Deuteronomy 7:16
Deuteronomy 7:16 in Multiple Translations
You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God will deliver to you. Do not look on them with pity. Do not worship their gods, for that will be a snare to you.
And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.
And thou shalt consume all the peoples that Jehovah thy God shall deliver unto thee; thine eye shall not pity them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.
And you are to send destruction on all the peoples which the Lord your God gives into your hands; have no pity on them, and do not give worship to their gods; for that will be a cause of sin to you.
You are to destroy all the nations the Lord your God hands over to you. Don't look on them with sympathy. Don't worship their gods, for that will end up being a trap to you.
Thou shalt therefore consume all people which the Lord thy God shall giue thee: thine eye shall not spare them, neither shalt thou serue their gods, for that shalbe thy destruction.
'And thou hast consumed all the peoples whom Jehovah thy God is giving to thee; thine eye hath no pity on them, and thou dost not serve their gods, for a snare it [is] to thee.
You shall consume all the peoples whom the LORD your God shall deliver to you. Your eye shall not pity them. You shall not serve their gods; for that would be a snare to you.
And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver to thee; thy eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare to thee.
Thou shalt consume all the people, which the Lord thy God will deliver to thee. Thy eye shall not spare them, neither shalt thou serve their gods, lest they be thy ruin.
You must get rid of all the people-groups that Yahweh our God will enable you to conquer. Do not [SYN] act mercifully toward any of them. And do not worship their gods, because if you do that, it would be like falling into a trap from which you will never be able to escape.
Berean Amplified Bible — Deuteronomy 7:16
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Deuteronomy 7:16 Interlinear (Deep Study)
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Deuteronomy 7:16
Study Notes — Deuteronomy 7:16
- Context
- Cross References
- Deuteronomy 7:16 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 7:16
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 7:16
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:16
- Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:16
- Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 7:16
- Sermons on Deuteronomy 7:16
Context — The Promises of God
16You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God will deliver to you. Do not look on them with pity. Do not worship their gods, for that will be a snare to you.
17You may say in your heart, “These nations are greater than we are; how can we drive them out?” 18But do not be afraid of them. Be sure to remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and all Egypt:Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 23:33 | They must not remain in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.” |
| 2 | Judges 8:27 | From all this Gideon made an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his hometown. But soon all Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his household. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 13:8 | you must not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity, and do not spare him or shield him. |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 19:21 | You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot. |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 7:2 | and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. |
| 6 | 1 Corinthians 15:33 | Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.” |
| 7 | Deuteronomy 25:12 | you are to cut off her hand. You must show her no pity. |
| 8 | Deuteronomy 19:13 | You must show him no pity. You are to purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, that it may go well with you. |
| 9 | Exodus 34:12–16 | Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest they become a snare in your midst. Rather, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and chop down their Asherah poles. For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices. And when you take some of their daughters as brides for your sons, their daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods and cause your sons to do the same. |
| 10 | Psalms 106:36 | They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. |
Deuteronomy 7:16 Summary
[This verse means that God wants the Israelites to trust Him and obey His commands, even if they seem hard or difficult. He wants them to destroy the nations that worship false gods, not because He is cruel, but because He wants to protect His people from the corrupting influence of idolatry (as seen in Exodus 34:12-17). By obeying God's commands, the Israelites can avoid the snare of idolatry and stay faithful to the one true God. This is still an important lesson for us today, as we are called to trust in God's sovereignty and justice, and to obey His commands, even when they are hard to understand (as seen in Romans 12:1-2).]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does God command the Israelites to destroy all the peoples He delivers to them?
This command is part of God's plan to protect the Israelites from the corrupting influence of idolatry and to fulfill His promise to Abraham, as seen in Genesis 12:7 and Exodus 23:32-33. By destroying these nations, God is also judging their wickedness, as mentioned in Deuteronomy 9:5.
Is it not cruel to show no pity to these nations?
While it may seem harsh, God's command to show no pity is a call to trust in His sovereignty and justice, as seen in Psalm 119:75 and Romans 11:22. The Israelites are to trust that God's ways are higher than theirs and that His judgment is perfect.
What is the snare that comes from worshiping other gods?
The snare refers to the spiritual trap that comes from idolatry, which can lead to spiritual bondage and separation from God, as warned in Exodus 20:3-5 and Deuteronomy 13:6-10. Worshiping other gods would have led the Israelites away from the one true God and into a life of sin and rebellion.
How does this verse relate to the concept of God's love and mercy?
While God is a God of love and mercy, as seen in Psalm 103:8 and Luke 6:36, He is also a God of justice and holiness, as seen in Isaiah 6:1-5 and Revelation 4:8. This verse highlights the importance of trusting in God's sovereignty and justice, even when His commands seem difficult to understand.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can be tempted to 'look on others with pity' and compromise my faith, and how can I avoid these temptations?
- How can I trust in God's sovereignty and justice when faced with difficult circumstances or commands?
- In what ways can I be aware of the 'snare' of idolatry in my own life, and how can I guard against it?
- What does this verse teach me about the importance of obedience to God's commands, even when they are difficult or hard to understand?
Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 7:16
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 7:16
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:16
Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:16
Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 7:16
Sermons on Deuteronomy 7:16
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Sixth Commandment by A.W. Pink | A.W. Pink expounds on the Sixth Commandment, 'Thou shalt not kill,' emphasizing that it not only forbids murder but also the underlying emotions such as anger and hatred that can l |
|
Deception by the Gibeonites by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the deception by the Gibeonites as described in Joshua chapter 9. He emphasizes the importance of heeding the warnings that God gives u |
|
The Best, Not the Good by Vance Havner | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of making choices in life between the bad, the good, and the best. He highlights the danger of settling for the good when we c |
|
(2008 Usa Tour) Singles Table Talk by Keith Daniel | In this sermon, the preacher describes a journey up a cableway to a beautiful mountain, followed by a visit to a tea place and a boat ride around Seal Island. The preacher then men |
|
When Mercy Kills an Outstretched Hand by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the danger of hirelings in the pulpit who avoid addressing sin in the lives of their congregation. He emphasizes that when God is not present, |
|
Peace Stealers by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of peace and how to guard it. He shares a personal experience of feeling unhappy and seeking a new direction in his life. Throu |
|
(Godly Courtship) 05 Godly Courtship - Question & Answer by Denny Kenaston | In this sermon, the speaker discusses George Mueller's four-point outline for discerning God's will. The first point is to listen to the Spirit of God in our own hearts. The second |







