Bible Strands
Exodus 23:20
Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God addresses Israel during the wilderness transit, immediately following regulations on firstfruits and dietary law. The declaration functions as a transitional promise before the people enter the land.
The words — מַלְאָךְ (mal.'oKh) denotes an angelic messenger, while שֹׁלֵ֤חַ (sho.Le.ach) emphasizes God's deliberate act of sending him. The phrase לִ/שְׁמָרְ/ךָ֖ (li/sh.ma.re./Kha) literally means to guard or protect the addressee along the journey.
The thread — The promise resurfaces in Exodus 32:34 as a repeated pledge to lead the people forward. It parallels Psalm 91:11 regarding angelic protection and anticipates the Lord's personal presence in Exodus 33:14.
Why it lands — The text states that God will deploy a protective guide to deliver Israel to a prepared destination. Readers must accept the angel's authority and recognize that divine provision is contingent on following the appointed path.
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
Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
Cross-references
- Exodus 33:14 And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
- Psalms 91:11 For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
- Exodus 32:34 Now go, lead the people to the place I described. Behold, My angel shall go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will punish them for their sin.”
- Exodus 14:19 And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them,
- Exodus 33:2 And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
- Isaiah 63:9 In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
- John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.
- Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.
- Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
- Numbers 20:16 and when we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory.