Deuteronomy 7 5

Deuteronomy 7:5 kjv

But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.

Deuteronomy 7:5 nkjv

But thus you shall deal with them: you shall destroy their altars, and break down their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images, and burn their carved images with fire.

Deuteronomy 7:5 niv

This is what you are to do to them: Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols in the fire.

Deuteronomy 7:5 esv

But thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down their Asherim and burn their carved images with fire.

Deuteronomy 7:5 nlt

This is what you must do. You must break down their pagan altars and shatter their sacred pillars. Cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols.

Deuteronomy 7 verses

Deuteronomy 7 5 Meaning

Deuteronomy 7:5 commands Israel, upon entering the Promised Land, to completely dismantle and destroy all physical manifestations of Canaanite idolatry. This absolute eradication includes their altars, sacred pillars, Asherah poles, and carved images, with fire specifically prescribed for the latter. The core meaning is an unequivocal demand for spiritual purity and exclusive worship of Yahweh, leaving no remnant of the pagan religious systems that could tempt Israel into idolatry or syncretism.

Deuteronomy 7 5 Context

Deuteronomy 7:5 is situated within Moses' final instructions to the Israelites before their entry into Canaan. Chapter 7 emphasizes Israel's special covenant relationship with Yahweh as a chosen people, not due to their numbers or strength, but solely due to God's love and faithfulness (Deut 7:6-8). Because of this unique relationship, Israel is commanded to maintain absolute separation from the corrupt religious and cultural practices of the inhabitants they are to dispossess. Verses 1-4 detail the command to utterly destroy the seven nations of Canaan, to make no covenant with them, and to forbid intermarriage. Verse 5 specifically elaborates on how they are to deal with the pagan religious infrastructure, providing concrete actions: destroying altars, smashing pillars, cutting down Asherah poles, and burning carved images. This comprehensive destruction of cultic objects is a critical aspect of preventing the spiritual defilement that would inevitably arise from the allure of polytheism and its associated abominable practices, thereby safeguarding Israel's exclusive devotion to God.

Deuteronomy 7 5 Word analysis

• But thus: Introduces the method for dealing with the inhabitants and their religious systems, linking directly to the prior command of destruction.
• you shall deal with them: This phrase connects the specified actions directly to the Canaanite nations mentioned in Deut 7:1-4. The emphasis is on your responsibility, Israel, to take active steps.
• tear down (Hebrew: נָתַץ natats): A powerful verb meaning "to break down," "pull down," "demolish," "destroy utterly." It denotes a violent and complete demolition, often used for fortifications or structures. The intent is total eradication.
• their altars: Structures used by the Canaanites for sacrifice and worship to their gods (e.g., Baal, Asherah). These were central to their religious practices, often found on "high places." Their destruction signifies the dismantling of false worship systems.
• smash (Hebrew: שָׁבַר shavar): To "break," "shatter," "burst," "crush." This implies fragmentation and rendering unusable, leaving nothing whole. It's an act of contempt and nullification against the idols.
• their pillars (Hebrew: מַצֵּבוֹת matzebot): Standing stones or monolithic pillars, sometimes representing deities, symbols of power, or points of worship in Canaanite cults. They were often phallic in nature or dedicated to Baal. They represented illegitimate sacred spaces and deities.
• cut down (Hebrew: גָּדַע gada): To "cut off," "hew down," "lop off," specifically for trees or things associated with them. This verb is applied to the Asherah, which were typically wooden.
• their Asherim (Hebrew: אֲשֵׁרִים asherim): Sacred poles or cultic objects representing the Canaanite goddess Asherah, often wooden poles or trees, seen as symbols of fertility. Associated with sensual worship and fertility cults, deeply antithetical to Yahweh worship.
• burn (Hebrew: שָׂרַף saraph): To "burn up," "consume with fire," "incinerate." This signifies utter destruction, often purifying in other contexts, but here it's an act of contempt and complete annihilation to prevent reuse or revere.
• their carved images (Hebrew: פְּסִילִים pesilim): Idols or cult statues, typically carved from wood or stone, often overlaid with precious metals (Deut 7:25). These were the physical representations of Canaanite deities.
• with fire: Emphasizes the severity and completeness of the destruction. Fire leaves no usable residue and symbolizes divine judgment and the utter annihilation of something considered an abomination. It ensured that no part could be salvaged or revered.

• You shall tear down... smash... cut down... burn: This series of strong, active verbs ("dismantle," "shatter," "hew," "incinerate") signifies a commanded, aggressive, and thorough purging. It is not passive abandonment but active obliteration, showing Yahweh's zero tolerance for false worship.
• Their altars... pillars... Asherim... carved images: This comprehensive list covers the main cultic objects and places associated with Canaanite polytheistic worship. It shows God's specific knowledge of pagan practices and the precise objects that needed to be destroyed to eliminate the core infrastructure of false religion. The repetition emphasizes the multifaceted nature of Canaanite idolatry and the necessity of total eradication.

Deuteronomy 7 5 Bonus section

The command in Deuteronomy 7:5 goes beyond mere ritual destruction; it's a theological statement of radical monotheism against the prevalent polytheism of the ancient Near East. Unlike surrounding cultures where deities could be assimilated or worshipped alongside others, Yahweh demanded exclusive devotion, and this comprehensive destruction demonstrated His singular authority and Israel's required loyalty. The specific choice of destruction methods (tearing down, smashing, cutting down, burning) ensures that no vestige of these cultic objects could be preserved or reused, leaving no doubt about their absolute defilement and lack of power. The act of burning especially rendered them irrecoverable, often symbolic of final judgment and absolute obliteration. This fierce instruction was not driven by ethnic hatred but by divine hatred of sin and the corrupting influence of idolatry on the purity of the covenant people. It aimed at spiritual disinfection to create a land and a people set apart for God.

Deuteronomy 7 5 Commentary

Deuteronomy 7:5 provides a specific, detailed, and unequivocal mandate for Israel to utterly dismantle all material expressions of Canaanite religion. This command is rooted in Yahweh's unique covenant relationship with Israel and His jealous nature. The complete destruction—tearing down, smashing, cutting down, and burning—of altars, pillars, Asherim, and carved images served multiple crucial purposes: First, it eliminated direct temptation and avenues for syncretism, protecting Israel from being lured into pagan practices. Second, it publicly declared the impotence and nullity of the Canaanite gods, asserting Yahweh's absolute sovereignty and singular deity. Third, it underscored the seriousness of idolatry as an abomination to God, teaching Israel the radical separation required of them as a holy nation. This act was a vital step in maintaining the purity of Israel's worship and identity, ensuring that their undivided loyalty remained with the Lord. While the literal destruction of physical idols pertained to ancient Israel, the underlying principle of zealously removing anything that competes for God's rightful place in our hearts remains relevant. For instance, believers are called to metaphorically "tear down" idols like greed (Col 3:5), materialism, lust, or anything else that becomes the object of our worship or ultimate trust, diligently cultivating exclusive devotion to Christ.