CINXE.COM

<!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>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.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/numbers/33-55.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/04_Num_33_55.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Numbers 33:55 - Instructions for Occupying Canaan" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="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." /><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/numbers/33-55.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/numbers/33-55.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="/numbers/">Numbers</a> > <a href="/numbers/33.htm">Chapter 33</a> > Verse 55</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="/ad15.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="/numbers/33-54.htm" title="Numbers 33:54">◄</a> Numbers 33:55 <a href="/numbers/33-56.htm" title="Numbers 33:56">►</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/numbers/33.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/numbers/33.htm">New International Version</a> &#8220&#8217But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. <a href="/nlt/numbers/33.htm">New Living Translation</a> But if you fail to drive out the people who live in the land, those who remain will be like splinters in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will harass you in the land where you live. <a href="/esv/numbers/33.htm">English Standard Version</a> But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. <a href="/bsb/numbers/33.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> 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. <a href="/kjv/numbers/33.htm">King James Bible</a> 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. <a href="/nkjv/numbers/33.htm">New King James Version</a> But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. <a href="/nasb_/numbers/33.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from you, then it will come about that those whom you let remain of them will be like thorns in your eyes and like pricks in your sides, and they will trouble you in the land in which you live. <a href="/nasb/numbers/33.htm">NASB 1995</a> But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come about that those whom you let remain of them will become as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they will trouble you in the land in which you live. <a href="/nasb77/numbers/33.htm">NASB 1977 </a> ‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come about that those whom you let remain of them will become as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land in which you live. <a href="/lsb/numbers/33.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> But if you do not dispossess the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it will be that those whom you let remain of them will become as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they will trouble you in the land which you inhabit. <a href="/amp/numbers/33.htm">Amplified Bible</a> But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those you let remain of them will be like pricks in your eyes and like thorns in your sides, and they will attack you in the land in which you live. <a href="/csb/numbers/33.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> But if you don’t drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those you allow to remain will become barbs for your eyes and thorns for your sides; they will harass you in the land where you will live. <a href="/hcsb/numbers/33.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> But if you don&#8217t drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those you allow to remain will become thorns in your eyes and in your sides; they will harass you in the land where you will live. <a href="/asv/numbers/33.htm">American Standard Version</a> But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then shall those that ye let remain of them be as pricks in your eyes, and as thorns in your sides, and they shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. <a href="/cev/numbers/33.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> If you don't force out all the people there, they will be like splinters in your eyes and thorns in your back. They will always be trouble for you, <a href="/erv/numbers/33.htm">English Revised Version</a> But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then shall those which ye let remain of them be as pricks in your eyes, and as thorns in your sides, and they shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. <a href="/gwt/numbers/33.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> " 'But if you do not force out those who live in the land, they will be like splinters in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will constantly fight with you over the land you live in. <a href="/gnt/numbers/33.htm">Good News Translation</a> But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those that are left will be as troublesome as splinters in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will fight against you. <a href="/isv/numbers/33.htm">International Standard Version</a> But if you fail to drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, their survivors will become irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, to prick your sides and afflict you in the very land in which you'll be living. <a href="/msb/numbers/33.