Exodus 34 24

Exodus 34:24 kjv

For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year.

Exodus 34:24 nkjv

For I will cast out the nations before you and enlarge your borders; neither will any man covet your land when you go up to appear before the LORD your God three times in the year.

Exodus 34:24 niv

I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the LORD your God.

Exodus 34:24 esv

For I will cast out nations before you and enlarge your borders; no one shall covet your land, when you go up to appear before the LORD your God three times in the year.

Exodus 34:24 nlt

I will drive out the other nations ahead of you and expand your territory, so no one will covet and conquer your land while you appear before the LORD your God three times each year.

Exodus 34 verses

Exodus 34 24 Meaning

Exodus 34:24 functions as a divine assurance, enabling Israel to fulfill a central commandment. It means that God, by His sovereign power, will secure the nation's borders and deter enemies while the men are absent for required religious pilgrimages. This promise removes a significant practical impediment to obedience, ensuring their land will not be vulnerable or coveted by hostile nations or internal threats during times of corporate worship.

Exodus 34 24 Context

This verse is part of the renewal of the covenant between God and Israel, specifically following the incident of the golden calf (Exodus 32-33). Moses has just ascended Mount Sinai again, where God graciously re-establishes the covenant and gives a new set of tablets. Exodus 34 contains a summary of various laws, including the re-emphasis on the three annual pilgrimage festivals (vv. 22-23). The historical and cultural context is critical: Israel is a nomadic people, preparing to enter a land inhabited by multiple powerful Canaanite nations. The command for all adult males to leave their land undefended three times a year presented a significant vulnerability. Exodus 34:24 serves as God's divine solution and guarantee, assuring Israel that He will directly intervene to protect their land and repel any external threats, thereby enabling their obedience to His command. It addresses their deep-seated anxiety about their homes and families while they fulfill their religious duties.

Exodus 34 24 Word Analysis

• For: (כִּי, ki) – An explanatory conjunction, indicating that what follows is the reason or justification for the preceding command to appear before the Lord. It signifies God’s underlying motivation and provision for Israel’s obedience.
• I will cast out: (אֲגָרֵשׁ, ’agarēsh) – From the root גָּרַשׁ (garash), meaning "to drive out, expel." This is a definitive, first-person singular declaration from God, emphasizing His direct, forceful, and sovereign action in dispossessing the pre-existing inhabitants of Canaan. It points to divine initiative rather than Israelite military prowess.
• the nations: (גּוֹיִם, goyim) – Refers to the Gentile peoples, specifically the various Canaanite tribes residing in the promised land, who were a major threat to Israel's security and faithfulness.
• before you: Indicates that God's action is on behalf of and preceding Israel’s advance, making their path clear and secure.
• and enlarge: (וְהִרְחַבְתִּי, wĕhirchavti) – From the root רָחַב (rachav), "to make wide or broad." This promise goes beyond mere conquest; it speaks to a prosperous expansion of territory, signifying not just possession but a spacious, secure habitation, a fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.
• your borders: (גְּבֻלֶךָ, gĕvulekha) – Refers to the physical boundaries of their inheritance. Enlargement of borders signifies prosperity, increased security, and successful dominion.
• neither will any man covet: (וְלֹא יַחְמֹד אִישׁ, wĕlo' yachmod 'ish) – "Covet" (chamad) directly connects to the tenth commandment (Ex 20:17). This is a profound assurance. It suggests a divine work not just in physical protection but in influencing the desires of potential adversaries, either by preventing them from planning an attack or by making their coveting futile through divine intervention. It covers external enemies and potentially even internal Israelite covetousness while others are away.
• your land: (אַרְצְךָ, ’artsekha) – Emphasizes Israel’s divinely granted possession, highlighting the security of their personal and communal inheritance.
• when you go up: (בַּעֲלֹתְךָ, ba‘alotkha) – Lit. "in your going up." This verb often describes an ascent to a higher place, appropriate for pilgrimages to Jerusalem. It captures the action of making the pilgrimage.
• to appear before the Lord your God: (לְהֵרָאֹות אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, lēhērā’ot ’et-pĕnê YHWH ’Ělōhêkha) – Literally, "to be seen before the face of YHWH your God." This phrase underscores the reverential act of presenting oneself in sacred worship during the festivals, demonstrating devotion. It implies leaving the mundane and ascending to the divine presence.
• three times in the year: Refers to the three mandatory annual festivals: the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover), the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles), as explicitly stated in the preceding verse (v.23). These were times when all able-bodied Israelite males were required to leave their homes and travel to the central sanctuary.

Word Group Analysis:

• "For I will cast out the nations before you and enlarge your borders": This phrase details God's active, pre-emptive, and expanding provision. It promises military conquest (casting out) and territorial expansion (enlarge borders), both supernatural acts on God's part that address Israel’s physical security. This is divine agency for the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.
• "neither will any man covet your land when you go up to appear before the Lord your God three times in the year": This section forms a comprehensive guarantee of security during a period of potential vulnerability. God addresses the internal threat of envy/coveting (the sin addressed by the 10th commandment) and the external threat of invasion simultaneously. It directly links Israel's obedience in religious observance with God's miraculous protective provision, highlighting the paradox of vulnerability becoming ultimate security under divine care.

Exodus 34 24 Bonus Section

• This verse represents a key example of the theo-political nature of Israel's covenant. God directly managed both their religious life and national security.
• The "no coveting" clause demonstrates God's unique power, not only over physical circumstances but also over the internal desires and intentions of both His people and their enemies. This goes beyond physical deterrence, indicating a supernatural restraining influence.
• Insights from biblical scholars highlight this verse as a profound test of faith for the Israelites. It challenged them to believe that their land was more secure without human presence (due to God's watch care) than it would be with their presence (if they disobeyed).
• The emphasis on God's personal actions ("I will cast out," "I will enlarge," "neither will any man covet") reinforces the active and imminent nature of God's presence in their national life. It is not a passive blessing but an active engagement for His people.

Exodus 34 24 Commentary

Exodus 34:24 is a remarkable declaration of God's providence and sovereignty. It immediately follows the re-issuance of the command for annual pilgrimages, a directive that would seem impractical and dangerous to a nascent nation surrounded by hostile forces. Human prudence would advise against leaving homes unprotected. Yet, God does not diminish His demand; instead, He offers an unparalleled guarantee. The essence of the verse lies in this divine assurance: "You fulfill your obligation to Me, and I will take care of your security."

God pledges two primary actions:

1. Divine Dispossession and Expansion: He promises to personally "cast out" the existing nations and "enlarge" Israel's territory. This isn't dependent on Israel's military strength but on God's overwhelming power. It ties directly back to the Abrahamic covenant, showing God's faithfulness to His prior promises.
2. Divine Protection Against Coveting: More profoundly, God guarantees that "no man will covet your land" during these times of absence. This is a direct intervention in the hearts and minds of potential adversaries. It implies either that God will supernaturally deter any aggressive thoughts or actions, or that He will so secure the land that any covetous intent would be futile. This promise covers not just overt attacks but also the insidious desire that could lead to them.

This verse teaches that obedience to God, even when it appears to create practical vulnerability, will never lead to loss or ruin. Instead, God takes responsibility for the temporal consequences of His people's faithfulness. It highlights a core biblical principle: when God's people prioritize their spiritual duties and trust Him for their physical well-being, He unfailingly provides and protects. It underscores the ultimate reality that Israel's security depended entirely on Yahweh, not on fortifications or military strategy alone. This call for radical trust became a foundational lesson for Israel, establishing that devotion to God superseded human fear and logic.