Exodus 23:21 kjv
Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
Exodus 23:21 nkjv
Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him.
Exodus 23:21 niv
Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him.
Exodus 23:21 esv
Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him.
Exodus 23:21 nlt
Pay close attention to him, and obey his instructions. Do not rebel against him, for he is my representative, and he will not forgive your rebellion.
Exodus 23 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:7 | The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." | God's initial promise of the land to Abraham. |
| Exo 3:2 | The Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire... | Angel of the LORD reveals God's presence at the burning bush. |
| Exo 3:8 | ...to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey... | God states His purpose to bring Israel into Canaan. |
| Exo 13:21 | The LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way... | God's own direct leading presence in the wilderness. |
| Exo 14:19 | The Angel of God who went before the camp of Israel moved... | Angel moves to protect Israel from the Egyptian army. |
| Exo 23:20 | "Behold, I send an Angel before you..." | Immediate context: Angel's primary mission of protection. |
| Exo 23:22 | "If you indeed obey his voice and do all that I speak..." | The Angel's voice is presented as God's voice, highlighting His authority. |
| Exo 32:34 | "My angel shall go before you..." | God reaffirms the Angel's leadership despite Israel's idolatry. |
| Exo 33:2 | "I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites..." | Angel as an agent of divine judgment and land possession. |
| Num 14:14 | The LORD, You go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. | Israel recounts God's continuous leadership during the Exodus. |
| Deut 1:33 | ...who went before you on the way to seek out a place for you to pitch your tents... | God actively finds dwelling places and leads Israel. |
| Deut 32:10 | He found him in a desert land... He encircled him, He cared for him, He guarded him as the pupil of His eye. | Poetic description of God's watchful and tender care for Israel. |
| Josh 5:13-15 | The Commander of the army of the LORD appeared to Joshua... | A divine leader appears before the conquest of Canaan. |
| Jdg 6:11-24 | The Angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon... And the LORD said to him... | The Angel of the LORD speaks and is referred to interchangeably as LORD. |
| Psa 34:7 | The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. | General principle of divine angelic protection for the righteous. |
| Psa 78:54 | He brought them to His holy land, to the mountain which His right hand had gained. | God's fulfillment of His promise to bring Israel into the land. |
| Isa 48:17 | Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you..." | God as the ultimate teacher and guide for His people. |
| Isa 63:9 | In all their distress He too was distressed, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. | Directly links a saving "Angel of His Presence" to God's care. |
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me..." | Prophecy concerning a messenger preparing the way, applicable to Christ's forerunner. |
| John 1:18 | No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known. | Christ, as the "Angel of the LORD," perfectly reveals and explains God. |
| Acts 7:30-38 | This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, "God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers." | Stephen attributes God's leading through "an angel" in the wilderness. |
| 1 Cor 10:1-4 | ...and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. | Directly connects the wilderness journey's spiritual provisions to Christ. |
| Heb 4:8-10 | If Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day... | Points to a greater, heavenly "rest" that the earthly land foreshadows. |
| Heb 11:8-10 | By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called... For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations... | The spiritual trajectory of patriarchs towards a divinely prepared heavenly city. |
| Matt 25:34 | "Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you..." | Points to the ultimate "place" (heavenly kingdom) prepared for believers. |
Exodus 23 verses
Exodus 23 21 Meaning
Exodus 23:21 declares God's solemn promise to His people, Israel, to dispatch a unique divine messenger, often identified as the Angel of the LORD. This Angel would lead them through the perils of the wilderness journey, acting as a constant guardian and ensuring their safe and successful arrival into the land of Canaan. This "place" was specifically prepared and purposed by God for them, signifying His sovereign plan and active involvement in bringing His covenant promises to fruition for His chosen nation.
Exodus 23 21 Context
Exodus chapter 23 belongs to the "Book of the Covenant" (Exo 20:22-23:33), which elaborates on the Ten Commandments given at Mount Sinai. This section details ethical laws, social regulations, and religious ordinances designed to establish Israel as a distinct, holy nation living in covenant with the LORD. The immediate context of verses 20-33 shifts focus to God's specific promises regarding Israel's journey into and conquest of the land of Canaan. God provides assurances of His direct involvement in guiding, protecting, and fighting for them, while also laying down crucial conditions for their success, such as obedience and avoidance of idolatry (Exo 23:24-25). Exodus 23:21 serves as a foundational promise within this divine plan, assuring Israel that God would personally facilitate their entry into their promised inheritance, in stark contrast to the surrounding pagan nations who depended on multiple local deities.
