Deuteronomy 7:4 kjv
For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.
Deuteronomy 7:4 nkjv
For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the LORD will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.
Deuteronomy 7:4 niv
for they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods, and the LORD's anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you.
Deuteronomy 7:4 esv
for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly.
Deuteronomy 7:4 nlt
for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you.
Deuteronomy 7 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 34:15 | "Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, lest when they play the harlot with their gods..." | Warning against idolatrous alliances. |
| Exo 34:16 | "...and you take their daughters for your sons, and their daughters play the harlot with their gods..." | Specific prohibition of intermarriage. |
| Num 25:1-3 | Israel committed harlotry with the daughters of Moab, resulting in the plague of Baal-Peor. | Intercourse with foreign worship leading to judgment. |
| Josh 23:12-13 | "If you intermarry with them... then know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations..." | Consequences: removal of divine help. |
| Judg 2:11-13 | "Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD... they forsook the LORD and served Baal..." | Post-conquest apostasy due to foreign gods. |
| 1 Kgs 11:1-4 | King Solomon loved many foreign women... and his wives turned his heart after other gods. | A king's fall due to foreign wives. |
| Neh 13:23-27 | Nehemiah rebuked Jews for marrying foreign women, asking if they should "commit all this great evil..." | Enforcement of separation to prevent apostasy. |
| Mal 2:10-11 | "Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed... For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD..." | Desecration of holiness through foreign marriages. |
| Deut 6:14-15 | "You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you..." | Direct command against following other gods. |
| Deut 29:18-20 | Warning against turning away from the LORD to serve other gods. | The heart turning away leads to divine wrath. |
| Deut 30:17-18 | "But if your heart turns away... to worship other gods... you shall surely perish." | Forewarning of perishing for idolatry. |
| Lev 18:24-30 | "Do not defile yourselves by any of these things... for by all these the nations whom I am driving out..." | Holiness requires separation from pagan practices. |
| Lev 26:30-33 | God's promise of destruction and scattering for rejecting His statutes. | Divine judgment for disobedience. |
| Isa 42:8 | "I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to carved images." | God's exclusive claim and rejection of idolatry. |
| 2 Cor 6:14-16 | "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers... What agreement has the temple of God with idols?" | New Testament principle of spiritual separation. |
| Eph 5:6 | "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes..." | God's wrath against disobedience. |
| Jas 4:4 | "Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." | Friendship with the world means enmity with God. |
| 1 Pet 4:3-4 | Gentile behavior included abominable idolatries, which believers no longer practice. | A call to leave behind pagan ways for believers. |
| Rom 12:2 | "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." | New Covenant emphasis on inner transformation and separation. |
| Col 3:5-6 | "Covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience." | Practical idolatry and its consequences. |
| 1 Jn 5:21 | "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." | A direct NT warning against idolatry. |
| Acts 17:16 | Paul was greatly distressed to see the city of Athens full of idols. | Apostolic abhorrence of idolatry. |
Deuteronomy 7 verses
Deuteronomy 7 4 Meaning
The verse issues a solemn warning to ancient Israel, revealing the dire consequences if they intermarry with the pagan nations of Canaan. It explicitly states that such unions would lead their descendants, particularly their sons, to turn away from following the LORD and instead worship foreign deities. This act of spiritual disloyalty would inevitably ignite the LORD's righteous anger, resulting in swift and complete destruction upon the nation. The central message underscores the critical importance of spiritual purity and exclusive devotion to God for the covenant people.
Deuteronomy 7 4 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 7 forms a pivotal part of Moses' farewell addresses, delivered to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The immediate context, verses 1-3, lays out the command to utterly destroy the inhabitants of Canaan and their pagan religious objects, specifically prohibiting any covenant with them, including marriage. Verse 4 then provides the crucial theological and practical reason behind these stringent laws: intermarriage would directly lead the future generations of Israel away from their covenant fidelity to the LORD. This chapter emphasizes Israel's unique status as a chosen people and their consequent obligation to maintain holiness and complete devotion to the one true God, Yahweh, in stark contrast to the polytheistic and morally corrupt cultures surrounding them.
Deuteronomy 7 4 Word analysis
- For they will turn away: The Hebrew verb is סוּר (sur), meaning "to turn aside," "depart," or "remove." Here, it signifies leading someone astray or enticing them from the correct path. It suggests the deliberate and influential role of the foreign spouses.