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> 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. <a href="/net/numbers/33.htm">NET Bible</a> But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, then those whom you allow to remain will be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your side, and will cause you trouble in the land where you will be living. <a href="/nheb/numbers/33.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> "But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those you let remain of them will be as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they will harass you in the land in which you dwell. <a href="/wbt/numbers/33.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> 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 prickles in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall harass you in the land in which ye dwell. <a href="/web/numbers/33.htm">World English Bible</a> “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those you let remain of them will be like pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will harass you in the land in which you dwell. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/numbers/33.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And if you do not dispossess the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it has been [that] those whom you let remain of them [are] for pricks in your eyes and for thorns in your sides, and they have distressed you on the land in which you are dwelling, <a href="/ylt/numbers/33.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And if ye do not dispossess the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it hath been, those whom ye let remain of them, are for pricks in your eyes, and for thorns in your sides, and they have distressed you on the land in which ye are dwelling, <a href="/slt/numbers/33.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And if ye shall not drive out those dwelling in the land from before you, and it shall be whom ye shall leave from them for thorns in your eyes, and for prickles in your sides; and they pressed you upon the land which ye shall dwell upon it.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/numbers/33.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> But if you will not kill the inhabitants of the land: they that remain, shall be unto you as nails in your eyes, and spears in your sides, and they shall be your adversaries in the land of your habitation. <a href="/cpdv/numbers/33.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> But if you are not willing to put to death the inhabitants of the land, those who remain shall be to you like spikes in your eyes and lances in your sides, and they shall be adversaries to you in the land of your habitation. <a href="/nabre/numbers/33.htm">New American Bible</a> But if you do not dispossess the inhabitants of the land before you, those whom you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will harass you in the land where you live, <a href="/nrsvce/numbers/33.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides; they shall trouble you in the land where you are settling.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/numbers/33.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> But if you will not destroy the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come to pass. that those who are left of them shall be splinters in your eyes, and spears in your sides, and shall trouble you in the land wherein you dwell. <a href="/hpbt/numbers/33.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And if you do not destroy the inhabitants of the land from before you, those who are left of them shall be splinters in your eyes and spear heads in your sides, and they will distress you in the land where you inhabit it.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/numbers/33.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then shall those that ye let remain of them be as thorns in your eyes, and as pricks in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land wherein ye dwell. <a href="/sep/numbers/33.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> But if ye will not destroy the dwellers in the land from before you, then it shall come to pass that whomsoever of them ye shall leave shall be thorns in your eyes, and darts in your sides, and they shall be enemies to you on the land on which ye shall dwell; <a href="/parallel/numbers/33-55.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/yauBFvKLNNo?start=10502" 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/numbers/33.htm">Instructions for Occupying Canaan</a> …54And you are to divide the land by lot according to your clans. Give a larger inheritance to a larger clan and a smaller inheritance to a smaller one. Whatever falls to each one by lot will be his. You will receive an inheritance according to the tribes of your fathers. 