Judges 2:3

So now I tell you that I will not drive out these people before you; they will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The angel of the LORD addresses the Israelites immediately after they violated His command to tear down Canaanite altars and refuse covenants with them. This declaration occurs at the moment of their collective weeping following the prior pronouncement.

The words — The Hebrew אֲגָרֵשׁ ('a.ga.Resh) means "I will drive out," combined with לֹֽא (lo'-) "not" to form a definitive declaration of withheld judgment. The phrase לְ/צִדִּ֔ים (le./tzi.Dim) literally renders "sides," indicating the persistent, irritating presence of the remaining nations.

The thread — The identical warning appears in Numbers 33:55 regarding remaining inhabitants becoming barbs and thorns, and is reiterated in Joshua 23:13 where the Lord declares He will no longer drive out the nations. Psalm 106:36 later confirms the fulfillment of this warning as Israel's worship of idols becomes a snare.

Why it lands — The text states that partial obedience results in prolonged exposure to hostile cultures and idolatrous systems. It demands complete separation from any practice that compromises exclusive loyalty to God.

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

וְגַ֣םve./Gamand/ also אָמַ֔רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiI say לֹֽא־lo'-not אֲגָרֵ֥שׁ'a.ga.ReshI will drive out אוֹתָ֖ם'o.Ta/m<obj.>/ them מִפְּנֵיכֶ֑םmi./pe.nei./Khemfrom/ before/ you וְהָי֤וּve./ha.Yuand/ they will becomeלָכֶם֙la./Khemfor <the>/ youלְצִדִּ֔יםle./tzi.Dim<into>/ sides וֵאלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔םve./Lo.hei./Hemand/ gods/ their יִהְי֥וּyih.Yuthey will becomeלָכֶ֖םla./Khemfor <the>/ youלְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃le./mo.Kesh<into>/ a snare

King James Version

Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

Cross-references

Joshua 23:13 know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.
Numbers 33:55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides; they will harass you in the land where you settle.
Psalms 106:36 They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.
Exodus 23:33 They must not remain in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”
Deuteronomy 7:16 You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God will deliver to you. Do not look on them with pity. Do not worship their gods, for that will be a snare to you.
Judges 3:6 And they took the daughters of these people in marriage, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
Exodus 34:12 Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest they become a snare in your midst.
Judges 2:21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died.
1 Kings 11:1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women.