Exodus 23 21 Word analysis
- Behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh): This imperative particle functions as a powerful interjection, drawing solemn and immediate attention to the forthcoming statement. It underscores the profound significance and certainty of God's promise.
- I send (שֹׁלֵחַ - sholeach): An active participle, highlighting God as the primary initiator and sustainer of this mission. It conveys a sense of active, deliberate dispatch, emphasizing God's direct agency.
- an Angel (מַלְאָךְ - mal'akh): The Hebrew word means "messenger." While it can refer to a human envoy, in this divine context, and especially coupled with other details (God's Name being "in him" in Exo 23:20, and His voice being God's voice in Exo 23:22), it strongly denotes a supernatural divine being. This "Angel of the LORD" is frequently understood by scholars as a Christophany—a pre-incarnate appearance of the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ. This figure possesses divine authority, speaks as God, and is able to forgive sins (or not forgive, thus emphasizing His authority).
- before you (לְפָנֶיךָ - l'faneykha): Literally "in front of your face" or "in your presence." This emphasizes the Angel's role as a vanguard, leading the way and providing visible and continuous guidance, removing obstacles, and safeguarding Israel's advance.
- to guard you (לִשְׁמָרְךָ - lishmarkha): From shamar, meaning "to watch," "keep," "preserve," or "protect." It denotes active, constant vigilance and protection against physical dangers, spiritual pitfalls, and enemies during the arduous journey. This signifies divine providence and security.
- on the way (בַּדֶּרֶךְ - baderekh): Refers to the specific wilderness journey from Mount Sinai to the land of Canaan. It encompasses the entirety of their travels, including its unpredictable nature, its hardships, and its spiritual lessons.
- and to bring you (וְלַהֲבִיאֲךָ - v'lahavia'kha): From bo', meaning "to come" or "to bring." This signifies the ultimate objective and the successful conclusion of the journey. The Angel's role is not just guidance, but effective delivery to the intended destination.
- to the place (אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם - el ha-maqom): This refers unequivocally to the promised land of Canaan (Gen 12:7), the geographical and theological fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham. It is the divinely appointed inheritance for Israel.
- that I have prepared (אֲשֶׁר הֲכִנֹתִי - asher hakhinoti): From kun, meaning "to establish," "make ready," or "arrange." This emphasizes God's meticulous foresight, sovereign planning, and deliberate intention. The destination is not accidental; it is a land specifically prepared and readied by God Himself to receive His people.
Exodus 23 21 Bonus section
- Divine Delegation vs. Divine Presence: This verse introduces a subtle but significant theological point about how God's presence and authority can be embodied in an agent. The Angel of the LORD functions not merely as a proxy, but in a way that truly represents God Himself, highlighting His omnipresence and immanence even as He acts through a messenger.
- Pattern of Divine Guidance: This event establishes a biblical pattern: God leading His people into promised blessings. This pattern recurs throughout scripture, whether God guides individuals, leads them into the physical Promised Land, or, in the New Covenant, through His Spirit and Word into the spiritual rest and eternal inheritance prepared for all believers.
Exodus 23 21 Commentary
Exodus 23:21 powerfully demonstrates God's commitment to fulfilling His promises through personal divine intervention. The Angel mentioned is more than a mere creature; referred to with divine authority in subsequent verses (e.g., God's "Name is in him" and His "voice" is to be obeyed), this figure is widely understood to be a pre-incarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ, actively guiding and protecting God's people. This divine Messenger leads Israel not only in the general direction but safeguards them from perils on "the way" through the wilderness and ensures their complete arrival "to the place" God meticulously "prepared" for them. This promise underlines God's unwavering faithfulness, His active governance in history, and His profound care for His people, guiding them into the inheritance He has readied.