Exodus 23:25 kjv
And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
Exodus 23:25 nkjv
"So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.
Exodus 23:25 niv
Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you,
Exodus 23:25 esv
You shall serve the LORD your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you.
Exodus 23:25 nlt
"You must serve only the LORD your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness.
Exodus 23 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 15:26 | "If you diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God... I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer.” | God's identity as healer (YHWH Rapha). |
| Lev 26:3-5 | "If you walk in my statutes... I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit." | Broad promises for obedience. |
| Deut 6:13 | "You shall fear the LORD your God, and serve him, and swear by his name." | Emphasis on serving YHWH exclusively. |
| Deut 7:15 | "The LORD will remove from you all sickness; and He will not put on you any of the harmful diseases of Egypt..." | Reinforces promise of health. |
| Deut 10:12 | "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul," | Call to heartfelt service. |
| Deut 11:13-15 | "If you listen diligently to my commandments... I will give the rain for your land... and you shall gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil." | Promise of agricultural provision. |
| Deut 28:2-6 | "All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field." | Comprehensive blessings for obedience. |
| Josh 24:15 | "...choose this day whom you will serve... as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." | Call to decision and exclusive service. |
| Ps 23:5 | "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." | God's bountiful provision. |
| Ps 37:25 | "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread." | God's faithfulness in providing. |
| Ps 103:2-3 | "Bless the LORD, O my soul... who heals all your diseases," | God as the ultimate healer. |
| Prov 10:22 | "The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it." | Blessing as prosperity without troubles. |
| Is 33:16 | "His bread will be given him; his water will be sure." | Promise of provision for the righteous. |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse... if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour out for you a blessing until there is no more room to receive it." | Blessing for financial obedience (tithes). |
| Matt 4:10 | "You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve." | Christ reinforces exclusive service. |
| Matt 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and money." | Exclusivity of service to God. |
| Matt 6:33 | "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." | Prioritizing God leads to provision. |
| Matt 8:16-17 | "...he healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: 'He himself took our infirmities and bore our diseases.'" | Christ's ministry fulfills healing promise. |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." | New Covenant promise of provision. |
| 1 Pet 2:24 | "He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." | Spiritual and physical healing in Christ. |
Exodus 23 verses
Exodus 23 25 Meaning
Exodus 23:25 outlines a foundational principle of the Mosaic covenant: the promise of divine blessings contingent upon the people's faithful and exclusive service to the Lord. It states that if Israel serves YHWH their God, He will specifically provide for their most basic needs—represented by bread and water—and safeguard their physical well-being by removing sickness from their midst. This verse encapsulates God's holistic provision and protection for those who walk in obedience and devotion to Him.
Exodus 23 25 Context
Exodus 23:25 is situated within the "Book of the Covenant" (Ex 20:22–23:33), which elaborates on the foundational Ten Commandments. Following laws regarding worship, social justice, and specific observances, this section concludes with a series of conditional promises. Verses 20-33 articulate the blessings and curses dependent on Israel's obedience or disobedience to the covenant. This verse specifically highlights YHWH's commitment to provide and protect for His people if they serve Him alone. Historically, the Israelites were about to enter the promised land, where they would encounter various pagan deities associated with fertility, health, and provision. This verse directly challenges the belief systems of the surrounding nations (e.g., reliance on Baal for rain/harvest, or local gods/spirits for healing), affirming that the one true God, YHWH, is the exclusive and all-sufficient source of all blessings and protection. It set a clear distinction between the worship of Israel and the practices of their future neighbors.
Exodus 23 25 Word analysis
- You shall serve (עָבַד
avad):- Significance: More than just ritualistic worship. It denotes active obedience, labor, and allegiance. It implies a total commitment of one's life, work, and devotion to God. It means being God's slave or bondservant, totally dedicated to His will and purposes, which was a profound commitment in ancient near Eastern understanding.
- the Lord your God (יהוה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
YHWH Eloheykhem):- Significance: "YHWH" is the personal, covenant name of God, emphasizing His self-revelation and relationship with Israel. "Eloheykhem" (your God) underscores the exclusive, possessive relationship and specific covenant chosen by Israel. It directly counters the polytheistic inclinations of surrounding cultures by pointing to the one sovereign Creator.
- and he will bless (בָרַךְ
barakh):- Significance: To confer divine favor, empowerment, and prosperity. God is the active subject who bestows these good things. It's not a natural consequence but a supernatural act of God's benevolence, often manifesting as abundance, fruitfulness, and success.
- your bread and your water:
- Significance: These are the absolute essentials of life. By mentioning "bread" (food in general) and "water" (drink), the verse comprehensively covers basic sustenance and indicates a promise of fundamental provision for all daily needs. This suggests God's commitment to basic human needs, not just spiritual well-being.
- and I will take sickness away (הסיר מחלה
hesir machalah):- Significance: "Hesir" means to remove, banish, or put away completely. "Machalah" refers to disease, illness, or affliction. This is a direct promise of divine intervention for physical health and protection from illness, acting as Israel’s Physician. It offers profound assurance in an ancient world rife with diseases for which there was little medical understanding or cure, presenting God as the ultimate healer and protector from epidemic or endemic sicknesses often seen as divine judgment or demonic attacks by other cultures.
Words-group analysis
- "You shall serve the Lord your God": This phrase establishes the condition. It requires exclusive allegiance, active obedience, and worship of the one true God. This is the central demand of the covenant relationship. It sets Israel apart from nations serving multiple gods or idols, ensuring purity of worship and undivided loyalty.
- "and he will bless your bread and your water": This outlines the material aspect of God's blessing. It assures comprehensive provision for fundamental needs, signifying sustained life and abundance. It speaks to the removal of famine and scarcity, showing God's direct control over natural resources and the livelihood of His people.
- "and I will take sickness away from among you": This indicates the physical aspect of God's blessing. It promises divine protection from disease and health for the community, assuring a quality of life free from common afflictions. This also implicitly rejects reliance on pagan healing rites or charms, placing healing solely in God's hands.
Exodus 23 25 Bonus section
This verse reflects God’s desire for a flourishing and healthy community, not just a pious one. It reveals that the scope of the covenant blessings extends beyond the spiritual realm to encompass physical and material dimensions, underscoring God’s holistic care for His people. The promises in this verse were not necessarily for every single individual unconditionally, but for the community of Israel as a whole, contingent on their collective obedience to the covenant. While specific sickness might afflict individuals even among the faithful, the corporate promise was for divine protection against widespread plagues or endemic diseases. Furthermore, this principle transcends the Old Testament; it foreshadows Christ’s ministry where He not only preached spiritual truth but also healed the sick and miraculously provided food, demonstrating God’s continued concern for humanity's physical and material needs within the framework of His greater spiritual kingdom.
Exodus 23 25 Commentary
Exodus 23:25 functions as a concise summary of the blessings tied to the covenant established at Sinai. It highlights that God’s blessing is not merely spiritual but tangibly affects daily life, encompassing provision and physical health. The verse posits a clear, reciprocal relationship: faithful service to the exclusive God, YHWH, unlocks His promise of sustained life (food and water) and well-being (freedom from sickness). This teaches that true security and prosperity come not from human effort, reliance on false gods, or worldly wisdom, but directly from a consecrated life lived in obedience to the Almighty God. It underpins the biblical principle that genuine devotion has tangible benefits for the community as a whole. For practical usage, this encourages believers to prioritize seeking God and obeying His commands, trusting that He will faithfully provide for their needs and protect their health according to His sovereign will.