Exodus 34:12
Exodus 34:12 in Multiple Translations
Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest they become a snare in your midst.
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:
But take care, and do not make any agreement with the people of the land where you are going, for it will be a cause of sin to you.
Make sure you don't agree to a peace treaty with the people living in the land where you are going. Otherwise they will become a trap for you.
Take heede to thy selfe, that thou make no compact with ye inhabitantes of the land whither thou goest, least they be the cause of ruine among you:
take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitant of the land into which thou art going, lest it become a snare in thy midst;
Be careful, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be for a snare among you;
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:
Beware thou never join in friendship with the inhabitants of that land, which may be thy ruin:
Berean Amplified Bible — Exodus 34:12
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.
Exodus 34:12 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 — Exodus 34:12
Study Notes — Exodus 34:12
- Context
- Cross References
- Exodus 34:12 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Exodus 34:12
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 34:12
- Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 34:12
- Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 34:12
- Cambridge Bible on Exodus 34:12
- Barnes' Notes on Exodus 34:12
- Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 34:12
- Sermons on Exodus 34:12
Context — The LORD Renews the Covenant
12Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest they become a snare in your midst.
13Rather, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and chop down their Asherah poles. 14For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 23:32–33 | You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods. 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 | Joshua 23:12–13 | For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them, know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you. |
| 3 | 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. |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 7:16 | 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. |
| 5 | Judges 2:2–3 | and you are not to make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall tear down their altars.’ Yet you have not obeyed My voice. What is this you have done? So now I tell you that I will not drive out these people before you; they will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.” |
| 6 | Psalms 106:36 | They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. |
| 7 | 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. |
Exodus 34:12 Summary
[This verse is a warning from God to the Israelites to be careful not to make friends or alliances with the people who already live in the land they are about to enter, because those people worship false gods and might lead the Israelites away from the one true God, as seen in Exodus 34:15-17. God wants the Israelites to be separate and distinct from the people around them, and to worship only Him, as stated in Exodus 34:14. This is still an important lesson for us today, as we are called to be set apart and to live differently from the world around us, as seen in Romans 12:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. By following God's warning and commands, we can avoid the dangers of idolatry and stay true to our faith.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does God warn the Israelites against making treaties with the inhabitants of the land?
God warns the Israelites against making treaties with the inhabitants of the land because He knows that their idolatrous practices and sinful ways will corrupt the Israelites and lead them away from Him, as seen in Deuteronomy 7:1-6 and Judges 2:10-15.
What kind of snare might the inhabitants of the land become to the Israelites?
The inhabitants of the land might become a snare to the Israelites by tempting them to intermarry and adopt their idolatrous practices, as warned in Exodus 34:15-17 and seen in the story of Solomon in 1 Kings 11:1-8.
How does this warning relate to the covenant God is making with the Israelites?
This warning is part of the covenant God is making with the Israelites, as seen in Exodus 34:10-11, and is a reminder that their relationship with God is exclusive and requires their complete loyalty and obedience, as stated in Exodus 34:14.
What is the significance of the phrase 'lest they become a snare in your midst'?
The phrase 'lest they become a snare in your midst' emphasizes the danger of allowing idolatry and sin to take root among the Israelites, leading to their spiritual downfall, as seen in the warnings of Deuteronomy 12:29-32 and the example of the Israelites in Psalm 106:34-43.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I might be making treaties with the 'inhabitants of the land' in my own life, and how can I avoid their corrupting influence?
- How can I prioritize my relationship with God and maintain my loyalty and obedience to Him in a world filled with temptations and distractions?
- What are some 'altars' or 'sacred stones' in my life that I need to tear down in order to fully follow God, as commanded in Exodus 34:13?
- How can I be mindful of the company I keep and the influences I allow in my life, in order to avoid becoming a snare to others or being snared by them?
Gill's Exposition on Exodus 34:12
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 34:12
Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 34:12
Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 34:12
Cambridge Bible on Exodus 34:12
Barnes' Notes on Exodus 34:12
Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 34:12
Sermons on Exodus 34:12
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
God's Truth About Alliances by Russell Kelfer | In this sermon series titled "How Can Two Walk Together Except They Be Agreed?", the speaker addresses the topic of Satan's lies about holiness, separation, and false alliances. Th |
|
The Vow of the Nicolaitan Bride by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of going beyond personal convenience in order to fulfill God's plans for our lives. He quotes the scripture where Paul urges |
|
The Candlestick - Pergamos by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher criticizes the current state of preaching, claiming that many sermons focus on worldly pleasures rather than addressing sin and the significance of the |
|
God's Truth About Alliances (Part 2) by Russell Kelfer | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the consequences of being unequally yoked with the world. He uses the story of Lot from the book of Genesis as an example. Lot had moved in wi |
|
Careless Choices by John Gifford Bellett | John Gifford Bellett preaches on the importance of obedience in marriage as a test of the state of the nation, tracing the decline from Abraham's faithful example to Judah's comple |
|
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 |