- your sons: בָנִים (banim). While specifically stating "sons," this often functions as a comprehensive term for children and descendants in general. It highlights the vulnerability of the next generation to spiritual deviation due to parental choices.
- from following Me: מֵאַחֲרַי (me'acharai), literally "from behind Me." This idiom denotes abandoning allegiance to the LORD, discontinuing adherence to His commandments, and forsaking His guidance. It speaks of a departure from faithful obedience to God.
- to serve other gods: וְעָבְדוּ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים (v'avdu Elohim acherim). עָבַד (avad) means "to serve" or "to worship." אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים (Elohim acherim) unequivocally refers to "other gods," i.e., foreign, non-Yahwistic deities and idols. This identifies the primary spiritual danger: adopting the idolatrous worship practices of pagan cultures, a direct violation of the First Commandment.
- so will the anger of the LORD: אַף־יְהוָה (af-Yahweh), literally "nose of Yahweh," an anthropomorphism expressing intense divine anger. This signifies God's righteous wrath and fierce displeasure provoked by Israel's unfaithfulness and covenant violation. It reflects His holy reaction to spiritual betrayal.
- be aroused against you: חָרָה בָּכֶם (charah bachem). חָרָה (charah) means "to burn," "to be kindled," or "to be inflamed." This vivid imagery portrays the consuming intensity of God's holy wrath against rebellion and apostasy, not as a fleeting emotion but as a just, punitive response.
- and destroy you quickly: וְהִשְׁמִידְךָ מְהֵרָה (v'hishmidkha meherah). שָׁמַד (shamad) means "to be utterly destroyed" or "annihilated." מְהֵרָה (meherah) means "quickly," "speedily," or "soon." This emphasizes the immediate, decisive, and comprehensive nature of God's judgment once His covenant is broken by such profound idolatry.
Deuteronomy 7 4 Words-group analysis
- "For they will turn away your sons from following Me to serve other gods": This phrase precisely outlines the dangerous spiritual domino effect predicted if Israel neglects God's commands on intermarriage. "They" refers to the foreign spouses, whose influence within the household would predictably corrupt the spiritual heritage of the children. It underscores the profound responsibility of parents in nurturing their children's faith and the potent threat posed by spiritual compromise in the most intimate relationships, leading to direct idol worship.
- "so will the anger of the LORD be aroused against you and destroy you quickly": This directly states the inevitable divine reaction and its swift, severe outcome. God's anger is ignited by disloyalty and a turning to false gods, demonstrating His unique holiness and demand for exclusive devotion. The consequence of being "destroyed quickly" highlights that spiritual apostasy, particularly involving idolatry, is viewed as an existential threat to the nation and warrants immediate and decisive judgment from God Himself.
Deuteronomy 7 4 Bonus section
- The warning in this verse proved to be prophetically accurate throughout Israel's history, notably in the periods of the Judges and the Divided Kingdom, where the intermarriages of kings like Solomon directly led to widespread idolatry and national decline.
- The emphasis on "sons" turning away indicates a concern for the integrity of the covenant lineage and the transmission of faithful worship from generation to generation, which was paramount for Israel's identity and divine purpose.
- While framed in terms of literal physical destruction for ancient Israel, the underlying principle of God's holy intolerance for spiritual disloyalty and idolatry (in any form) remains a crucial theme throughout the entire Bible, including the New Testament's warnings against spiritual idolatry, such as covetousness or prioritizing anything over God.
Deuteronomy 7 4 Commentary
Deuteronomy 7:4 acts as a foundational principle explaining why separation from idolatrous nations was absolutely necessary for ancient Israel. It unveils God's profound concern not merely for external ritual, but for the exclusive and undivided devotion of His chosen people. The act of intermarriage is presented not as a minor transgression, but as a direct pipeline for idolatry to infiltrate Israelite families, corrupting the faith of future generations. God's response—His "anger" leading to swift "destruction"—underscores the absolute seriousness of spiritual betrayal. This highlights that God is zealous for His name and His covenant; He will not share His glory or His people's worship with idols. This principle extends to all believers, serving as a timeless warning against any association or influence that would lead one away from absolute allegiance to the One True God and into spiritual compromise or idolatry.