Deuteronomy 7 22

Deuteronomy 7:22 kjv

And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.

Deuteronomy 7:22 nkjv

And the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.

Deuteronomy 7:22 niv

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

Deuteronomy 7:22 esv

The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you.

Deuteronomy 7:22 nlt

The LORD your God will drive those nations out ahead of you little by little. You will not clear them away all at once, otherwise the wild animals would multiply too quickly for you.

Deuteronomy 7 verses

Deuteronomy 7 22 Meaning

Deuteronomy 7:22 explains that the LORD, Israel's God, would dispossess the inhabitants of Canaan gradually, "little by little," rather than all at once. The reason given for this measured approach was a practical one: if all the nations were expelled too quickly, the land would become depopulated, allowing wild animals to multiply and become a threat, potentially overwhelming the Israelites before they could fully occupy the territory. This verse reveals God's provident care, strategic wisdom, and the necessity of His people relying on His timing rather than their own impatient efforts.

Deuteronomy 7 22 Context

Deuteronomy 7 is part of Moses' second speech to Israel as they stood on the plains of Moab, poised to enter the promised land. This chapter specifically details God's command to utterly destroy the seven nations of Canaan (Deut 7:1) due to their wickedness and as a measure to prevent Israel from falling into idolatry (Deut 7:4-5). It emphasizes Israel's distinctiveness as God's chosen people, loved not for their greatness but for God's faithfulness to His covenant (Deut 7:6-8). Verse 22, therefore, provides a practical and compassionate caveat to the otherwise absolute command of eradication, assuring Israel that God would not overwhelm them by emptying the land entirely at once. Historically, the land of Canaan was not uniformly populated; there were vast, untamed regions, and a rapid, complete expulsion would have left these areas open, leading to an ecological imbalance favoring predatory animals, a real danger to an incoming nomadic people needing to settle and cultivate. This passage thus serves as a powerful illustration of God's wisdom in balancing divine decree with practical provision for His people's well-being and success in establishing themselves.

Deuteronomy 7 22 Word analysis

• יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ (YHWH Eloheikha): The LORD your God
  • Significance: Emphasizes God's covenant relationship with Israel. This is a promise and action coming from their specific God, not a generic deity. It highlights His commitment to their well-being.
• יְשַׁלֵּשׁ (yesha lēsh): shall drive out
  • Meaning: To dispossess, to cast out.
  • Significance: The action is God's. It’s not Israel's might but divine power that will achieve the expulsion, fostering dependence on Him.
• מְעַט מְעָט (m’at m’at): little by little
  • Meaning: Gradually, slowly, by degrees. This Hebrew phrase is an intensification, "a little, a little."
  • Significance: This is the core instruction, highlighting God's strategy. It challenges immediate gratification and reliance on instant, overwhelming power. It shows God's wisdom in pacing His plan according to human capacity and natural consequences.
• לֹא תוּכַל (lo tūchal): You will not be allowed/able
  • Meaning: A prohibition and an acknowledgment of limitation.
  • Significance: It's not an option for Israel to do it all at once; God explicitly forbids it because it would be detrimental to them. This further emphasizes divine wisdom overriding human desire for rapid conquest.
• כַּלּוֹתָם מַהֵר (kallotām mahēr): to make an end of them quickly
  • Meaning: To utterly destroy or finish them swiftly.
  • Significance: Contrasts with "little by little." It refers to an impulsive, complete, and rapid annihilation that seems appealing from a human perspective but is revealed as unwise.
• פֶּן תִּרְבֶּה (pen tirbeh): lest it multiply
  • Meaning: Lest it become numerous. pen signifies a fear of negative outcome. tirbeh means to increase or become many.
  • Significance: Points to the direct practical reason for the gradual process. God is providing for their safety and prosperity.
• עָלֶיךָ חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה (alayicha hayyat haśśādeh): upon you wild animals of the field
  • Meaning: Literal "beasts of the field." These are wild, untamed creatures, predators or scavengers, that thrive in unpopulated, overgrown areas.
  • Significance: This refers to a tangible, immediate threat. In the ancient Near East, uninhabited or wild areas were perilous. Allowing these animals to proliferate due to a sudden exodus of human populations would pose a direct danger to Israel's ability to settle, farm, and grow. This isn't just a metaphor but a practical, ecological consideration from God.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you little by little": This phrase emphasizes divine agency (LORD your God will drive out) and a measured approach (little by little). It asserts God's ultimate control over the conquest and His chosen timing, countering any Israelite assumption of instant success through sheer force or immediate fulfillment of all promises. This gradual process required ongoing faith and obedience.
• "You will not be allowed to get rid of them all at once, or the wild animals would multiply and overpower you": This section provides the explicit rationale. "You will not be allowed" underscores divine wisdom overriding human impatience. The consequence (wild animals multiply and overpower you) reveals God's practical care. It highlights that God's plans are holistic, considering not just military victory but also the subsequent well-being and secure habitation of His people in their inheritance. The wild animals represent the chaos and danger that would arise from an unmanageably swift void, serving as a reminder that God’s methods are for their ultimate good, even when they seem slower.

Deuteronomy 7 22 Bonus section

The concept of God using "little by little" is echoed in various biblical themes:

• Gradual sanctification: The process of a believer becoming more like Christ is not an instantaneous event but a lifelong journey (Phil 1:6; 2 Cor 3:18). This verse can be applied metaphorically to our internal "conquest" of sin, which often requires consistent, step-by-step effort with God's help.
• Ecological Balance: The specific mention of "wild animals" demonstrates God's awareness of natural ecosystems. A rapid removal of an existing population, even if hostile, could lead to unforeseen ecological disruptions detrimental to the new inhabitants. This shows God’s comprehensive care extends to the created order and its practical implications for humanity.
• Testing and Dependence: The gradual nature of the conquest also served to test Israel's obedience and ensure their continued dependence on God's provision and guidance. Had it been instant, they might have quickly forgotten the source of their victory (Judg 2:20-23).
• Patient Evangelism: Sometimes, reaching an entire people group or transforming a culture for Christ happens incrementally, building relationships and impacting lives "little by little," rather than through one sudden conversion or revival movement.

Deuteronomy 7 22 Commentary

Deuteronomy 7:22 presents a profound lesson in God's wisdom and providence, demonstrating that divine plans are not always executed through sudden, overwhelming acts. While God commanded the complete destruction of the Canaanites to preserve Israel's spiritual purity, He simultaneously dictated a strategic, phased expulsion. This was not a limitation of God's power to "cleanse" the land swiftly, but an act of foresight and mercy towards Israel itself. A rapid, complete depopulation would have rendered the land an unmanageable wilderness, making it difficult for Israel to settle, farm, and secure their new home, as untamed nature and wild predators would swiftly reclaim it.

This verse challenges human impatience and the desire for instant gratification, teaching that true success often comes through progressive, sustained effort under divine guidance. It assures Israel that God accounts for all practical realities and is dedicated to their welfare. Theologically, it highlights God's character as a God of order, wisdom, and loving-kindness who understands both the grand spiritual purposes and the intricate practicalities of His people's journey. It fosters continued dependence on Him, rather than presumptuous self-reliance. For example, in personal spiritual growth, character transformation rarely happens overnight but through a gradual process of sanctification. Similarly, overcoming deeply rooted societal issues often requires long-term, step-by-step engagement rather than an immediate, revolutionary overhaul that might leave more problems in its wake. This gradual process means relying on God's sustaining grace for each step.