Deuteronomy 7:16

16 You shall devour all the peoples that the Lord your God is giving over to you, showing them no pity; you shall not serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you.

Deuteronomy 7:16 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 7:16

And thou shall consume all the people which the Lord thy God
shall deliver thee
All the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, which the Lord should deliver into their hands; them they were not to spare, but utterly destroy men, women, and children:

thine eye shall have no pity upon them; (See Gill on Deuteronomy 7:2),

neither shall thou serve their gods, for that will be a snare unto
thee;
which will bring into utter ruin and destruction; see ( Exodus 23:33 ) .

Deuteronomy 7:16 In-Context

14 You shall be the most blessed of peoples, with neither sterility nor barrenness among you or your livestock.
15 The Lord will turn away from you every illness; all the dread diseases of Egypt that you experienced, he will not inflict on you, but he will lay them on all who hate you.
16 You shall devour all the peoples that the Lord your God is giving over to you, showing them no pity; you shall not serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you.
17 If you say to yourself, "These nations are more numerous than I; how can I dispossess them?"
18 do not be afraid of them. Just remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt,
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.