Exodus 23:28
Exodus 23:28 in Multiple Translations
I will send the hornet before you to drive the Hivites and Canaanites and Hittites out of your way.
And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.
And I will send the hornet before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.
I will send hornets before you, driving out the Hivite and the Canaanite and the Hittite before your face.
I will send hornets ahead of you to drive out before you the Hivites and Canaanites and Hittites.
And I will sende hornets before thee, which shall driue out the Hiuites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from thy face.
'And I have sent the hornet before thee, and it hath cast out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee;
I will send the hornet before you, which will drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before you.
And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite from before thee.
Sending out hornets before, that shall drive away the Hevite, and the Chanaanite, and the Hethite, before thou come in.
I will cause your enemies to become terrified. And I will expel the Hiv, Canaan, and Heth people-groups from your land.
Berean Amplified Bible — Exodus 23:28
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Exodus 23:28 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/שָׁלַחְתִּ֥י
אֶת
הַ/צִּרְעָ֖ה
לְ/פָנֶ֑י/ךָ
וְ/גֵרְשָׁ֗ה
אֶת
הַ/חִוִּ֧י
אֶת
הַֽ/כְּנַעֲנִ֛י
וְ/אֶת
הַ/חִתִּ֖י
מִ/לְּ/פָנֶֽי/ךָ
וְ/שָׁלַחְתִּ֥י
shâlach
H7971
to send
Conj | V-Qal-1cs
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
הַ/צִּרְעָ֖ה
tsirʻâh
H6880
hornet
Art | N-fs
לְ/פָנֶ֑י/ךָ
pânîym
H6440
face
Prep | N-cp | Suff
וְ/גֵרְשָׁ֗ה
gârash
H1644
to drive out
Conj | V-Piel-3fs
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
הַ/חִוִּ֧י
Chivvîy
H2340
Hivite
Art | Ngmsa
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
הַֽ/כְּנַעֲנִ֛י
Kᵉnaʻanîy
H3669
Canaanitess
Art | Ngmsa
וְ/אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
Conj | DirObjM
הַ/חִתִּ֖י
Chittîy
H2850
Hittite
Art | Ngmsa
מִ/לְּ/פָנֶֽי/ךָ
pânîym
H6440
face
Prep | Prep | N-cp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Exodus 23:28
וְ/שָׁלַחְתִּ֥י
shâlach
H7971
"to send"
Conj | V-Qal-1cs
To send or depart is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which has various applications in the Bible. It can describe sending someone or something away, or letting something go.
Definition: : depart/send 1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to send 1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct 1a3) to send away 1a4) to let loose 1b) (Niphal) to be sent 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out 1c2) to let go, set free 1c3) to shoot forth (of branches) 1c4) to let down 1c5) to shoot 1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled 1e) (Hiphil) to send
Usage: Occurs in 790 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out). See also: Genesis 3:22; Exodus 9:27; Joshua 14:11.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
הַ/צִּרְעָ֖ה
tsirʻâh
H6880
"hornet"
Art | N-fs
A hornet is a type of wasp that stings. In the Bible, hornets are mentioned in Exodus 23:28 as a way God helps the Israelites conquer their enemies. They are also mentioned in Deuteronomy 7:20.
Definition: hornets
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: hornet. See also: Exodus 23:28; Deuteronomy 7:20; Joshua 24:12.
לְ/פָנֶ֑י/ךָ
pânîym
H6440
"face"
Prep | N-cp | Suff
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Definition: : face 1) face 1a) face, faces 1b) presence, person 1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim) 1d) face (of animals) 1e) face, surface (of ground) 1f) as adv of loc/temp 1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before 1g) with prep 1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
Usage: Occurs in 1891 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 43:31; Exodus 30:16.
וְ/גֵרְשָׁ֗ה
gârash
H1644
"to drive out"
Conj | V-Piel-3fs
This Hebrew word means to drive out or expel, often used in the context of divorce or being forced to leave a place, as seen in the story of Israel's exile. It can also mean to trouble or cast out. In the Bible, it appears in books like Genesis and Exodus.
Definition: : drive out 1) to drive out, expel, cast out, drive away, divorce, put away, thrust away, trouble, cast up 1a) (Qal) to thrust out, cast out 1b) (Niphal) to be driven away, be tossed 1c) (Piel) to drive out, drive away 1d) (Pual) to be thrust out Also means: ga.rash (גָּרַשׁ ": divorce" H1644H)
Usage: Occurs in 45 OT verses. KJV: cast up (out), divorced (woman), drive away (forth, out), expel, [idiom] surely put away, trouble, thrust out. See also: Genesis 3:24; Joshua 24:18; Psalms 34:1.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
הַ/חִוִּ֧י
Chivvîy
H2340
"Hivite"
Art | Ngmsa
A Hivite, a member of an ancient tribe in Palestine, descended from Canaan, mentioned in Genesis 10:17.
