Exodus 23:20

God’s Angel to Prepare the Way

20 “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.

Exodus 23:20 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
English Standard Version (ESV)
20 "Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.
New Living Translation (NLT)
20 “See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you.
The Message Bible (MSG)
20 "Now get yourselves ready. I'm sending my Angel ahead of you to guard you in your travels, to lead you to the place that I've prepared.
American Standard Version (ASV)
20 Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee by the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
20 "I'm going to send a Messenger in front of you to protect you on your trip and bring you to the place I have prepared.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
20 "I am going to send an Angel before you to protect you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
20 "I am sending an angel ahead of you. He will guard you along the way. He will bring you to the place I have prepared.

Exodus 23:20 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 23:20

Behold, I send an angel before thee
Not a created angel, but the uncreated one, the Angel of God's presence, that was with the Israelites at Sinai, and in the wilderness; who saved, redeemed, bore, and carried them all the days of old, whom they rebelled against and tempted in the wilderness; as appears by all the characters after given of him, which by no means agree with a created angel: Aben Ezra observes, that some say this is the book of the law, because it is said, "my name is in him", or "in the midst of it"; others say, the ark of the covenant; but he says this angel is Michael; and if indeed by Michael is intended the uncreated angel, as he always is in Scripture, he is right: Jarchi remarks, that their Rabbins say, this is Metatron, whose name is as the name of his master; Metatron, by gematry, is Shaddai, which signifies almighty or all-sufficient, and is an epithet of the divine Being; and Metatron seems to be a corruption of the word "mediator": some of the ancient Jewish writers say F11, this is the Angel that is the Redeemer of the world, and the keeper of the children of men: and Philo the Jew F12 applies the word unto the divine Logos, and says,

``he (God) uses the divine Word as the guide of the way; for the oracle is, "behold, I send my Angel"''

which agrees with what follows:

to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have
prepared;
to preserve the Israelites in their journey through the wilderness, from all their enemies that should set upon them, and to bring them safe at last to the land of Canaan, which he had appointed for them, and promised to them, and had prepared both in his purpose and gift for them, and would make way for their settlement in it by driving out the nations before them.


FOOTNOTES:

F11 In Zohar in Gen. fol. 124. 4.
F12 "De migratione" Abraham, p. 415.

Exodus 23:20 In-Context

18 “Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to me along with anything containing yeast. “The fat of my festival offerings must not be kept until morning.
19 “Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. “Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.
20 “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.
21 Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him.
22 If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Genesis 16:7; Exodus 14:19; Exodus 32:34
  • 2. Exodus 15:17
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