55<a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: wə·’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!">But if</a> <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 do not</a> <a href="/hebrew/3423.htm" title="3423: ṯō·w·rî·šū (V-Hifil-Imperf-2mp) -- Or yaresh; a primitive root; to occupy; by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish, to ruin.">drive out</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3427.htm" title="3427: yō·šə·ḇê (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc) -- A primitive root; properly, to sit down; by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry.">the inhabitants</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: hā·’ā·reṣ (Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">of the land</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: mip·pə·nê·ḵem (Prep-m:: N-mpc:: 2mp) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">before you,</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">those</a> <a href="/hebrew/3498.htm" title="3498: tō·w·ṯî·rū (V-Hifil-Imperf-2mp) -- A primitive root; to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; to remain or be left; causatively, to leave, cause to abound, preserve.">you allow to remain</a> <a href="/hebrew/mê·hem (Prep-m:: Pro-3mp) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: wə·hā·yāh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">will become</a> <a href="/hebrew/7899.htm" title="7899: lə·śik·kîm (Prep-l:: N-mp) -- A thorn. From cakak in the sense of suwk; a brier.">barbs</a> <a href="/hebrew/5869.htm" title="5869: bə·‘ê·nê·ḵem (Prep-b:: N-cdc:: 2mp) -- An eye. Probably a primitive word; an eye; by analogy, a fountain.">in your eyes</a> <a href="/hebrew/6796.htm" title="6796: wə·liṣ·nî·nim (Conj-w, Prep-l:: N-mp) -- A thorn, prick. Or tsanin; from the same as tsen; a thorn.">and thorns</a> <a href="/hebrew/6654.htm" title="6654: bə·ṣid·dê·ḵem (Prep-b:: N-mpc:: 2mp) -- A side. Contr. From an unused root meaning to sidle off; a side; figuratively, an adversary.">in your sides;</a> <a href="/hebrew/6887.htm" title="6887: wə·ṣā·ră·rū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3cp) -- A primitive root; to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive.">they will harass</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ·ḵem (DirObjM:: 2mp) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">you in</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: hā·’ā·reṣ (Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">the land</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">where</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: ’at·tem (Pro-2mp) -- You (masc. sing.). ">you</a> <a href="/hebrew/3427.htm" title="3427: yō·šə·ḇîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- A primitive root; properly, to sit down; by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry.">settle.</a> <a href="/hebrew/bāh (Prep:: 3fs) -- "></a> 56And then I will do to you what I had planned to do to them.”…<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="/joshua/23-12.htm">Joshua 23:12-13</a> 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, / 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. <a href="/judges/2-3.htm">Judges 2:3</a> 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.” <a href="/deuteronomy/7-16.htm">Deuteronomy 7:16</a> 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. <a href="/psalms/106-34.htm">Psalm 106:34-36</a> They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them, / but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. / They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. <a href="/exodus/23-33.htm">Exodus 23:33</a> 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.” <a href="/deuteronomy/7-2.htm">Deuteronomy 7:2-4</a> and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. / Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, / 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. <a href="/deuteronomy/20-17.htm">Deuteronomy 20:17-18</a> For you must devote them to complete destruction—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you, / so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God. <a href="/joshua/23-13.htm">Joshua 23:13</a> 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. <a href="/judges/2-21.htm">Judges 2:21-23</a> I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. / In this way I will test whether Israel will keep the way of the LORD by walking in it as their fathers did.” / That is why the LORD had left those nations in place and had not driven them out immediately by delivering them into the hand of Joshua. <a href="/1_kings/11-1.htm">1 Kings 11:1-2</a> 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. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love. <a href="/1_samuel/15-18.htm">1 Samuel 15:18</a> and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’ <a href="/2_kings/17-33.htm">2 Kings 17:33-34</a> They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away. / To this day they are still practicing their former customs. None of them worship the LORD or observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom He named Israel. <a href="/ezra/9-1.htm">Ezra 9:1-2</a> After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. / Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!” <a href="/nehemiah/13-23.htm">Nehemiah 13:23-27</a> In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. / Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah. / I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves! ... <a href="/matthew/5-29.htm">Matthew 5:29-30</a> If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. / And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>But if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which you let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein you dwell.shall be pricks<a href="/exodus/23-33.htm">Exodus 23:33</a> They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.<a href="/deuteronomy/7-4.htm">Deuteronomy 7:4,16</a> For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly… <a href="/joshua/23-12.htm">Joshua 23:12,13</a> Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: … <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/21-23.htm">Allow</a> <a href="/job/40-24.htm">Barbs</a> <a href="/numbers/22-3.htm">Distressed</a> <a href="/numbers/33-53.htm">Drive</a> <a href="/numbers/32-39.htm">Driving</a> <a href="/numbers/33-53.htm">Dwell</a> <a href="/numbers/33-40.htm">Dwelling</a> <a href="/numbers/33-3.