Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 11:23
then the LORD will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and stronger than you.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites on the plains of Moab, immediately following the covenant conditions of Deuteronomy 11:22 and preceding the territorial promise of Deuteronomy 11:24. He presents the transition from wilderness wandering to Canaanite conquest as a conditional outcome of covenant obedience.
The words — The verse employs הוֹרִישׁ (ho.Rish) for "he will dispossess" and וִֽירִשְׁתֶּ֣ם (vi./rish.Tem) for "you will dispossess," both conveying the act of driving out inhabitants to take possession. The parallel structure places divine action first, followed by the people's corresponding action.
The thread — This sequence of God removing nations so Israel can inherit their land recurs in Deuteronomy 4:38, Deuteronomy 9:1, and Exodus 23:27. Each reference ties territorial acquisition directly to divine intervention rather than human military capability.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge that conquest and settlement depend on prior obedience to God's commandments. It demands a practical reliance on divine initiative before any human effort to secure the promised land.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then will the Lord drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 4:38 to drive out before you nations greater and mightier than you, and to bring you into their land and give it to you for your inheritance, as it is this day.
- Deuteronomy 9:1 Hear, O Israel: Today you are about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities fortified to the heavens.
- Exodus 23:27 I will send My terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn and run.
- Exodus 34:11 Observe what I command you this day. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
- Deuteronomy 7:1 When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you—
- Deuteronomy 7:22 The LORD your God will drive out these nations before you little by little. You will not be enabled to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals would multiply around you.
- Deuteronomy 9:5 It is not because of your righteousness or uprightness of heart that you are going in to possess their land, but it is because of their wickedness that the LORD your God is driving out these nations before you, to keep the promise He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.