Deuteronomy 7 23

Deuteronomy 7:23 kjv

But the LORD thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed.

Deuteronomy 7:23 nkjv

But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you, and will inflict defeat upon them until they are destroyed.

Deuteronomy 7:23 niv

But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed.

Deuteronomy 7:23 esv

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

Deuteronomy 7:23 nlt

But the LORD your God will hand them over to you. He will throw them into complete confusion until they are destroyed.

Deuteronomy 7 verses

Deuteronomy 7 23 Meaning

Deuteronomy 7:23 proclaims the active and decisive involvement of the LORD God in Israel's conquest of Canaan. It assures Israel that Yahweh Himself will deliver their enemies into their hands and cause supernatural disarray and panic among them. This divine intervention will persist until these nations are completely annihilated, emphasizing God's direct agency and the certainty of His promised victory, not by Israel's might but by His power.

Deuteronomy 7 23 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 7 serves as a crucial exposition of Israel's unique status as God's chosen people and the subsequent responsibilities this entails for their upcoming conquest of the land of Canaan. Moses, addressing the generation about to enter the Promised Land, reminds them that their election is based solely on God's love and His covenant oath, not on their own numerical strength or righteousness (Deut 7:6-8). Because of this covenant love, God requires Israel to completely separate themselves from the inhabitants of Canaan, utterly destroying their altars, sacred pillars, and idols (Deut 7:5, 16), making no covenants with them, and certainly not intermarrying (Deut 7:2-4). This strong warning underscores the profound spiritual danger of syncretism and idolatry. Verse 23 specifically builds on the promise of verse 22, which states that God will drive out these nations "little by little," lest the land become desolate and wild animals multiply. Verse 23 then elaborates on how God will ensure this progressive and complete victory: through direct, supernaturally induced confusion and persistent destruction, highlighting God's power as the primary factor in the conquest, thus removing any basis for Israel to boast in their own strength or to fear their enemies.

Deuteronomy 7 23 Word analysis

• But the LORD your God: This emphasizes Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God, as the active agent. "LORD" (YHWH - יהוה) highlights His unique, self-existent, and active nature, distinct from the impotent gods of the Canaanites. "Your God" reinforces His personal relationship and covenant commitment to Israel, promising His faithful intervention on their behalf.
• will deliver them over to you: The Hebrew verb for "deliver over" is נָתַן (nathan), meaning "to give," "to place," or "to deliver." Here, it signifies a decisive divine action of placing the enemy nations completely into Israel's power, signifying that the victory is not earned by human might but granted by God. It’s an act of divine bestowal, confirming God's sovereignty over nations.
• and will throw them into great confusion: This is a pivotal phrase. The Hebrew word is וְהָמַם (v'hamam), from the root הָמַם (hamam), meaning "to throw into confusion," "to throw into panic," "to discomfit," or "to put into disarray." This is a divine action, causing inexplicable demoralization, terror, and disorder that cripples the enemy's ability to resist effectively. It suggests supernatural chaos, impacting their judgment and courage, making them vulnerable. This discomfiture can manifest as self-inflicted wounds, flight, or internal strife, as seen in other biblical battles where God directly intervened (e.g., Exod 14:24, Josh 10:10, Judg 4:15, 1 Sam 7:10). This divine strategy of psychological warfare asserts God's ultimate control over the minds and hearts of men and the outcomes of battles.
• until they are destroyed: The Hebrew is עַד הִשָּׁמְדָם (ad hishshamedam), from the root שָׁמַד (shamad), which means "to destroy," "to annihilate," or "to exterminate." This indicates the complete and utter end of these nations from the land. The "until" implies that the confusion and the process of being delivered into Israel's hands will not cease until this full destruction is accomplished. It emphasizes the absolute certainty and thoroughness of God's judgment and the promised outcome.

• The LORD your God... will deliver them over... and will throw them into great confusion: This segment unequivocally establishes God's unilateral and direct action as the source of Israel's success. It negates any notion that the conquest is merely a human military endeavor. Yahweh's commitment to His people means He actively participates in their battles, demonstrating His covenant faithfulness and supreme power over all adversaries, particularly those aligned with idolatry. This functions as a strong polemic against the regional gods believed to preside over warfare.
• into great confusion until they are destroyed: This phrase outlines the means and the assured end. The divine disarray is not temporary; it is a persistent, debilitating force leading to the complete annihilation of the Canaanite nations. It reassures Israel that the initial panic will result in their ultimate downfall, ensuring Israel's secure possession of the land as God intended. This progressive destruction (mentioned in Deut 7:22) is guaranteed to lead to a total and final extermination by divine agency.

Deuteronomy 7 23 Bonus section

This verse offers a profound theological lesson regarding divine agency in human affairs, especially conflict. The specific term "hamam" (confusion/discomfiture) in the Old Testament often denotes a situation where God intervenes directly and inexplicably to cause disorder, sometimes leading to self-destruction or complete rout. It illustrates God's "spiritual warfare" on a national level, not merely physical confrontation. The "little by little" conquest mentioned in the preceding verse (Deut 7:22) implies that this "great confusion" could manifest not as a single, overwhelming blow, but as a sustained psychological pressure and undermining of the enemy over time, demonstrating God's consistent presence throughout the prolonged process. It teaches a dependency on God's initiative and strength rather than Israel's own might, reminding them of the spiritual nature of their inheritance and the battles ahead. This promise foreshadows future instances where God's people would rely on His supernatural intervention in times of war, such as during the reign of King Jehoshaphat when the LORD confused the Ammonite and Moabite armies, causing them to destroy each other (2 Chr 20).

Deuteronomy 7 23 Commentary

Deuteronomy 7:23 stands as a powerful declaration of God's active sovereignty over the conquest of Canaan. It assures Israel that their success against numerically and militarily superior nations rests entirely on the direct, supernatural intervention of the LORD. The "great confusion" signifies an act of divine terror and demoralization, crippling the enemy not merely by force of arms but by undermining their will and ability to fight. This isn't merely a strategic advantage; it is an inexplicable divine work that transforms certain defeat into assured victory. This continuous, God-ordained process of disarray guarantees the thorough "destruction" of the Canaanite nations, aligning with God's judgment against their wickedness and idolatry. The verse teaches Israel a fundamental truth: their trust should be in God's power, not their own strength, equipping them to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and affirming that God keeps His covenant promises decisively.