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/numbers/25-18.htm">Harass</a> <a href="/numbers/33-53.htm">Inhabitants</a> <a href="/numbers/21-24.htm">Land</a> <a href="/acts/26-14.htm">Pricks</a> <a href="/numbers/22-24.htm">Sides</a> <a href="/numbers/14-18.htm">Slow</a> <a href="/exodus/22-6.htm">Thorns</a> <a href="/numbers/23-21.htm">Trouble</a> <a href="/numbers/25-18.htm">Vex</a> <a href="/numbers/31-10.htm">Wherein</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/35-32.htm">Allow</a> <a href="/job/40-24.htm">Barbs</a> <a href="/judges/2-15.htm">Distressed</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-27.htm">Drive</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-44.htm">Driving</a> <a href="/numbers/35-2.htm">Dwell</a> <a href="/numbers/35-34.htm">Dwelling</a> <a href="/numbers/36-6.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-9.htm">Harass</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/13-13.htm">Inhabitants</a> <a href="/joshua/18-3.htm">Land</a> <a href="/joshua/23-13.htm">Pricks</a> <a href="/numbers/34-12.htm">Sides</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/7-10.htm">Slow</a> <a href="/joshua/23-13.htm">Thorns</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-19.htm">Trouble</a> <a href="/2_samuel/12-18.htm">Vex</a> <a href="/numbers/34-13.htm">Wherein</a><div class="vheading2">Numbers 33</div>1. <a href="/numbers/33-1.htm">The forty-two journeys of the Israelites</a> 50. <a href="/numbers/33-50.htm">The Canaanites are to be destroyed</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'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/33.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/numbers/33.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you This phrase emphasizes the command given to the Israelites to completely remove the Canaanite inhabitants from the Promised Land. The directive is rooted in the need to maintain spiritual purity and avoid the influence of pagan practices. Historically, the Canaanites were known for their idolatry and morally corrupt practices, which posed a significant threat to the Israelites' covenant relationship with God. This command is consistent with earlier instructions found in <a href="/exodus/23-31.htm">Exodus 23:31-33</a> and <a href="/deuteronomy/7.htm">Deuteronomy 7:1-5</a>, where God warns of the dangers of cohabitation with pagan nations.those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides The imagery of "barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides" is a vivid metaphor for the persistent and painful trouble that the remaining Canaanites would cause the Israelites. This language is echoed in <a href="/joshua/23-13.htm">Joshua 23:13</a> and <a href="/judges/2-3.htm">Judges 2:3</a>, where the consequences of failing to fully obey God's command are realized. The metaphor suggests not only physical but also spiritual and moral distress, as the Canaanites' presence would lead to temptation and eventual apostasy.they will harass you in the land where you settle This phrase predicts the ongoing conflict and strife that would result from the Israelites' disobedience. Historically, the Israelites faced numerous challenges from the Canaanite peoples, as seen in the Book of Judges, where cycles of oppression and deliverance are recorded. The harassment is not merely physical but also spiritual, as the Israelites are drawn away from God by the influence of Canaanite culture and religion. This serves as a warning of the consequences of incomplete obedience and the importance of faithfulness to God's commands.<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 by Moses as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_inhabitants_of_canaan.htm">The Inhabitants of Canaan</a> The current residents of the land that God has promised to the Israelites, who are to be driven out. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_promised_land.htm">The Promised Land</a> The land of Canaan, which God has promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 4. <a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a> The leader of the Israelites, delivering God's commands and warnings to the people. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_wilderness_journey.htm">The Wilderness Journey</a> The context of this passage, as the Israelites are concluding their 40-year journey through the wilderness.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience.htm">The Importance of Obedience</a> God’s command to drive out the inhabitants was clear. Partial obedience is disobedience and can lead to spiritual compromise. <a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_compromise.htm">The Consequences of Compromise</a> Allowing ungodly influences to remain can lead to spiritual blindness and pain, much like "barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides." <a href="/topical/s/spiritual_warfare.htm">Spiritual Warfare</a> Just as the Israelites were to drive out the inhabitants, Christians are called to actively resist sin and the devil's schemes in their lives. <a href="/topical/h/holiness_and_separation.htm">Holiness and Separation</a> God calls His people to be set apart. This requires removing influences that lead us away from Him. <a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_promises.htm">Trust in God's Promises</a> The Israelites were to trust in God’s promise of the land. Believers today are called to trust in God’s promises and act in faith.