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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Exodus 23:24 You must not bow down to their gods or serve them or follow their practices. Instead, you are to demolish them and smash their sacred stones to pieces.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/23-24.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/02_Exo_23_24.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 23:24 - God's Angel to Lead" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="You must not bow down to their gods or serve them or follow their practices. Instead, you are to demolish them and smash their sacred stones to pieces." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/exodus/23-24.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/exodus/23-24.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/exodus/">Exodus</a> > <a href="/exodus/23.htm">Chapter 23</a> > Verse 24</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad4.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/exodus/23-23.htm" title="Exodus 23:23">◄</a> Exodus 23:24 <a href="/exodus/23-25.htm" title="Exodus 23:25">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/exodus/23.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/exodus/23.htm">New International Version</a> Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces. <a href="/nlt/exodus/23.htm">New Living Translation</a> You must not worship the gods of these nations or serve them in any way or imitate their evil practices. Instead, you must utterly destroy them and smash their sacred pillars. <a href="/esv/exodus/23.htm">English Standard Version</a> you shall not bow down to their gods nor serve them, nor do as they do, but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their pillars in pieces. <a href="/bsb/exodus/23.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> You must not bow down to their gods or serve them or follow their practices. Instead, you are to demolish them and smash their sacred stones to pieces. <a href="/kjv/exodus/23.htm">King James Bible</a> Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images. <a href="/nkjv/exodus/23.htm">New King James Version</a> You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars. <a href="/nasb_/exodus/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> You shall not worship their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their deeds; but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their memorial stones in pieces. <a href="/nasb/exodus/23.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220You shall not worship their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their deeds; but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their sacred pillars in pieces. <a href="/nasb77/exodus/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “You shall not worship their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their deeds; but you shall utterly overthrow them, and break their sacred pillars in pieces. <a href="/lsb/exodus/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> You shall not worship their gods, you shall not serve them, and you shall not do according to their deeds; but you shall utterly pull them down and shatter their sacred pillars in pieces. <a href="/amp/exodus/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a> You shall not bow down to worship their gods, nor serve them, nor do [anything] in accordance with their practices. You shall completely overthrow them and break down their [sacred] pillars and images [of pagan worship]. <a href="/csb/exodus/23.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Do not bow in worship to their gods, and do not serve them. Do not imitate their practices. Instead, demolish them and smash their sacred pillars to pieces. <a href="/hcsb/exodus/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> You must not bow down to their gods or worship them. Do not imitate their practices. Instead, demolish them and smash their sacred pillars to pieces. <a href="/asv/exodus/23.htm">American Standard Version</a> Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works; but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and break in pieces their pillars. <a href="/cev/exodus/23.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Don't worship their gods or follow their customs. Instead, destroy their idols and shatter their stone images. <a href="/erv/exodus/23.htm">English Revised Version</a> Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and break in pieces their pillars. <a href="/gwt/exodus/23.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Never worship or serve their gods or follow their practices. Instead, you must destroy their gods and crush their sacred stones. <a href="/gnt/exodus/23.htm">Good News Translation</a> Do not bow down to their gods or worship them, and do not adopt their religious practices. Destroy their gods and break down their sacred stone pillars. <a href="/isv/exodus/23.htm">International Standard Version</a> You are not to bow down to their gods or serve them. You are not to follow their practices, but you are to overthrow them completely and smash their sacred stones to pieces. <a href="/msb/exodus/23.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> You must not bow down to their gods or serve them or follow their practices. Instead, you are to demolish them and smash their sacred stones to pieces. <a href="/net/exodus/23.htm">NET Bible</a> "You must not bow down to their gods; you must not serve them or do according to their practices. Instead you must completely overthrow them and smash their standing stones to pieces. <a href="/nheb/exodus/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor follow their practices, but you shall utterly overthrow them and demolish their pillars. <a href="/wbt/exodus/23.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images. <a href="/web/exodus/23.htm">World English Bible</a> You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor follow their practices, but you shall utterly overthrow them and demolish their pillars. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/exodus/23.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> You do not bow yourself to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their doings, but utterly devote them, and thoroughly break their standing pillars. <a href="/ylt/exodus/23.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'Thou dost not bow thyself to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their doings, but dost utterly devote them, and thoroughly break their standing pillars. <a href="/slt/exodus/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Thou shalt not worship to their gods, and thou shalt not serve them, and thou shalt not do according to their works: for destroying, thou shalt destroy them, and breaking, thou shalt break in pieces their pillars.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/exodus/23.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Thou shalt not adore their gods, nor serve them. Thou shalt not do their works, but shalt destroy them, and break their statues. <a href="/cpdv/exodus/23.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> You shall not adore their gods, nor worship them. You shall not do their works, but you shall destroy them and break apart their statues. <a href="/nabre/exodus/23.htm">New American Bible</a> Therefore, you shall not bow down to their gods and serve them, nor shall you act as they do; rather, you must demolish them and smash their sacred stones. <a href="/nrsvce/exodus/23.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> you shall not bow down to their gods, or worship them, or follow their practices, but you shall utterly demolish them and break their pillars in pieces.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/exodus/23.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> You shall not worship their gods nor serve them nor do after their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and break down their statues. <a href="/hpbt/exodus/23.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> You shall not worship their gods and you shall not serve them, neither shall you do according to their works, but certainly cast them down and certainly break their monuments.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/exodus/23.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their doings; but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and break in pieces their pillars. <a href="/sep/exodus/23.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> Thou shalt not worship their gods, nor serve them: thou shalt not do according to their works, but shalt utterly destroy them, and break to pieces their pillars. <a href="/parallel/exodus/23-24.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=5939" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/exodus/23.htm">God's Angel to Lead</a> …23For My angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and I will annihilate them. 24<a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">You must not</a> <a href="/hebrew/7812.htm" title="7812: ṯiš·ta·ḥă·weh (V-Hitpael-Imperf-2ms) -- To bow down. A primitive root; to depress, i.e. Prostrate.">bow down</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: lê·lō·hê·hem (Prep-l:: N-mpc:: 3mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">to their gods</a> <a href="/hebrew/5647.htm" title="5647: ṯā·‘ā·ḇə·ḏêm (V-Hofal-Imperf-2ms:: 3mp) -- To work, serve. A primitive root; to work; by implication, to serve, till, enslave, etc.">or serve them</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">or</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ṯa·‘ă·śeh (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">follow</a> <a href="/hebrew/4639.htm" title="4639: kə·ma·‘ă·śê·hem (Prep-k:: N-mpc:: 3mp) -- A deed, work. From asah; an action; generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product or property.">their practices.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">Instead,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2040.htm" title="2040: hā·rês (V-Piel-InfAbs) -- To throw down, break or tear down. A primitive root; to pull down or in pieces, break, &? Destroy.">you are to demolish them</a> <a href="/hebrew/2040.htm" title="2040: tə·hā·rə·sêm (V-Piel-Imperf-2ms:: 3mp) -- To throw down, break or tear down. A primitive root; to pull down or in pieces, break, &? Destroy."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4676.htm" title="4676: maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·ṯê·hem (N-fpc:: 3mp) -- A pillar, stump. Feminine participle of natsab; something stationed, i.e. A column or; by analogy, an idol.">and smash their sacred stones</a> <a href="/hebrew/7665.htm" title="7665: wə·šab·bêr (Conj-w:: V-Piel-InfAbs) -- To break, break in pieces. A primitive root; to burst.">to pieces.</a> <a href="/hebrew/7665.htm" title="7665: tə·šab·bêr (V-Piel-Imperf-2ms) -- To break, break in pieces. A primitive root; to burst."></a> 25So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take away sickness from among you.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/deuteronomy/7-5.htm">Deuteronomy 7:5</a> Instead, this is what you are to do to them: tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their idols in the fire. <a href="/deuteronomy/12-3.htm">Deuteronomy 12:3</a> Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, burn up their Asherah poles, cut down the idols of their gods, and wipe out their names from every place. <a href="/judges/2-2.htm">Judges 2:2</a> and you are not to make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall tear down their altars.’ Yet you have not obeyed My voice. What is this you have done? <a href="/2_kings/18-4.htm">2 Kings 18:4</a> He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze snake called Nehushtan that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had burned incense to it. <a href="/2_chronicles/14-3.htm">2 Chronicles 14:3</a> He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles. <a href="/2_chronicles/31-1.htm">2 Chronicles 31:1</a> When all this had ended, the Israelites in attendance went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the Israelites returned to their cities, each to his own property. <a href="/isaiah/30-22.htm">Isaiah 30:22</a> So you will desecrate your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, saying to them, “Be gone!” <a href="/jeremiah/10-11.htm">Jeremiah 10:11</a> Thus you are to tell them: “These gods, who have made neither the heavens nor the earth, will perish from this earth and from under these heavens.” <a href="/jeremiah/16-19.htm">Jeremiah 16:19-20</a> O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing but lies, worthless idols of no benefit at all. / Can man make gods for himself? Such are not gods!” <a href="/hosea/2-17.htm">Hosea 2:17</a> For I will remove from her lips the names of the Baals; no longer will their names be invoked. <a href="/micah/5-13.htm">Micah 5:13-14</a> I will also cut off the carved images and sacred pillars from among you, so that you will no longer bow down to the work of your own hands. / I will root out the Asherah poles from your midst and demolish your cities. <a href="/acts/14-15.htm">Acts 14:15</a> “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. <a href="/acts/17-16.htm">Acts 17:16</a> While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols. <a href="/acts/19-26.htm">Acts 19:26</a> And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, this Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. <a href="/romans/1-21.htm">Romans 1:21-23</a> For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but you shall utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.shalt not<a href="/exodus/20-5.htm">Exodus 20:5</a> Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;do after<a href="/leviticus/18-3.htm">Leviticus 18:3,26-30</a> After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances… <a href="/deuteronomy/12-30.htm">Deuteronomy 12:30,31</a> Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise… <a href="/2_chronicles/33-2.htm">2 Chronicles 33:2,9</a> But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel… overthrow<a href="/exodus/32-20.htm">Exodus 32:20</a> And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.<a href="/exodus/34-13.htm">Exodus 34:13,14</a> But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: … <a href="/numbers/33-52.htm">Numbers 33:52</a> Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/20-5.htm">Bow</a> <a href="/exodus/22-6.htm">Break</a> <a href="/exodus/15-6.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/exodus/23-23.htm">Completely</a> <a href="/exodus/15-11.htm">Deeds</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/10-5.htm">Demolish</a> <a href="/exodus/23-23.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/exodus/13-12.htm">Devote</a> <a href="/genesis/31-49.htm">Doings</a> <a href="/exodus/20-20.htm">Faces</a> <a href="/exodus/23-2.htm">Follow</a> <a href="/exodus/23-13.htm">Gods</a> <a href="/genesis/31-35.htm">Images</a> <a href="/exodus/18-11.htm">Overcome</a> <a href="/exodus/15-7.htm">Overthrow</a> <a href="/exodus/22-31.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/revelation/10-1.htm">Pillars</a> <a href="/revelation/22-15.htm">Practices</a> <a href="/exodus/18-18.htm">Quite</a> <a href="/exodus/12-16.htm">Sacred</a> <a href="/exodus/21-6.htm">Serve</a> <a href="/haggai/2-22.htm">Shatter</a> <a href="/micah/5-13.htm">Statues</a> <a href="/exodus/20-25.htm">Stones</a> <a href="/exodus/21-19.htm">Thoroughly</a> <a href="/exodus/20-5.htm">Thyself</a> <a href="/exodus/22-20.htm">Utterly</a> <a href="/exodus/23-16.htm">Works</a> <a href="/exodus/20-5.htm">Worship</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/32-8.htm">Bow</a> <a href="/exodus/32-2.htm">Break</a> <a href="/exodus/28-32.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/exodus/28-31.htm">Completely</a> <a href="/numbers/14-33.htm">Deeds</a> <a href="/exodus/34-13.htm">Demolish</a> <a href="/exodus/23-27.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/exodus/30-16.htm">Devote</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-3.htm">Doings</a> <a href="/exodus/25-20.htm">Faces</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-3.htm">Follow</a> <a href="/exodus/23-32.htm">Gods</a> <a href="/exodus/34-13.htm">Images</a> <a href="/exodus/32-18.htm">Overcome</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/12-3.htm">Overthrow</a> <a href="/exodus/28-7.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/exodus/24-4.htm">Pillars</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-3.htm">Practices</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-3.htm">Quite</a> <a href="/exodus/28-2.htm">Sacred</a> <a href="/exodus/23-25.htm">Serve</a> <a href="/exodus/34-13.htm">Shatter</a> <a href="/exodus/34-13.htm">Statues</a> <a href="/exodus/24-12.htm">Stones</a> <a href="/numbers/13-30.htm">Thoroughly</a> <a href="/exodus/34-2.htm">Thyself</a> <a href="/leviticus/13-44.htm">Utterly</a> <a href="/exodus/31-4.htm">Works</a> <a href="/exodus/23-25.htm">Worship</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 23</div>1. <a href="/exodus/23-1.htm">Of slander, false witness, and partiality</a> 4. <a href="/exodus/23-4.htm">Of charitableness</a> 6. <a href="/exodus/23-6.htm">Of justice in judgment</a> 8. <a href="/exodus/23-8.htm">Of taking bribes</a> 9. <a href="/exodus/23-9.htm">Of oppressing a stranger</a> 10. <a href="/exodus/23-10.htm">Of the year of rest</a> 12. <a href="/exodus/23-12.htm">Of the Sabbath</a> 13. <a href="/exodus/23-13.htm">Of idolatry</a> 14. <a href="/exodus/23-14.htm">Of the three feasts</a> 18. <a href="/exodus/23-18.htm">Of the blood and the fat of the sacrifice</a> 20. <a href="/exodus/23-20.htm">An angel is promised, with a blessing, if they obey him</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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In the ancient Near East, polytheism was prevalent, and the Israelites were surrounded by nations worshiping multiple deities. Bowing down signifies submission and reverence, which God reserves for Himself alone (<a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3-5</a>). This prohibition is a call to maintain spiritual purity and allegiance to Yahweh, rejecting the idolatry that could lead them astray.or serve them Serving other gods implies engaging in rituals, sacrifices, and practices dedicated to these deities. This service often included acts that were morally and spiritually corrupt, such as child sacrifice or temple prostitution, which were common in Canaanite religion. The Israelites are reminded that their service is to be directed solely to God, as seen in the Shema (<a href="/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Deuteronomy 6:4-5</a>), which calls for love and service to God with all one's heart, soul, and strength.or follow their practices The practices of the surrounding nations often included detestable acts in the sight of God (<a href="/deuteronomy/18-9.htm">Deuteronomy 18:9-12</a>). These practices could include divination, sorcery, and other forms of occultism. The Israelites are warned not to adopt these customs, as they are contrary to the holiness God requires. This call to separation is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are urged not to conform to the patterns of this world (<a href="/romans/12-2.htm">Romans 12:2</a>).Instead, you are to demolish them The command to demolish the idols and places of worship of other gods is a call to eradicate the influence of idolatry completely. This action symbolizes a total rejection and cleansing of anything that could lead the Israelites away from God. It reflects the seriousness with which God views idolatry and the need for His people to be distinct and set apart (<a href="/leviticus/20-26.htm">Leviticus 20:26</a>).and smash their sacred stones to pieces Sacred stones, or standing stones, were often used in pagan worship as symbols of the deities or as altars. By smashing these stones, the Israelites were to make a public declaration of the powerlessness of these gods and the supremacy of Yahweh. This act of destruction is a physical manifestation of spiritual warfare, prefiguring the ultimate victory over sin and idolatry through Jesus Christ, who is the cornerstone of faith (<a href="/1_peter/2-6.htm">1 Peter 2:6-8</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a> The chosen people of God, who are being instructed on how to live in the Promised Land. 2. <a href="/topical/c/canaanite_nations.htm">Canaanite Nations</a> The inhabitants of the land that the Israelites are entering, who worship false gods and engage in idolatrous practices. 3. <a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God (Yahweh)</a> The one true God who commands the Israelites to remain faithful to Him and reject the idolatry of the surrounding nations. 4. <a href="/topical/p/promised_land.htm">Promised Land</a> The land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 5. <a href="/topical/i/idolatry.htm">Idolatry</a> The worship of false gods, which is strictly forbidden by God and is a central issue in this passage.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/e/exclusive_worship.htm">Exclusive Worship</a> God demands exclusive worship and loyalty. Just as the Israelites were to reject the gods of the Canaanites, Christians today must reject anything that competes with their devotion to God. <a href="/topical/s/spiritual_warfare.htm">Spiritual Warfare</a> The command to demolish and smash sacred stones symbolizes the spiritual warfare believers engage in against sin and idolatry in their lives. <a href="/topical/h/holiness_and_separation.htm">Holiness and Separation</a> Believers are called to be holy and separate from the world, not conforming to its practices but living according to God's standards. <a href="/topical/v/vigilance_against_idolatry.htm">Vigilance Against Idolatry</a> Idolatry can take many forms, including materialism, power, and self-worship. Christians must be vigilant in identifying and removing these idols from their lives. <a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">Obedience to God's Commands</a> The Israelites' success in the Promised Land depended on their obedience to God's commands. Similarly, Christians are called to obey God's Word to experience His blessings.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_exodus_23.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 23</a> <a href="/q/what_does_submission_mean.htm">What are Firstfruits to God?</a> <a href="/q/why_avoid_eating_livestock_in_wilderness.htm">Why didn't Israelites eat their livestock in the wilderness?</a> <a href="/q/is_your_name_to_be_revered.htm">What defines unbiblical worship practices?</a> <a href="/q/how_does_joshua_24_14-15_reconcile_idolatry.htm">Joshua 24:14-15 - How does this pledge to exclusively serve the Lord reconcile with the later biblical narratives showing continued idolatry in Israel?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/23.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(24) Nor do after their works.--The Canaanitish nations were not merely idolaters, they were corrupt, profligate, and depraved. All the abominations mentioned in <a href="/context/leviticus/18-6.htm" title="None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.">Leviticus 18:6-23</a> were practised widely among them before they were dispossessed of their territory (<a href="/context/leviticus/18-24.htm" title="Defile not you yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:">Leviticus 18:24-30</a>). No doubt the idolatry and the profligacy were closely connected, as among idolatrous nations generally; but it was for their profligacy rather than their idolatry that they were driven out. Thus it was necessary to warn Israel against both.Thou shalt . . . quite break down their images.