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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God speaks to the Israelites through Moses on the plains of Moab, immediately before the conquest of Canaan. He establishes the territorial conditions that must be met after the land is divided by lot.

The words — The verb תוֹרִישׁוּ (to.Ri.shu) literally means "you will dispossess," and יֹשְׁבֵי (yo.she.Vei) denotes the "inhabitants" or "dwellers" of the land. These terms specify complete removal rather than partial accommodation.

The thread — The same warning appears in Judges 2:3 where God declares the remaining peoples will become thorns, and is referenced in Joshua 23:12 regarding the consequences of intermarriage with those left behind. Psalms 106:34 records the historical failure to execute this command.

Why it lands — The text requires immediate and total separation from the land's existing populations to prevent future harassment and spiritual compromise. It demands decisive obedience now to avoid the divine judgment outlined in the surrounding verses.

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

וְאִם־ve./'im-and/ if לֹ֨אlo'not תוֹרִ֜ישׁוּto.Ri.shuyou will dispossess אֶת־'et-<obj.>יֹשְׁבֵ֣יyo.she.Vei[the] inhabitants of הָאָרֶץ֮ha./'a.Retzthe/ land מִפְּנֵיכֶם֒mi./pe.nei./Khemfrom/ before/ you וְהָיָה֙ve./ha.Yahand/ he will become אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sher[those] whom תּוֹתִ֣ירוּto.Ti.ruyou will leaveמֵהֶ֔םme./Hemany of <the>/ themלְשִׂכִּים֙le./si.Kim<into>/ thorns בְּעֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔םbe./'Ei.nei./Khemin/ view/ your וְלִצְנִינִ֖םve./li/tz.ni.Nimand/ <into>/ pricks בְּצִדֵּיכֶ֑םbe./tzi.dei./Khemin/ sides/ your וְצָרֲר֣וּve./tza.ra.Ruand/ they will oppose אֶתְכֶ֔ם'et./Khem<obj.>/ you עַל־'al-on הָאָ֕רֶץha./'A.retzthe/ land אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhich אַתֶּ֖ם'a.Temyou יֹשְׁבִ֥יםyo.she.Vim[will be] dwellingבָּֽהּ׃Ba/hin <the>/ it

King James Version

But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.

Cross-references

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.”
Psalms 106:34 They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them,
Joshua 23:12 For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them,
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.
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 7:4 because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.
Judges 1:21 The Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the Benjamites.
Ezekiel 28:24 For the people of Israel will no longer face a pricking brier or a painful thorn from all around them who treat them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.’