Exodus 23:27 kjv

I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.

Exodus 23:27 nkjv

"I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.

Exodus 23:27 niv

"I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run.

Exodus 23:27 esv

I will send my terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.

Exodus 23:27 nlt

"I will send my terror ahead of you and create panic among all the people whose lands you invade. I will make all your enemies turn and run.

Exodus 23 verses

Exodus 23 27 Meaning

Exodus 23:27 conveys a powerful promise from God to Israel, ensuring their victorious entry into the Promised Land. It states that God Himself will precede them, instilling His own divine terror and panic among the inhabitants of the land, specifically those whom Israel is sent to dispossess. This divine intervention will cause the enemy nations to fall into utter confusion, rendering them powerless, and ultimately forcing them to flee in retreat before the Israelites. The verse emphasizes that the victory would not be achieved by Israel's might alone, but by the direct, supernatural power of Yahweh fighting on their behalf.

Exodus 23 27 Context

Exodus 23:27 is part of the "Book of the Covenant" (Exodus 20:22-23:33), which elaborates on the Ten Commandments given at Mount Sinai. Specifically, this verse is nestled within a section (Exodus 23:20-33) detailing promises and warnings concerning Israel's impending entry into Canaan. God outlines the specific actions He will take to ensure Israel's success in dispossessing the inhabitants, provided they remain obedient to His covenant. Historically, this promise prepared a nascent nation, without significant military experience, for the daunting task of conquering a land inhabited by established, often fearsome, kingdoms. It served to assure them that their ultimate victory relied not on their own might or cunning, but on the direct and powerful intervention of Yahweh, who would fight for them and demoralize their foes.

Exodus 23 27 Word analysis

• I will send: Hebrew: אֶשְׁלַח (ešlaḥ) - from שָׁלַח (shalach), meaning "to send forth, stretch out, extend." This signifies an active, deliberate, and sovereign act initiated by God, not a mere natural occurrence. It highlights God's role as the divine agent and orchestrator of events.
• My terror: Hebrew: אֵימָתִי (êymāṯî) - composed of אֵימָה (eimah) "terror, dread, horror" and the possessive suffix "My." This is a profound, divinely orchestrated panic, far beyond ordinary fear. It implies a supernatural, overwhelming psychological incapacitation imposed by God himself on the enemies, crippling their will to resist and leading to demoralization. This specific term often indicates a terror that precedes or accompanies God's judgment or decisive intervention.
• before you: Hebrew: לְפָנֶיךָ (ləp̄ānêḵā) - literally "to your face/front." This conveys God's leading presence and initiative. He precedes Israel into battle, clearing the way, demonstrating that the fight is fundamentally His, and Israel follows in His wake, reaping the benefits of His pre-emptive action.
• and will throw into confusion: Hebrew: וְהַמֹּתִי (wəhammōṯî) - from the root הָמַם (hamam), meaning "to throw into confusion, discomfit, disturb, rout, cause to thunder/roar." This describes a state of utter disarray and panic. It's not just disorganization; it's a divine act that specifically paralyses the enemy, disrupting their formations, plans, and will to fight, rendering them ineffective in battle. This term is notably used elsewhere for God's action against the Egyptians at the Red Sea (Ex 14:24) and the Amorites at Gibeon (Josh 10:10), emphasizing divine, active military intervention.
• all the people against whom you come: Hebrew: אֶת־כָּל־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר תָּבֹא בָּהֶם (et-kol-ha’am asher taḇo’ bahem) - "all the people among whom you come." This signifies a comprehensive effect; no nation or group encountered by Israel is exempt from this divine terror and confusion. It specifically targets those nations standing in Israel's path of inheritance, indicating the promise is directly tied to the conquest.
• and I will make: Hebrew: וְנָתַתִּי (wənaṯattî) - from the root נָתַן (natan), "to give, place, set." Here, God actively "gives" or "causes" the enemies to assume a particular posture of defeat. This continues the theme of God's active, intentional, and sovereign involvement in the conquest.
• all your enemies turn their backs to you: Hebrew: אֶת־כָּל־אֹיְבֶיךָ אֵלֶיךָ עֹרֶף (et-kol-oʸeḇeḵā ’êleyḵā ‘ōrep̄) - literally "all your enemies to you [their] neck/back." The Hebrew word עֹרֶף (oreph) means "the back of the neck." Figuratively, to "turn the back of the neck" implies a complete and disgraceful rout. It means to flee in absolute defeat, without offering any resistance, showing their backs to the victor. It is a posture of utter surrender and ignominious retreat, signifying a decisive and overwhelming victory granted by God. This phrase highlights the complete and total nature of the future Israeli victory through God's intervention.

Exodus 23 27 Bonus section

This promise underscores a core biblical principle: when God's people walk in obedience, God actively fights their battles. This "divine terror" and "confusion" are not just metaphors; they are descriptions of actual supernatural phenomena that can psychologically paralyze and militarily dismantle adversaries. The divine intention was to showcase Yahweh's unique power as the only true God, capable of delivering His people irrespective of the strength of their opposition. This aspect served both as an encouragement to Israel and a witness to the surrounding nations regarding God's omnipotence. Furthermore, this was not merely about territorial conquest but about establishing a holy nation in a promised land, dedicated to worshipping Yahweh, free from the pervasive pagan influences of the region. The methods of conquest reflect the character of God—sovereign, decisive, and focused on His redemptive plan for His people.

Exodus 23 27 Commentary

Exodus 23:27 is a remarkable declaration of God's direct, active, and supernatural intervention on behalf of His covenant people. It shifts the paradigm of conquest from human military might to divine power. God's promise to send His "terror" and "throw into confusion" the enemy nations means that Israel's success was never dependent on their strategic brilliance or numerical superiority. Instead, it was secured by a psychological warfare orchestrated by the Almighty, a divine discomfiture that would shatter the enemies' morale and cohesion even before a physical blow was struck. This was a clear polemic against the polytheistic beliefs of the time, which often attributed victory to human strength or ritualistic appeasement of gods. Yahweh alone would cause the very spirit of resistance to crumble. The promise that "all your enemies turn their backs to you" graphically illustrates a complete, decisive rout where the enemy offers no resistance, ensuring Israel's triumph. This verse powerfully assures the early Israelites of God's championship in battle, emphasizing that their obedience, not their armaments, would unleash divine power. Spiritually, this verse echoes through the New Testament, reminding believers that our true victories over spiritual adversaries, sin, and death are secured not by our own efforts but by Christ, who has already "triumphed over them" (Col 2:15), empowering us to see spiritual foes turn their backs.