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Exodus 23:21

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 23:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Take ye heed before him, and hearken unto his voice; provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgression: for my name is in him.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Take ye heed before him, and hearken unto his voice; provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgression: for my name is in him.
Exodus 23:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my feast remain all night until the morning.
19The first of the first-fruits of thy ground thou shalt bring into the house of Jehovah thy God. Thou shalt not boil a kid in it mother`s milk.
20Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee by the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
21Take ye heed before him, and hearken unto his voice; provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgression: for my name is in him.
22But if thou shalt indeed hearken unto his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
23For mine angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Canaanite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: and I will cut them off.
24Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works; but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and break in pieces their pillars.
← Exodus 23:20Exodus 23:22 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Beware of him, etc.] Of his face or countenance; observe his looks towards you in a providential way, whether frowning or smiling; observe his directions and instructions, laws and commands: and obey his voice; hearken to what he says, and cheerfully, readily, and punctually do as he orders: provoke him not; by unbelief, by murmurings and complaints, by unbecoming words and actions, by transgressing his commands, and acting contrary to his will; for he will not pardon your transgressions: or suffer them to pass unchastised and uncorrected, but will, as he did, take vengeance on their inventions, and on them because of them, though he forgave their iniquities; for that he was such an Angel as…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“my name is in him--This angel is frequently called Jehovah and Elohim, that is, God.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Beware of him, and obey his voice; provoke him not - It is at your peril if you do; for my name - My nature, my authority is in him. Exodus 23:25”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Beware of him: Psa 2:12; Mat 17:5; Heb 12:25 provoke him not: Num 14:11; Psa 78:40, Psa 78:56; Eph 4:30; Heb 3:10, Heb 3:16 he will not: Exo 32:34; Num 14:35; Deu 18:19; Jos 24:19; Jer 5:7; Heb 3:11, Heb 10:26-29; Heb 12:25; Jo1 5:16 my name: Exo 3:14, Exo 34:5-7; Psa 72:19, Psa 83:18; Isa 7:14, Isa 9:6, Isa 42:8, Isa 45:6, Isa 57:15; Jer 23:6; Mat 1:23; Joh 5:23, Joh 10:30, Joh 10:38, Joh 14:9, Joh 14:10; Col 2:9; Rev 1:8; Rev 2:8, Rev 2:23, Rev 3:7 Exodus 23:22”
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Related study paths

Read Exodus 23 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification