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Exodus 23:22

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 23:22 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But 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.
Exodus 23:22 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
25And ye shall serve Jehovah your God, and he will bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
← Exodus 23:21Exodus 23:23 →
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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
“But, if thou shall indeed obey his voice, etc.] Or “hearkening hearken”, f737 to it attentively, listen to it, and diligently and constantly observe and obey in whatever he shall direct and order: and do all that I speak; by him; or whatsoever he had spoke, or was about to speak; for as yet all the laws and statutes were not delivered, especially those of the ceremonial kind: then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries; which they should either meet with in their passage through the wilderness, or when they came into the land of Canaan; signifying hereby that he would protect them from them, subdue them under them, and give them victory over them, as…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The rendering in the margin is better. Cf. Deuteronomy 20:4. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“an enemy: Gen 12:3; Num 24:9; Deu 30:7; Jer 30:20; Zac 2:8; Act 9:4, Act 9:5 an adversary unto thine adversaries: or, I will afflict them that afflict thee Exodus 23:23”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification