Numbers 33 55

Numbers 33:55 kjv

But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.

Numbers 33:55 nkjv

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell.

Numbers 33:55 niv

"?'But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.

Numbers 33:55 esv

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell.

Numbers 33:55 nlt

But if you fail to drive out the people who live in the land, those who remain will be like splinters in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will harass you in the land where you live.

Numbers 33 verses

Numbers 33 55 Meaning

Numbers 33:55 is a strong warning from the Lord to the Israelites regarding their conquest of the land of Canaan. It declares that if they fail to completely drive out the existing inhabitants, those remaining will become a constant source of trouble, like painful thorns in their eyes and sides, inflicting distress within the very land God had promised them. It underscores the severe consequences of incomplete obedience and highlights the nature of internal compromise leading to perpetual conflict and suffering.

Numbers 33 55 Context

This verse is part of a series of divine instructions given to Moses by the Lord at the plains of Moab, as the Israelites were poised to enter the Promised Land of Canaan. Numbers chapter 33 serves as a summary of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to Moab, meticulously listing each encampment, thereby affirming the historical reality and divine leading of their exodus. Following this itinerary, verses 50-56 deliver crucial commands for their settlement: to drive out the inhabitants, destroy their idolatrous altars and images, and divide the land by lot. Numbers 33:55 is a dire warning that immediately follows the direct command to dispossess the inhabitants (Num 33:52) and emphasizes the disastrous consequences of failing to fully comply. Historically and culturally, the Canaanites were deeply immersed in pagan practices including polytheism, Baal worship, child sacrifice, and ritual prostitution, which were anathema to the Lord's holy character and His covenant with Israel. The command to drive them out was a divine imperative for Israel's spiritual preservation, a polemic against the corrupting influence of idolatry and moral depravity that would inevitably ensnare them if not eradicated.

Numbers 33 55 Word analysis

• But if (וְאִם ve'im): This Hebrew conjunction ve'im sets up a strong conditional statement, highlighting that the following outcome is directly dependent on Israel's choice regarding obedience. It presents a stark alternative.
• you do not drive out (לֹא תוֹרִישׁוּ lo torishu): From the verb yarash, meaning to inherit, take possession, or dispossess. Here, in the hiphil stem, it carries the strong causative sense of "cause to inherit" or "cause to dispossess," meaning "to drive out." The negative lo signifies a failure to completely remove. It implies that a partial expulsion or co-existence would constitute disobedience.
• the inhabitants (יֹשְׁבֵי yoshvei): From the verb yashav, "to sit, dwell, inhabit." It refers to those who are already settled and residing in the land.
• of the land (הָאָרֶץ ha'aretz): Specifically refers to the land of Canaan, the Promised Land given by God to Israel.
• from before you (מִפְּנֵיכֶם mipneikem): Literally "from your face" or "from your presence." It signifies complete removal or expulsion, so they are no longer an obstacle or a present entity in front of them.
• then those of them whom you let remain (וְהָיָה אֲשֶׁר תּוֹתִירוּ מֵהֶם veheya asher totiru mehem): This phrase points directly to Israel's culpability. It is not about enemies that manage to cling on despite Israel's best efforts, but those whom Israel allows to remain. This emphasizes active permission or passive negligence on Israel's part.
• shall be as thorns in your eyes and thorns in your sides (לְצְנִינִם בְּעֵינֵיכֶם וְלִשִׂכִּים בְּצִדֵּיכֶם le'tsninim be'eineikem ule'sikkim be'tsiddeikem):
  • thorns in your eyes (tsninim be'eineikem): Tsninim refers to prickly plants, thorns. "In your eyes" suggests constant irritation, impaired vision, inability to see clearly, a perpetual source of discomfort that impacts their ability to lead and progress spiritually. It signifies things that blur moral discernment or cause perpetual distress.
  • thorns in your sides (sikkim be'tsiddeikem): Sikkim also denotes pricking thorns, briers, or barb-like instruments. "In your sides" implies constant, painful irritation, something that rubs against them continually, making life unbearable and hindering their movements. It suggests something intimately close, persistently vexing, and detrimental to their well-being.
  • Words-group Analysis of "thorns in your eyes and thorns in your sides": This powerful double metaphor illustrates the comprehensive nature of the future torment. It’s not just inconvenience, but persistent, pervasive pain and hindrance. These remnants would constantly tempt Israel to idolatry, corrupt their social and moral fabric through intermarriage, and wage political or military struggles, becoming sources of physical and spiritual affliction. This language paints a picture of unrelenting psychological, spiritual, and sometimes physical warfare caused by unaddressed problems.
• and they shall trouble you (וְצָרְרוּ אֶתְכֶם ve'tsareru etchem): From the root tsarar, meaning to bind, tie up, narrow, besiege, harass, oppress, or be in distress. This indicates ongoing hostility, constriction, and affliction. It means that the remaining inhabitants would be a source of persistent anguish, harassment, and restriction, both physically and spiritually.
• in the land where you dwell (בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם יֹשְׁבִים בָּהּ ba'aretz asher attem yoshvim bah): Reinforces that the promised blessing of dwelling in a secure land would be undermined by internal conflict and perpetual harassment from those they failed to remove, turning their very home into a place of trouble.

Numbers 33 55 Bonus section

The spiritual implications of Numbers 33:55 extend beyond the physical conquest of Canaan. In Christian theology, this verse speaks powerfully to the ongoing spiritual warfare faced by believers. The "inhabitants of the land" can be likened to the remnants of the old self (indwelling sin), worldly philosophies, or demonic influences that attempt to reside and cause trouble within the "land" of our lives and hearts, which God desires to fully possess. Just as Israel was commanded to meticulously cleanse the land, believers are called to put to death the deeds of the flesh (Col 3:5), cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:5), and stand firm against the schemes of the devil (Eph 6:11). Failing to do so—allowing certain "enemies" to remain—will inevitably lead to constant spiritual irritation, compromised faith, and ongoing conflict within the Christian walk. This highlights the preventative wisdom of God's commands; He warns of consequences not to punish, but to protect His people from self-inflicted harm and to secure their blessing and peace.

Numbers 33 55 Commentary

Numbers 33:55 is a prophetic warning from the Lord that highlights the crucial link between obedience and peace, especially regarding what enters or remains in God's dedicated space. The command to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan was not an arbitrary act of cruelty but a fundamental prerequisite for Israel's covenant fidelity and spiritual survival. God knew that partial obedience would lead to complete corruption. The metaphor of "thorns in your eyes and sides" vividly depicts the constant irritation, moral corruption, spiritual hindrance, and direct conflict that would ensue. It foretold how remaining pockets of idolatry and foreign customs would become irresistible snares, eroding their distinct identity as God's people and drawing them into sin. This verse serves as a timeless principle: anything tolerated that opposes God's commands—whether it be internal sin, worldly influences, or unaddressed temptations—will become a source of profound spiritual and often physical pain, preventing us from fully inhabiting and enjoying the blessings of God’s dwelling place with us. It’s a call to thoroughness in cleansing that which threatens holiness.

• Practical Example: Just as an untreated weed in a garden will spread and choke out valuable plants, so too will a compromised area of one's life (a tolerated sin, a wrong attitude, a destructive habit) grow and produce bitterness, conflict, and spiritual barrenness.
• Practical Example: Neglecting to deal with a minor fault in a relationship (e.g., unforgiveness) can lead to constant friction and emotional pain, gradually eroding trust and joy, much like a "thorn" in the side of the relationship.