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Thursday, September 11th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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New Living Translation

Exodus 34:12

"Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Alliances;   Company;   Fellowship;   Miscegenation;   Temptation;   Treaty;   Watchfulness;   Thompson Chain Reference - Association-Separation;   Associations;   Evil;   Snares, Worldly;   Temptation;   The Topic Concordance - Alertness;   Covenant;   Idolatry;   Marriage;   Obedience;   Snares;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God;   Idolatry;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Treaty;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Destroy, Destruction;   Israel;   War, Holy War;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Baal-Berith;   Gibeon;   League;   Samson;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jehoiakim;   Zipporah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Covenant;   Exodus, Book of;   Ingathering, Feast of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Covenant;   Hexateuch;   Idolatry;   Law;   Moses;   Ten Commandments;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Israel, Israelite;   Numbers (2);   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Sinai;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Snare;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Moses;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Events of the Encampment;   Other Laws;   On to Canaan;   Moses, the Man of God;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Alliance;   Covenant, in the Old Testament;   Hunting;   Law in the Old Testament;   Ten Commandments, the;   Treaty;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Covenant;   Deuteronomy;   Law, Reading from the;   Sidra;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Be careful, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be for a snare in the midst of you:
King James Version
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:
Lexham English Bible
Be careful for yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you are going, lest it be a snare among you.
New Century Version
Be careful that you don't make an agreement with the people who live in the land where you are going, because it will bring you trouble.
New English Translation
Be careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it become a snare among you.
Amplified Bible
"Watch yourself so that you do not make a covenant (solemn agreement, treaty) with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a [dangerous] trap among you.
New American Standard Bible
"Be careful that you do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Take heede to thy selfe, that thou make no compact with ye inhabitantes of the land whither thou goest, least they be the cause of ruine among you:
Legacy Standard Bible
Beware lest you cut a covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, lest it become a snare in your midst.
Contemporary English Version
Don't make treaties with any of those people. If you do, it will be like falling into a trap.
Complete Jewish Bible
Be careful not to make a covenant with the people living in the land where you are going, so that they won't become a snare within your own borders.
Darby Translation
Take heed to thyself, that thou make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which thou shalt come, lest it be a snare in the midst of thee;
Easy-to-Read Version
Be careful! Don't make any agreement with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you make an agreement with them, it will bring you trouble.
English Standard Version
Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst.
George Lamsa Translation
Take heed to yourself lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither you go, lest they become a stumbling block to you.
Good News Translation
Do not make any treaties with the people of the country into which you are going, because this could be a fatal trap for you.
Christian Standard Bible®
Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land that you are going to enter; otherwise, they will become a snare among you.
Literal Translation
Take heed to yourself, that you not cut a covenant with the people of the land to which you are going in, that it not be a snare in your midst.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Bewarre, that thou make no couenaunt with the indwellers of the lande yt thou commest in to, lest they be cause of yi ruyne in the myddest of the:
American Standard Version
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:
Bible in Basic English
But take care, and do not make any agreement with the people of the land where you are going, for it will be a cause of sin to you.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Take heede to thy self, lest thou make any compact with the inhabitours of the lande whyther thou goest, lest they be cause of ruine amongest you:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest they be for a snare in the midst of thee.
King James Version (1611)
Take heed to thy selfe, lest thou make a couenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
take heed to thyself, lest at any time thou make a covenant with the dwellers on the land, into which thou art entering, lest it be to thee a stumbling-block among you.
English Revised Version
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:
Berean Standard Bible
Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest they become a snare in your midst.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Be war, lest ony tyme thou ioyne frendschipis with the dwelleris of that lond, whiche frenschipis be in to fallyng to thee.
Young's Literal Translation
take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitant of the land into which thou art going, lest it become a snare in thy midst;
Update Bible Version
You be careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you go, or else it will be for a snare in the midst of you.
Webster's Bible Translation
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:
World English Bible
Be careful, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be for a snare in the midst of you:
New King James Version
Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be a snare in your midst.
New Life Bible
Take care to make no agreement with the people of the land where you are going. It would be a trap to you.
New Revised Standard
Take care not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you are going, or it will become a snare among you.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Take heed to thyself, Lest thou solemnise a covenant with the inhabitant of the land, whereupon, thou, art about to enter, - Lest he become a snare in thy midst;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Beware thou never join in friendship with the inhabitants of that land, which may be thy ruin:
Revised Standard Version
Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither you go, lest it become a snare in the midst of you.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst.