--Conquerors generally preserved the idols of the conquered nations as trophies of victory; to do so was forbidden to the Israelites. Idolatry had such a powerful and subtle attraction for them, that there was danger of their being seduced into it unless the entire apparatus of the idol-worship were destroyed and made away with. Hence the present injunctions, and others similar to them. (Comp. <a href="/exodus/34-13.htm" title="But you shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:">Exodus 34:13</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/7-5.htm" title="But thus shall you deal with them; you shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.">Deuteronomy 7:5</a>; &c.)<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/23.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 24. - Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works. It is always to be borne in mind that with the idolatries of the heathen were connected "works of darkness," which it is shameful even to speak cf. The rites of Baal and Ashtoreth, of Chemosh, Molech, Rimmon, and the other Canaanite and Syrian deities were at once defiled by the abomination of human sacrifices, and polluted with the still more debasing evil of religious impurity. "The sacrifice offered to Ash-toreth," says Dr. Dollinger, "consisted in the prostitution of women: the women submitted themselves to the visitors of the feast, in the temple of the goddess or the adjoining precinct. A legend told of Astarte (Ashtoreth) having prostituted herself in Tyre for ten years: and in many places matrons, as well as maidens, consecrated themselves for a length of time, or on the festivals of the goddess, with a view of propitiating her, or earning her favour as hieroduli of unchastity... In this way they went so far at last as to contemplate the abominations of unnatural lust as a homage rendered to the deity, and to exalt it into a regular cultus. The worship of the goddess at Aphaca in Lebanon was specially notorious in this respect. The temple in a solitary situation was, as Eusebius tells us, a place of evil-doing for such as chose to ruin their bodies in scandalous ways... Criminal intercourse with women, impurity, shameful and degrading deeds, were practised in the temple, where there was no custom and no law, and no honourable or decent human being could be found." (Jew and Gentile, vol. 1. pp. 428, 429; Darnell's translation.) Thou shalt utterly overthrow them. The heathen gods are identified with their images. These were to be torn from their bases, overthrown, and rolled in the dust for greater contempt and ignominy. They were then to be broken up and burnt, till the gold and the silver with which they were overlaid was calcined and could be stamped to powder. Nothing was to be spared that had been degraded by idolatry, either for its beauty or its elaborate workmanship, or its value. All was hateful to God, and was to be destroyed. <a href="/commentaries/exodus/23-24.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>You must not לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no bow down תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֤ה (ṯiš·ta·ḥă·weh) Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7812.htm">Strong's 7812: </a> To depress, prostrate to their gods לֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶם֙ (lê·lō·hê·hem) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative or serve them תָֽעָבְדֵ֔ם (ṯā·‘ā·ḇə·ḏêm) Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5647.htm">Strong's 5647: </a> To work, to serve, till, enslave or וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no follow תַעֲשֶׂ֖ה (ṯa·‘ă·śeh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> To do, make their practices. כְּמַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑ם (kə·ma·‘ă·śê·hem) Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4639.htm">Strong's 4639: </a> An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property Instead, כִּ֤י (kî) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction you are to demolish them הָרֵס֙ (hā·rês) Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2040.htm">Strong's 2040: </a> To pull down, in pieces, break, & destroy and smash their sacred stones מַצֵּבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ (maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·ṯê·hem) Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4676.htm">Strong's 4676: </a> Something stationed, a column, an idol to pieces. וְשַׁבֵּ֥ר (wə·šab·bêr) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7665.htm">Strong's 7665: </a> To break, break in pieces <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/23-24.htm">Exodus 23:24 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/exodus/23-24.htm">Exodus 23:24 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/exodus/23-24.htm">Exodus 23:24 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/exodus/23-24.htm">Exodus 23:24 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/exodus/23-24.htm">Exodus 23:24 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/23-24.htm">Exodus 23:24 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/23-24.htm">Exodus 23:24 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/23-24.htm">Exodus 23:24 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/23-24.htm">Exodus 23:24 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/exodus/23-24.htm">Exodus 23:24 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/exodus/23-24.htm">OT Law: Exodus 23:24 You shall not bow down to their (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/23-23.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 23:23"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 23:23" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/23-25.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 23:25"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 23:25" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>