשְׁמַ֥ע H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular to his voice בְּקֹל֖וֹ H6963 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular do not אַל־ H408 Adverb defy תַּמֵּ֣ר H4843 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular him בּ֑וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction he will not לֹ֤א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle forgive יִשָּׂא֙ H5375 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular rebellion לְפִשְׁעֲכֶ֔ם H6588 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural since כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction My Name שְׁמִ֖י H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular is in him בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃ H7130 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 22

Original words

But כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction if אִם־ H518 Conjunction you will listen carefully שָׁמֹ֤עַ H8085 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . תִּשְׁמַע֙ H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular to his voice בְּקֹל֔וֹ H6963 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular and do וְעָשִׂ֕יתָ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular everything כֹּ֖ל H3605 Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative I say אֲדַבֵּ֑ר H1696 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular I will be an enemy אֹ֣יְבֶ֔יךָ H341 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular to your enemies וְאָֽיַבְתִּי֙ H340 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker and a foe וְצַרְתִּ֖י H6696 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker to your foes צֹרְרֶֽיךָ׃ H6887 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 23

Original words

For כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction My angel מַלְאָכִי֮ H4397 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular will go יֵלֵ֣ךְ H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular before you לְפָנֶיךָ֒ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular and bring you וֶהֱבִֽיאֲךָ֗ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular into אֶל־ H413 Preposition the land of the Amorites הָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ H567 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Hittites וְהַ֣חִתִּ֔י H2850 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Perizzites וְהַפְּרִזִּי֙ H6522 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Canaanites וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י H3669 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Hivites הַחִוִּ֖י H2340 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular and Jebusites וְהַיְבוּסִ֑י H2983 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular and I will annihilate them וְהִכְחַדְתִּֽיו׃ H3582 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

You must not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle bow down תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֤ה H7812 Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular to their gods לֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶם֙ H430 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural or serve them תָֽעָבְדֵ֔ם H5647 Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural . . . וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle or וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle follow תַעֲשֶׂ֖ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular their practices כְּמַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑ם H4639 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Instead כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction you are to demolish them הָרֵס֙ H2040 Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute . . . תְּהָ֣רְסֵ֔ם H2040 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural and smash their sacred stones מַצֵּבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ H4676 Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural to pieces וְשַׁבֵּ֥ר H7665 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute . . . תְּשַׁבֵּ֖ר H7665 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Verse 25

Original words

So you shall serve וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֗ם H5647 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural - אֵ֚ת H853 Direct object marker the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural and He will bless וּבֵרַ֥ךְ H1288 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶֽת־ H853 Direct object marker your bread לַחְמְךָ֖ H3899 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker your water מֵימֶ֑יךָ H4325 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular And I will take away וַהֲסִרֹתִ֥י H5493 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular sickness מַחֲלָ֖ה H4245 Noun - feminine singular from among you מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃ H7130 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • LXX and Vulgate I will bless
Verse 26

Original words

No לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle {woman} in your land בְּאַרְצֶ֑ךָ H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular . . . תִהְיֶ֛ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular will miscarry מְשַׁכֵּלָ֥ה H7921 Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular or be barren וַעֲקָרָ֖ה H6135 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker I will fulfill אֲמַלֵּֽא׃ H4390 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular the number מִסְפַּ֥ר H4557 Noun - masculine singular construct of your days יָמֶ֖יךָ H3117 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 27

Original words

- אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker I will send אֲשַׁלַּ֣ח H7971 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular My terror אֵֽימָתִי֙ H367 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular ahead of you לְפָנֶ֔יךָ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular and throw into confusion וְהַמֹּתִי֙ H2000 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker every כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct nation הָעָ֔ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative you encounter תָּבֹ֖א H935 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular I will make all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct your enemies אֹיְבֶ֛יךָ H341 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular turn וְנָתַתִּ֧י H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker and run אֵלֶ֖יךָ H413 Preposition | second person masculine singular . . . עֹֽרֶף׃ H6203 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 28

Original words

I will send וְשָׁלַחְתִּ֥י H7971 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the hornet הַצִּרְעָ֖ה H6880 Article | Noun - feminine singular before you לְפָנֶ֑יךָ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular to drive וְגֵרְשָׁ֗ה H1644 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the Hivites הַחִוִּ֧י H2340 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker and Canaanites הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֛י H3669 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and Hittites הַחִתִּ֖י H2850 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular out of your way מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ׃ H6440 Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 29

Original words

I will not לֹ֧א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle drive them out אֲגָרְשֶׁ֛נּוּ H1644 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular before you מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ H6440 Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular in a single אֶחָ֑ת H259 Number - feminine singular year בְּשָׁנָ֣ה H8141 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular otherwise פֶּן־ H6435 Conjunction the land הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular would become תִּהְיֶ֤ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular desolate שְׁמָמָ֔ה H8077 Noun - feminine singular and wild הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ H7704 Article | Noun - masculine singular animals חַיַּ֥ת H2416 Noun - feminine singular construct would multiply וְרַבָּ֥ה H7231 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular against you עָלֶ֖יךָ H5921 Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 30

Original words

Little מְעַ֥ט H4592 Adjective - masculine singular by little מְעַ֛ט H4592 Adjective - masculine singular I will drive them out אֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּ H1644 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular ahead of you מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ H6440 Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular until עַ֚ד H5704 Preposition - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative you become fruitful תִּפְרֶ֔ה H6509 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular and possess וְנָחַלְתָּ֖ H5157 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the land הָאָֽרֶץ׃ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 31

Original words

And I will establish וְשַׁתִּ֣י H7896 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker your borders גְּבֻלְךָ֗ H1366 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular from the Red סוּף֙ H5488 Noun - masculine singular Sea מִיַּם־ H3220 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct to וְעַד־ H5704 Conjunctive waw | Preposition the Sea יָ֣ם H3220 Noun - masculine singular construct of the Philistines פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים H6430 Noun - proper - masculine plural and from the desert וּמִמִּדְבָּ֖ר H4057 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular to עַד־ H5704 Preposition the [Euphrates] הַנָּהָ֑ר H5104 Article | Noun - masculine singular For כִּ֣י׀ H3588 Conjunction I will deliver אֶתֵּ֣ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular the inhabitants יֹשְׁבֵ֣י H3427 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct . . . הָאָ֔רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular into your hand בְּיֶדְכֶ֗ם H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural - אֵ֚ת H853 Direct object marker and you will drive them out וְגֵרַשְׁתָּ֖מוֹ H1644 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural before you מִפָּנֶֽיךָ׃ H6440 Preposition-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 make תִכְרֹ֥ת H3772 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular no לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle covenant בְּרִֽית׃ H1285 Noun - feminine singular with them לָהֶ֛ם Preposition | third person masculine plural or with their gods וְלֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶ֖ם H430 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Verse 33

Original words

They must not לֹ֤א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle remain יֵשְׁבוּ֙ H3427 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural in your land בְּאַרְצְךָ֔ H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular lest פֶּן־ H6435 Conjunction they cause you to sin יַחֲטִ֥יאוּ H2398 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural - אֹתְךָ֖ H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine singular against Me לִ֑י Preposition | first person common singular For כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction if you serve תַעֲבֹד֙ H5647 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker their gods אֱלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural it will surely כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction be יִהְיֶ֥ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular a snare לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃פ H4170 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular to you לְךָ֖ Preposition | 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.