Exodus 34 11

Exodus 34:11 kjv

Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

Exodus 34:11 nkjv

Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I am driving out from before you the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.

Exodus 34:11 niv

Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

Exodus 34:11 esv

"Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Exodus 34:11 nlt

But listen carefully to everything I command you today. Then I will go ahead of you and drive out the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

Exodus 34 verses

Exodus 34 11 Meaning

Exodus 34:11 declares a pivotal covenant condition: Israel's immediate and diligent obedience to God's commands is directly linked to God's divine act of dispossessing the indigenous, idolatrous nations from the Promised Land before them. It serves as a stern command and a clear assurance, emphasizing God's sovereign power to fulfill His promise, contingent upon Israel's faithfulness and distinctness from pagan cultures. This establishes a foundational principle: divine blessing and success in occupying the land stem from faithful adherence to God's renewed covenant.

Exodus 34 11 Context

Exodus 34:11 is situated within the dramatic renewal of God's covenant with Israel following the devastating Golden Calf incident (Ex 32). Moses is again on Mount Sinai, receiving a second set of stone tablets, symbolic of God's grace and restoration of the relationship. This specific verse introduces the stipulations of the renewed covenant (often called "the second covenant code" or "cultic decalogue," though the latter refers specifically to v. 28) given to a repentant, yet still vulnerable, Israel. The commands emphasize exclusive worship of Yahweh and separation from the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations, upon whose territory Israel is about to enter. Verse 11 directly ties Israel's future possession of the land to their obedience, immediately preceding the specific prohibitions against making covenants with the inhabitants and their gods. This sets the theological framework for the entire conquest, defining it not as a human military feat, but as a divine act contingent on Israel's fidelity to their covenant God.

Exodus 34 11 Word analysis

• Observe: (שָׁמַר – shamar) - A command, an imperative. Implies more than just passive watching; it means to guard, protect, diligently keep, heed, obey. It signifies active attention and care in implementing God's commands.
• what I command you: (אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ – asher anokhi metzavveka) - Establishes divine authority. These are not suggestions but direct, authoritative directives from God Himself.
• this day: (הַיּוֹם – hayyom) - Emphasizes urgency and immediacy. The commands are for present application, not postponed. It underscores the contemporary relevance and critical nature of the covenant renewal.
• Behold: (הִנֵּה – hinneh) - An interjection calling for attention, serving to introduce something significant or assure what follows. It highlights God's definitive promise.
• I drive out: (גֹּרֵשׁ – goresh) - Present active participle. Signifies God's active, continuous, and sovereign agency in the dispossession process. It emphasizes that this is His action, not primarily Israel's. Polemic: This declares Yahweh's superior power over all other local deities who supposedly protected these nations.
• before you: (מִפָּנֶיךָ – mippaneykha) - Literally "from your face" or "from before your presence." Implies that God acts on Israel's behalf, making the path clear and removing obstacles directly in their sight and for their benefit. Israel will witness God's powerful intervention.
• the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: A representative list of the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan. These nations are consistently portrayed as steeped in idolatry and immoral practices (cf. Lev 18; Deut 18). Their removal is necessary for Israel's holiness and possession of the land.

Word-Group Analysis

• "Observe what I command you this day": This phrase encapsulates the central demand of the covenant renewal: immediate and vigilant obedience. It ties Israel's present conduct to future outcomes, emphasizing God's present word and Israel's required response.
• "Behold, I drive out before you": This promise assures Israel of divine assistance. God is the active agent in the conquest. It’s not Israel's might but God's sovereign power that will ensure victory, highlighting grace despite Israel's recent failure.
• "the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite": This specific enumeration underlines the concrete nature of the divine promise and the comprehensive scale of the task. These are distinct peoples, but all are designated for removal due to their wickedness and to make way for God's holy people. This list implicitly serves as a reminder of the dangers of assimilation if not kept separate.

Exodus 34 11 Bonus section

This verse carries a significant polemic against the polytheistic and animistic beliefs prevalent in Canaanite religion. By declaring "I drive out," Yahweh asserts His absolute supremacy over the land and its existing deities, effectively debunking any notion that these foreign gods had legitimate power or claim over their territories or peoples. God, as the true and sovereign Creator and Redeemer, has the sole authority to give or remove land. Furthermore, the inclusion of a list of nations serves as a powerful reminder of God's specific plan and commitment to establish His people in the Promised Land. The fulfillment of this promise throughout the Book of Joshua directly testifies to the veracity of this divine declaration made to Moses.

Exodus 34 11 Commentary

Exodus 34:11 is a foundational statement articulating the inseparable link between Israel's covenant obedience and God's powerful intervention in their favor. After the crisis of the Golden Calf, God gracious renews His covenant, but He firmly reiterates the terms: diligent obedience is paramount. The act of "driving out" the nations is presented as God's direct, sovereign work, assuring Israel that their success in inheriting the land does not hinge on their military prowess but on Yahweh's faithfulness to His promise—a faithfulness conditioned by their exclusive loyalty to Him. This verse sets the stage for the specific prohibitions that follow (v. 12ff) against making alliances or adopting the idolatrous practices of the indigenous peoples. It is a powerful affirmation of God's capacity to fulfill His promises, alongside a clear demand for Israel's corresponding responsibility to live distinctively as His chosen people, holy and separated unto Him. In essence, "obey, and I will conquer for you."

Practical examples:

• God often prepares the way for His people when they walk in obedience, removing obstacles that seem insurmountable.
• Blessings and success in spiritual endeavors are often contingent on actively heeding God's commands "this day," not postponing obedience.