Definition: Someone descended from Hiv(?) of the Canaanites, first mentioned at Gen.10.17; descended from Canaan (H3667); along with Sidon (H6721), Heth (H2845), Jebusite (H2983), Amorite (H0567), Girgashite (H1622), Arkite (H6208), Sinite (H5513), Arvadite (H0721), Zemarite (H6786) and Hamathite (H2577) § Hivite = "villagers" 6th generation of descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham, who were living in northern Canaan near Mount Hermon at the time of the conquest
Usage: Occurs in 25 OT verses. KJV: Hivite. See also: Genesis 10:17; Joshua 3:10; 2 Chronicles 8:7.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
הַֽ/כְּנַעֲנִ֛י
Kᵉnaʻanîy
H3669
"Canaanitess"
Art | Ngmsa
A Canaanitess was a woman from the land of Canaan, known for being merchants and traders. The term is used in the Bible to describe a woman who was a mother of one of the tribe of Benjamin, as seen in Genesis and other books.
Definition: Describing a woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.46.10; mother of: Shaul (H7586H) § a merchant, trader
Usage: Occurs in 71 OT verses. KJV: Canaanite, merchant, trafficker. See also: Genesis 10:18; Joshua 11:3; Proverbs 31:24.
וְ/אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
Conj | DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
הַ/חִתִּ֖י
Chittîy
H2850
"Hittite"
Art | Ngmsa
A Hittite is a descendant of Heth, a man who lived during the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned in Genesis 10:15. The Hittites were a group of people related to the Canaanites and other nearby tribes. They are often mentioned in the Bible, including in the book of Joshua.
Definition: Someone descended from Heth who was a man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.15; son of: Canaan (H3667); brother of: Sidon (H6721), Jebusite (H2983), Amorite (H0567), Girgashite (H1622), Hivite (H2340), Arkite (H6208), Sinite (H5513), Arvadite (H0721), Zemarite (H6786) and Hamathite (H2577); also called Hittite (KJV: "of Heth") frequently Group of chet (חֵת "Heth" H2845) § Hittite = "descendant of Heth" the nation descended from Heth, the 2nd son of Canaan; once inhabitants of central Anatolia (modern Turkey), later in north Lebanon
Usage: Occurs in 47 OT verses. KJV: Hittite, Hittities. See also: Genesis 15:20; Joshua 24:11; Ezekiel 16:45.
מִ/לְּ/פָנֶֽי/ךָ
pânîym
H6440
"face"
Prep | Prep | N-cp | Suff
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Definition: : face 1) face 1a) face, faces 1b) presence, person 1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim) 1d) face (of animals) 1e) face, surface (of ground) 1f) as adv of loc/temp 1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before 1g) with prep 1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
Usage: Occurs in 1891 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 43:31; Exodus 30:16.
Study Notes — Exodus 23:28
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Exodus 23:28 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Exodus 23:28
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 23:28
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Exodus 23:28
- Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 23:28
- Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 23:28
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Exodus 23:28
- Cambridge Bible on Exodus 23:28
- Barnes' Notes on Exodus 23:28
- Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 23:28
- Sermons on Exodus 23:28
Context — God’s Angel to Lead
26No woman in your land will miscarry or be barren; I will fulfill the number of your days.
27I will send My terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn and run.
28I will send the hornet before you to drive the Hivites and Canaanites and Hittites out of your way.
29I will not drive them out before you in a single year; otherwise the land would become desolate and wild animals would multiply against you. 30Little by little I will drive them out ahead of you, until you become fruitful and possess the land.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 7:20 | Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet against them until even the survivors hiding from you have perished. |
| 2 | Joshua 24:11–12 | After this, you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The people of Jericho fought against you, as did the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and I delivered them into your hand. I sent the hornet ahead of you, and it drove out the two Amorite kings before you, but not by your own sword or bow. |
Exodus 23:28 Summary
In Exodus 23:28, God promises to send a hornet to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites, showing His power and protection over the Israelites. This verse reminds us that God is a faithful and powerful God, who keeps His promises and helps us overcome any challenges we may face (as seen in Psalm 23:4 and Deuteronomy 31:8). Just as God used a hornet to drive out the enemies of the Israelites, He can use unexpected and unconventional means to help us in our lives. We can trust in God's faithfulness and power, just as the Israelites did, and seek His help and guidance in our own lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the hornet in Exodus 23:28?
The hornet is a symbol of God's power and judgment, used to drive out the enemies of the Israelites, as seen in Exodus 23:28, similar to the plagues sent upon Egypt in Exodus 7-12, demonstrating God's control over creation and His protection of His people, as promised in Deuteronomy 1:30.
Why did God choose to use a hornet to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites?
God's use of a hornet to drive out these nations shows His ability to use unexpected and unconventional means to accomplish His will, as seen in Isaiah 55:8-9, where God's ways are higher than our own, and in Romans 11:33, where God's wisdom is beyond human understanding.
How does this verse relate to the conquest of Canaan?
Exodus 23:28 is a promise from God to the Israelites that He will help them conquer the land of Canaan, as also seen in Joshua 1:3-4, where God promises to give the Israelites all the land they will tread upon, and in Deuteronomy 7:1-2, where God instructs the Israelites to drive out the nations of Canaan.
