Deuteronomy 7:16

16 You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God gives over to you. Do not look on them with pity and do not serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you.

Deuteronomy 7:16 in Other Translations

KJV
16 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.
ESV
16 And you shall consume all the peoples that the LORD your God will give over to you. Your eye shall not pity them, neither shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you.
NLT
16 “You must destroy all the nations the LORD your God hands over to you. Show them no mercy, and do not worship their gods, or they will trap you.
MSG
16 You'll make mincemeat of all the peoples that God, your God, hands over to you. Don't feel sorry for them. And don't worship their gods - they'll trap you for sure.
CSB
16 You must destroy all the peoples the Lord your God is delivering over to you and not look on them with pity. Do not worship their gods, for that will 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 will be blessed more than any other people; none of your men or women will be childless, nor will any of your livestock be without young.
15 The LORD will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all who hate you.
16 You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God gives over to you. Do not look on them with pity and do not serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you.
17 You may say to yourselves, “These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?”
18 But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.

Cross References 4

  • 1. ver 24; Joshua 6:2; Joshua 10:26
  • 2. S ver 2; Exodus 23:33
  • 3. Judges 3:6; Ezra 9:1; Psalms 106:36
  • 4. ver 25; S Exodus 10:7; Judges 8:27
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