Exodus 34 13

Exodus 34:13 kjv

But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:

Exodus 34:13 nkjv

But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images

Exodus 34:13 niv

Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles.

Exodus 34:13 esv

You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim

Exodus 34:13 nlt

Instead, you must break down their pagan altars, smash their sacred pillars, and cut down their Asherah poles.

Exodus 34 verses

Exodus 34 13 Meaning

Exodus 34:13 is a direct divine command issued to the Israelites to completely destroy all physical manifestations of the pagan worship of the Canaanite peoples they were to dispossess. This included their altars for sacrifices, sacred standing pillars which served as cultic objects or memorials to their deities, and wooden images or poles specifically associated with the Canaanite goddess Asherah. The verse underscores God's absolute demand for exclusive worship from Israel, aiming to prevent spiritual contamination and syncretism within the Promised Land. It is a fundamental declaration against idolatry, asserting the unique sovereignty of Yahweh over all false gods.

Exodus 34 13 Context

Exodus 34:13 falls within the "covenant renewal" narrative following the devastating incident of the Golden Calf (Exod 32). Moses has interceded for Israel, and God, in His graciousness, agrees to renew His covenant with His people, giving them new tablets of the Law. This particular verse is part of a larger section (Exod 34:10-26), sometimes referred to as the "Ritual Decalogue" or the "Little Book of the Covenant," which reiterates key commands essential for Israel's relationship with Yahweh, especially concerning their future interaction with the Canaanite inhabitants of the Promised Land.

Historically and culturally, the Canaanite world was steeped in polytheism, fertility cults, and nature worship. Their altars were places of sacrifice, sacred pillars (matstsebah) were cultic standing stones often connected to Baal worship, and Asherim (plural of Asherah) were wooden poles or trees symbolizing the goddess Asherah, consort of El or Baal, believed to be deities of fertility and prosperity. God's command to demolish these specific objects highlights His absolute rejection of these practices and the need for Israel to physically cleanse the land and separate themselves completely from the religious systems that would defile them and violate the covenant. This act was not just symbolic but a pragmatic and decisive measure to eradicate spiritual contamination and secure exclusive worship for Yahweh.

Exodus 34 13 Word analysis

• "But you shall destroy" (וְאֶת...תִּתֹּצוּן ve'et...tittōtsun): The Hebrew verb `natats` (נתץ), "to demolish, tear down," implies a strong, decisive, and complete destruction, not mere dismantling. It signifies God's absolute demand for the eradication of false worship.
• "their altars" (מִזְבְּחֹתֵיהֶם mizbeḥōṯēyhem): Refers to structures used for pagan sacrifices. Unlike legitimate Israelite altars dedicated to Yahweh, these were points of defilement.
• "break their sacred pillars" (וְאֶת-מַצֵּבֹתָם תְּשַׁבֵּרוּן ve'et-matstseḇōṯam təshaḇberun):
  • "sacred pillars" (`matstsebah` / מַצֵּבָה): These were standing stones. While occasionally used by Israelites for memorials (e.g., Jacob in Gen 28:18), here they refer to cultic pillars for pagan worship, often phallic symbols or markers for divine presence in Canaanite religion.
  • "break" (`shabar` / שָׁבַר): This verb means "to shatter, break in pieces." It emphasizes the violence and totality of the destruction required for these pagan objects.
• "and cut down their wooden images (Asherah poles)" (וְאֶת-אֲשֵׁרֵיהֶם תִּכְרֹתוּן ve'et-ʾashēyreyhem tikrotun):
  • "wooden images (Asherah poles)" (`Asherim` / אֲשֵׁרָה): Refers to the cultic objects of the Canaanite goddess Asherah, often wooden poles, statues, or living trees consecrated to her, associated with fertility cults.
  • "cut down" (`karat` / כָּרַת): This verb specifically means "to cut off, cut down," especially concerning trees or wooden objects. It underlines the precise method of dealing with the Asherah poles, preventing any reuse or remaining presence.

• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images": This tripartite command targets the core components of Canaanite cultic worship: altars (places of ritual), sacred pillars (cultic symbols/representations), and Asherah poles (representations of a specific deity). The diverse verbs—"destroy" (for altars), "break" (for pillars), and "cut down" (for wooden images)—indicate comprehensive and specific actions to eradicate every facet of pagan religion. This deliberate detailing signifies the seriousness of God's demand for holiness and singular devotion from Israel, leaving no room for syncretism or tolerance of false worship. It highlights that God does not want merely an intellectual renunciation of idols but also the physical removal of their very means of veneration and remembrance.

Exodus 34 13 Bonus section

This command highlights that divine opposition to idolatry extends beyond internal belief to the physical environment. The land itself, being holy for God's chosen people, must be purified from the abominations of its previous inhabitants. This comprehensive physical destruction of idolatrous infrastructure ensured that no remaining objects would tempt or normalize pagan practices among future Israelite generations. The very specific commands regarding tearing down, shattering, and cutting down demonstrate God's foresight concerning Israel's vulnerability to spiritual compromise. The severity of the command underscores that these weren't merely cultural differences but were detestable practices that defiled both the land and the people. Failure to execute this command later became a recurring theme of apostasy and divine judgment in Israel's history, as seen in the book of Judges and the period of the Kings, confirming the profound importance God placed on this instruction.

Exodus 34 13 Commentary

Exodus 34:13 stands as a pivotal covenant instruction, emphasizing Yahweh's uncompromising exclusivity. Following the national failure of the Golden Calf, this command reinforces that a renewed covenant demands radical purity. God mandates not merely avoidance of Canaanite worship but aggressive, physical obliteration of its symbols. The specified objects—altars, pillars, and Asherah poles—represent the comprehensive nature of pagan devotion, permeating every aspect of their society and spirituality, from sacrificial rituals to symbols of deity and fertility cults. By demanding their total destruction, God sets clear boundaries for His people's presence in the land. This divine imperative serves as a direct polemic against Canaanite polytheism and fertility rites, demonstrating that no aspect of these idolatrous practices could co-exist with the worship of the one true God. For Israel, this was about removing every spiritual snare and securing their complete fidelity to their covenant Lord, enabling them to dwell purely in the land God had promised. In a spiritual sense for believers today, it implies the need to actively and thoroughly remove spiritual "altars," "pillars," and "images" in our lives that compete with God's singular devotion. This can manifest as renouncing habits, thought patterns, or attachments that lead to idolatry in modern forms (e.g., greed, lust, self-worship) that undermine pure worship of God.