Exodus 34 16

Exodus 34:16 kjv

And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.

Exodus 34:16 nkjv

and you take of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods and make your sons play the harlot with their gods.

Exodus 34:16 niv

And when you choose some of their daughters as wives for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will lead your sons to do the same.

Exodus 34:16 esv

and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters whore after their gods and make your sons whore after their gods.

Exodus 34:16 nlt

Then you will accept their daughters, who sacrifice to other gods, as wives for your sons. And they will seduce your sons to commit adultery against me by worshiping other gods.

Exodus 34 verses

Exodus 34 16 Meaning

This verse directly forbids intermarriage between the Israelites and the inhabitants of the land, stating that such unions would inevitably lead Israelite sons to commit spiritual harlotry—that is, idolatry—by adopting the worship of the foreign wives' gods. It highlights the grave spiritual danger posed by mixed marriages, emphasizing that foreign religious practices and idols would corrupt the Israelite lineage and their exclusive devotion to Yahweh, thereby violating the covenant.

Exodus 34 16 Context

Exodus 34 takes place immediately after the covenant renewal on Mount Sinai, following Israel's catastrophic sin with the golden calf (Ex 32). Moses has just ascended the mountain again to receive the Ten Commandments for the second time, indicating God's renewed commitment to His covenant with Israel despite their unfaithfulness. In verses 10-17, God reiterates key stipulations for the covenant people. He explicitly commands Israel to drive out the inhabitants of the land, warns against making covenants or treaties with them, and specifically prohibits idolatry and idol-worshiping practices. Verse 16 serves as a crucial explanation for why separation from these nations is vital: intermarriage is identified as the direct gateway to apostasy and idolatry. This prohibition underpins God's expectation for Israel to maintain its distinctiveness and holiness, setting it apart as a people consecrated to Yahweh alone, unlike the syncretistic practices of surrounding nations where fertility cults often involved temple prostitution and worship of multiple deities.

Exodus 34 16 Word analysis

• and you take (וְלָקַחְתָּ - v'laqakh'ta): From the verb לָקַח (laqakh), meaning "to take, receive, acquire." In this context, it specifically refers to taking a wife, indicating the act of marriage or giving in marriage. The phrasing suggests Israelite men (or their families on their behalf) initiating these unions.
• of their daughters (מִבְּנֹתָיו - mi'bnotav): Refers to the daughters of the foreign inhabitants whom God commanded Israel to drive out. The issue is their non-Israelite religious background, not race, which makes them a source of spiritual corruption for Israel.
• for your sons (לְבָנֶיךָ - l'vaneycha): Emphasizes that the danger originates from the Israelites allowing these marriages for their own children. It highlights the parents' responsibility in upholding the covenant.
• and their daughters (וּבְנֹתֵיהֶם - u'bnoteyhem): Specifies the foreign wives who would bring their idolatrous practices into the Israelite household.
• play the harlot (זָנוּ - zanu): From the verb זָנָה (zanah), meaning "to commit harlotry, prostitute." In a biblical-theological context, especially within the prophets (like Hosea or Jeremiah), zanah almost universally refers to spiritual infidelity—the turning away from God to worship other deities. It's a metaphor for breaking the exclusive covenant relationship with Yahweh, who is likened to a husband. This is a critical term establishing the severity of the sin.
• after their gods (אַחֲרֵי אֱלֹהֵיהֶם - akharei elohechem): "After" implies following, pursuing, or serving. "Their gods" (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim) refers to the false deities and idols of the Canaanite nations. This phrase directly links spiritual harlotry with idolatry.
• and make your sons play the harlot (וְהִזְנוּ אֶת־בָּנֶיךָ - v'hiznu et-baneycha): The verb is in the Hifil (causative) stem, meaning "they caused your sons to commit harlotry." This crucial grammatical form indicates that the foreign women would actively lead or entice the Israelite sons into idolatry, not merely that the sons would fall into it passively. It signifies a direct and deliberate influence, underlining the inherent danger of such unions.
• after their gods (אַחֲרֵי אֱלֹהֵיהֶם - akharei elohechem): Reiterates the exact nature of the spiritual corruption: the worship of foreign idols.

Exodus 34 16 Bonus section

The strong prohibition in Exodus 34:16 against "intermarriage" primarily targets the theological and spiritual impurity of mixed faith, not racial background. The concern was the preservation of monotheism and the covenant, specifically within a socio-religious environment saturated with polytheistic and often morally corrupt pagan practices. This principle echoes throughout scripture, extending into the New Testament's warnings against being "unequally yoked with unbelievers" (2 Cor 6:14). While not a legalistic ban on inter-racial marriage today, the underlying spiritual truth remains relevant: close relationships, especially marriage, should be founded on shared faith and devotion to the one true God to avoid spiritual compromise and to foster mutual edification in holiness. The family unit was (and still is) seen as the primary vehicle for transmitting faith, and thus, its spiritual purity was paramount to the nation's spiritual well-being.

Exodus 34 16 Commentary

Exodus 34:16 is a foundational warning regarding the insidious nature of spiritual compromise. It clearly articulates the principle that mixing with idolatrous cultures, especially through intimate bonds like marriage, inevitably leads to a defilement of faith. The command is not driven by racial or ethnic prejudice but by God's absolute holiness and His exclusive claim on Israel's worship, as articulated in the very first commandment (Ex 20:3). Idolatry is depicted as spiritual harlotry because it is a betrayal of the covenant relationship, where Yahweh is the divine "husband" and Israel His "wife."

The "harlotry" described here encompasses adopting pagan rituals, deities, and lifestyles, which often involved immoral practices like cultic prostitution. The danger lay in the foreign wives leading their husbands and subsequently their children into syncretism—the blending of Yahweh worship with pagan practices—or outright apostasy. This spiritual contagion was the most significant threat to Israel's identity as a holy nation, far more dangerous than external military threats. The history of Israel, from the Judges to Solomon's apostasy, powerfully validates this prophetic warning. The verse implicitly asserts God's intense jealousy for His people's undivided allegiance and His determination to keep them pure for His purposes.