Contextual Overview

10 The Lord replied, "Listen, I am making a covenant with you in the presence of all your people. I will perform miracles that have never been performed anywhere in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people around you will see the power of the Lord —the awesome power I will display for you. 11 But listen carefully to everything I command you today. Then I will go ahead of you and drive out the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 12 "Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped. 13 Instead, you must break down their pagan altars, smash their sacred pillars, and cut down their Asherah poles. 14 You must worship no other gods, for the Lord , whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you. 15 "You must not make a treaty of any kind with the people living in the land. They lust after their gods, offering sacrifices to them. They will invite you to join them in their sacrificial meals, and you will go with them. 16 Then you will accept their daughters, who sacrifice to other gods, as wives for your sons. And they will seduce your sons to commit adultery against me by worshiping other gods. 17 You must not make any gods of molten metal for yourselves.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Take heed: Exodus 23:32, Exodus 23:33, Deuteronomy 7:2, Judges 2:2

lest: Deuteronomy 7:16, Joshua 23:12, Joshua 23:13, Judges 2:3, Judges 8:27, Psalms 106:36

Reciprocal: Exodus 19:12 - Take Exodus 34:15 - make Numbers 33:52 - General Deuteronomy 12:2 - utterly Deuteronomy 31:5 - according Joshua 9:7 - how shall Joshua 10:40 - as the Lord Judges 14:3 - uncircumcised Judges 21:1 - his daughter 1 Kings 9:20 - Amorites 2 Kings 17:35 - charged them Ezra 10:2 - We have trespassed Luke 17:3 - heed

Cross-References

Genesis 24:53
Then he brought out silver and gold jewelry and clothing and presented them to Rebekah. He also gave expensive presents to her brother and mother.
Genesis 29:18
Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, "I'll work for you for seven years if you'll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife."
Genesis 31:41
Yes, for twenty years I slaved in your house! I worked for fourteen years earning your two daughters, and then six more years for your flock. And you changed my wages ten times!
Genesis 34:16
then we will give you our daughters, and we'll take your daughters for ourselves. We will live among you and become one people.
Genesis 34:17
But if you don't agree to be circumcised, we will take her and be on our way."
Genesis 34:25
But three days later, when their wounds were still sore, two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, who were Dinah's full brothers, took their swords and entered the town without opposition. Then they slaughtered every male there,
Genesis 34:27
Meanwhile, the rest of Jacob's sons arrived. Finding the men slaughtered, they plundered the town because their sister had been defiled there.
Genesis 34:28
They seized all the flocks and herds and donkeys—everything they could lay their hands on, both inside the town and outside in the fields.
Genesis 34:29
They looted all their wealth and plundered their houses. They also took all their little children and wives and led them away as captives.
2 Samuel 3:14
David then sent this message to Ishbosheth, Saul's son: "Give me back my wife Michal, for I bought her with the lives of 100 Philistines."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Take heed to thyself,.... This is said not to Moses, but to the people of Israel, as a caution to them when they should enter the land of Canaan, and possess it:

lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest: enter into a league and alliance, to live friendly and amicably, and support and assist each other against the common enemy; whereas they were to smite the seven nations and destroy them, and show them no mercy, Deuteronomy 7:1

lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee; be the means of drawing them into the same sinful practices with themselves, especially into idolatrous ones, and so of bringing ruin and destruction on them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The precepts contained in these verses are, for the most part, identical in substance with some of those which follow the Ten Commandments and are recorded in “the Book of the covenant” (Exo. 20–23; see Exodus 24:7).

Exodus 34:13

Cut down their groves - This is the first reference to what is commonly known as grove-worship. The original word for “grove” in this connection אשׁרה 'ăshêrāh is different from that so rendered in Genesis 21:33. Our translators supposed that what the law commands is the destruction of groves dedicated to the worship of false deities Judges 6:25; 2 Kings 18:4; but inasmuch as the worship of asherah is found associated with that of Astarte, or Ashtoreth Judges 2:13; Jdg 10:6; 1 Samuel 7:4, it seems probable that while Astarte was the personal name of the goddess, the asherah was a symbol of her, probably in some one of her characters, made in wood in some conventional form.

Exodus 34:15-16

An expansion of Exodus 34:12. The unfaithfulness of the nation to its covenant with Yahweh is here for the first time spoken of as a breach of the marriage bond. The metaphor is, in any case, a natural one, but it seems to gain point, if we suppose it to convey an allusion to the abominations connected with pagan worship, such as are spoken of in Numbers 25:1-3.

Exodus 34:21

See Exodus 20:9; Exodus 23:12. There is here added to the commandment a particular caution respecting those times of year when the land calls for most labor. The old verb “to ear” (i. e. to plow) is genuine English.

Exodus 34:24

Neither shall any man desire etc. - Intended to encourage such as might fear the consequences of obeying the divine law in attending to their religious duties. Compare Proverbs 16:7.


 
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