What can we learn from God's promise to drive out the enemies of the Israelites?
We can learn that God is a powerful and faithful God, who keeps His promises and protects His people, as seen in Psalm 91:4, where God promises to cover us with His feathers and under His wings, and in 2 Thessalonians 3:3, where God is faithful to establish and guard us against the evil one.
Reflection Questions
- How can I trust in God's power and protection in my own life, just as the Israelites trusted in His promise to drive out their enemies?
- What are some 'enemies' in my life that I need to trust God to drive out, and how can I seek His help and guidance in this process?
- In what ways can I see God's unexpected and unconventional means at work in my life, just as He used a hornet to drive out the nations of Canaan?
- How can I apply the promises of Exodus 23:28 to my own life, trusting in God's faithfulness and power to overcome any challenges I may face?
Gill's Exposition on Exodus 23:28
And I will send hornets before thee,.... Which may be interpreted either figuratively, and so may signify the same as fear before which should fall on the Canaanites upon hearing the Israelites were
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 23:28
And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. And I will send hornets before thee (cf.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Exodus 23:28
Hornets, properly so called, as may be gathered from . Hornets are of themselves very troublesome and mischievous; but these it is very probable were like those Egyptian flies, , of an extraordinary bigness and perniciousness. Nor is it strange that such creatures did drive many of these people from their habitations; for many heathen writers give us instances of some people driven from their seats by frogs, others by mice, others by bees and wasps; of which see Herodotus, Diodorus, Pliny, Elian, Justin, &c. He names these three people, either for all the rest, because they were the most potent about the time of Israel’ s first entrance into Canaan, and gave them most trouble; or because these three were more infested with hornets than the other nations, as being more numerous and dangerous.
Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 23:28
Exodus 23:28 And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.Ver. 28. Hornets before thee.] Understand it either literally, as in Joshua 24:12; or figuratively, of the stinging terrors of their self-condemning consciences.
Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 23:28
(28) I will send hornets.—Heb., the hornet. Comp. Joshua 24:12, where “the hornet” is said to have been sent. No doubt hornets might be so numerous as to become an intolerable plague, and induce a nation to quit its country and seek another (see Bochart, Hierozoic. iv. 13). But as we have no historical account of the kind in connection with the Canaanite races, the expression here used is scarcely to be taken literally. Probably the Egyptians are the hornets intended. It was they who, under Rameses III., broke the power of the Hittites and other nations of Palestine, while the Israelites were sojourners in the wilderness. Possibly the term was chosen in reference to the hieroglyphic sign for “king” in Egypt, which was the figure of a bee or wasp. The author of the Book of Wisdom seems, however, to have understood the expression literally (Wis 12:8-9).
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Exodus 23:28
Verse 28. I will send hornets before thee] הצרעה hatstsirah. The root is not found in Hebrew, but it may be the same with the Arabic [Arabic] saraa, to lay prostrate, to strike down; the hornet, probably so called from the destruction occasioned by the violence of its sting. The hornet, in natural history, belongs to the species crabro, of the genus vespa or wasp; it is a most voracious insect, and is exceedingly strong for its size, which is generally an inch in length, though I have seen some an inch and a half long, and so strong that, having caught one in a small pair of forceps, it repeatedly escaped by using violent contortions, so that at last I was obliged to abandon all hopes of securing it alive, which I wished to have done. How distressing and destructive a multitude of these might be, any person may conjecture; even the bees of one hive would be sufficient to sting a thousand men to madness, but how much worse must wasps and hornets be! No armour, no weapons, could avail against these. A few thousands of them would be quite sufficient to throw the best disciplined army into confusion and rout. From Joshua 24:12, we find that two kings of the Amorites were actually driven out of the land by these hornets, so that the Israelites were not obliged to use either sword or bow in the conquest.
Cambridge Bible on Exodus 23:28
28. the hornet] so Deuteronomy 7:20; Joshua 24:12 (E). The writer imagines swarms of this terrible insect employed to clear the Canaanites away before Israel, and expel them even from their hiding-places (see Dt. l.c.). the Hivite, &c.] see on Exodus 3:8.
Barnes' Notes on Exodus 23:28
Hornets - Compare the marginal references. The word is used figuratively for a cause of terror and discouragement. Bees are spoken of in the like sense, Deuteronomy 1:44; Psalms 118:12.
Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 23:28
28. I will send hornets before thee — There is no necessity to explain this literally, and there is no evidence that any such miracle as the driving out of the Canaanites by swarms of hornets
Sermons on Exodus 23:28
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Vanguard and Rereward of the Church by C.H. Spurgeon | In this sermon, the preacher begins by describing the victory of Zion over its oppressors, emphasizing the power of God in saving and freeing the people. The sermon then shifts to |
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God's Hornets by C.H. Spurgeon | C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes that God sends His own forces, likened to 'hornets', to prepare the way for His people, ensuring their victory over adversaries without direct confrontatio |