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_numbers_33.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 33</a> <a href="/q/why_couldn't_israel_drive_out_some_peoples.htm">Joshua 13:13 – How could Israel remain unable to drive out certain peoples if God supposedly promised victory, suggesting an inconsistency with divine intervention claims? </a> <a href="/q/why_couldn't_manasseh_defeat_canaanites.htm">Joshua 17:12: Why couldn’t Manasseh drive out the Canaanites if God had already promised total victory? </a> <a href="/q/why_does_numbers_33_50-56_endorse_war.htm">Numbers 33:50-56: Why does the text insist on divinely sanctioned warfare for taking the land when later prophets and passages emphasize peace, suggesting an inconsistency in divine commands?</a> <a href="/q/how_reconcile_numbers_33_52-53_with_justice.htm">Numbers 33:52-53: How can a mandate to drive out entire populations and destroy their religious symbols be reconciled with other biblical passages promoting justice and compassion?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/numbers/33.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 55. - If ye will not drive out the inhabitants. As was in fact the case (<a href="/judges/1.htm">Judges 1</a>). The warning is here given for the first time, because the danger was now near at hand, and had indeed already shown itself in the matter of the Midianitish women and children. Pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides. Natural symbols of dangerous annoyances. Possibly the thickets which fringe the Jordan supplied them with present examples. In <a href="/joshua/23-13.htm">Joshua 23:13</a> we have "scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes," which sounds somewhat more artificial. In <a href="/judges/2-3.htm">Judges 2:3</a>, where this warning is quoted, the figure is not expressed at all: "they shall be in your sides." <a href="/commentaries/numbers/33-55.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>But if וְאִם־ (wə·’im-) Conjunctive waw | Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_518.htm">Strong's 518: </a> Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not you do not לֹ֨א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no drive out תוֹרִ֜ישׁוּ (ṯō·w·rî·šū) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3423.htm">Strong's 3423: </a> To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin the inhabitants יֹשְׁבֵ֣י (yō·šə·ḇê) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3427.htm">Strong's 3427: </a> To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry of the land הָאָרֶץ֮ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> Earth, land before you, מִפְּנֵיכֶם֒ (mip·pə·nê·ḵem) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> The face those אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that you allow to remain תּוֹתִ֣ירוּ (tō·w·ṯî·rū) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3498.htm">Strong's 3498: </a> To jut over, exceed, to excel, to remain, be left, to leave, cause to abound, preserve will become וְהָיָה֙ (wə·hā·yāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> To fall out, come to pass, become, be thorns לְשִׂכִּים֙ (lə·śik·kîm) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7899.htm">Strong's 7899: </a> A brier in your eyes בְּעֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם (bə·‘ê·nê·ḵem) Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5869.htm">Strong's 5869: </a> An eye, a fountain and in your sides; בְּצִדֵּיכֶ֑ם (bə·ṣid·dê·ḵem) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6654.htm">Strong's 6654: </a> A side, an adversary they will harass וְצָרֲר֣וּ (wə·ṣā·ră·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6887.htm">Strong's 6887: </a> To bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, or cramped you in עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against the land הָאָ֕רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> Earth, land where אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that you אַתֶּ֖ם (’at·tem) Pronoun - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> Thou and thee, ye and you settle. יֹשְׁבִ֥ים (yō·šə·ḇîm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3427.htm">Strong's 3427: </a> To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/33-55.htm">Numbers 33:55 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/numbers/33-55.htm">Numbers 33:55 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/numbers/33-55.htm">Numbers 33:55 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/numbers/33-55.htm">Numbers 33:55 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/numbers/33-55.htm">Numbers 33:55 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/33-55.htm">Numbers 33:55 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/33-55.htm">Numbers 33:55 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/33-55.htm">Numbers 33:55 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/33-55.htm">Numbers 33:55 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/numbers/33-55.htm">Numbers 33:55 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/numbers/33-55.htm">OT Law: Numbers 33:55 But if you do not drive out (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/33-54.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 33:54"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 33:54" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/33-56.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 33:56"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 33:56" /></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>