Exodus 34:16 - and you take of their daughters to your sons, and their daughters play the prostitute after their gods, and make your sons play the prostitute after their gods.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Exodus 34:16" mean?
This verse from Exodus 34:16 is a warning against intermarriage with the people who inhabit the land the Israelites are about to enter. Let's break down what it means:
"and you take of their daughters to your sons": This refers to intermarriage. The Israelites are being warned against marrying the daughters of the people they will encounter in Canaan.
"and their daughters play the prostitute after their gods": This is the core of the warning. The phrase "play the prostitute after their gods" is a metaphor, though in some ancient near eastern religions, temple prostitution was literal. More broadly, it means to be unfaithful to the covenant relationship with the God of Israel by worshipping other gods. The daughters of the foreign nations, raised in the worship of their own deities, will lead the Israelite men astray, enticing them to participate in pagan rituals and idolatry.
"and make your sons play the prostitute after their gods": This is the feared consequence of intermarriage. The foreign wives will influence their Israelite husbands and sons, leading them to abandon the worship of the God of Israel and instead worship the pagan gods. Again, the phrase is a metaphor, implying spiritual unfaithfulness.
In essence, the verse is a warning against religious syncretism (mixing of religions). The Israelites were commanded to remain separate from the surrounding nations in order to maintain their unique identity as the chosen people and to avoid being corrupted by pagan practices. Intermarriage was seen as a direct threat to their faith and covenant relationship with God.
Underlying Reasons:
Religious Purity: The primary concern was maintaining the purity of the Israelite faith and avoiding the worship of false gods.
Cultural Identity: Intermarriage could lead to the loss of Israel's unique cultural and religious identity.
Covenant with God: The Israelites had a covenant with God that required them to worship Him alone. Intermarriage threatened to break that covenant.
It's important to remember that this verse is part of a larger narrative in the book of Exodus. It reflects the specific concerns and context of the time. Modern interpretations of this passage can vary, but the historical context is crucial to understanding its original meaning.
Exodus 34:16 - and you take of their daughters to your sons, and their daughters play the prostitute after their gods, and make your sons play the prostitute after their gods.
What does "Exodus 34:16" mean?
This verse from Exodus 34:16 is a warning against intermarriage with the people who inhabit the land the Israelites are about to enter. Let's break down what it means:
"and you take of their daughters to your sons": This refers to intermarriage. The Israelites are being warned against marrying the daughters of the people they will encounter in Canaan.
"and their daughters play the prostitute after their gods": This is the core of the warning. The phrase "play the prostitute after their gods" is a metaphor, though in some ancient near eastern religions, temple prostitution was literal. More broadly, it means to be unfaithful to the covenant relationship with the God of Israel by worshipping other gods. The daughters of the foreign nations, raised in the worship of their own deities, will lead the Israelite men astray, enticing them to participate in pagan rituals and idolatry.
"and make your sons play the prostitute after their gods": This is the feared consequence of intermarriage. The foreign wives will influence their Israelite husbands and sons, leading them to abandon the worship of the God of Israel and instead worship the pagan gods. Again, the phrase is a metaphor, implying spiritual unfaithfulness.
In essence, the verse is a warning against religious syncretism (mixing of religions). The Israelites were commanded to remain separate from the surrounding nations in order to maintain their unique identity as the chosen people and to avoid being corrupted by pagan practices. Intermarriage was seen as a direct threat to their faith and covenant relationship with God.
Underlying Reasons:
Religious Purity: The primary concern was maintaining the purity of the Israelite faith and avoiding the worship of false gods.
Cultural Identity: Intermarriage could lead to the loss of Israel's unique cultural and religious identity.
Covenant with God: The Israelites had a covenant with God that required them to worship Him alone. Intermarriage threatened to break that covenant.
It's important to remember that this verse is part of a larger narrative in the book of Exodus. It reflects the specific concerns and context of the time. Modern interpretations of this passage can vary, but the historical context is crucial to understanding its original meaning.