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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 23:20 Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/23-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/02_Exo_23_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 23:20 - God's Angel to Lead" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared." /><script type="application/javascript" 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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"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/exodus/23.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/23.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/23.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />“Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/23.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/23.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/23.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/23.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to keep you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Behold, I am going to send an Angel before you to keep <i>and</i> guard you on the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/23.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“I am going to send an angel before you to protect you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I am going to send an angel before you to protect you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/23.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee by the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/23.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />I am sending an angel to protect you and to lead you into the land I have ready for you. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/23.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee by the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/23.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"I'm going to send a Messenger in front of you to protect you on your trip and bring you to the place I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/exodus/23.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"I will send an angel ahead of you to protect you as you travel and to bring you to the place which I have prepared. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/23.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Look, I'm sending an angel in front of you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place I've prepared. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/23.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/23.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"I am going to send an angel before you to protect you as you journey and to bring you into the place that I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"Look, I send an angel before you, to keep you by the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/23.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/23.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“Behold, I send an angel before you, to keep you by the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/23.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Behold, I am sending a Messenger before you to keep you in the way, and to bring you to the place which I have prepared;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/23.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'Lo, I am sending a messenger before thee to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee in unto the place which I have prepared;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Behold, I send a messenger before thee to guard thee in the way, and to bring thee to the place which I prepared.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/23.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Behold I will send my angel, who shall go before thee, and keep thee in thy journey, and bring thee into the place that I have prepared. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/23.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Behold, I will send my Angel, who will go before you, and preserve you on your journey, and lead you into the place that I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/23.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/23.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />I am going to send an angel in front of you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/23.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you into the land which I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/23.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Behold, I am sending a Messenger before you, for he will keep you on the path and he will bring you to the land that I have prepared.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/23.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee by the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/23.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And, behold, I send my angel before thy face, that he may keep thee in the way, that he may bring thee into the land which I have prepared for thee.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/23-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=5898" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/exodus/23.htm">God's Angel to Lead</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2009.htm" title="2009: hin·nêh (Interjection) -- Lo! behold! Prolongation for hen; lo!">Behold,</a> <a href="/hebrew/595.htm" title="595: ’ā·nō·ḵî (Pro-1cs) -- I. Sometimes; a primitive pro. I.">I</a> <a href="/hebrew/7971.htm" title="7971: šō·lê·aḥ (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To send. A primitive root; to send away, for, or out.">am sending</a> <a href="/hebrew/4397.htm" title="4397: mal·’āḵ (N-ms) -- A messenger. From an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. An angel.">an angel</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā (Prep-l:: N-cpc:: 2ms) -- 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/8104.htm" title="8104: liš·mā·rə·ḵā (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf:: 2ms) -- To keep, watch, preserve. A primitive root; properly, to hedge about, i.e. Guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.">to protect you</a> <a href="/hebrew/1870.htm" title="1870: bad·dā·reḵ (Prep-b, Art:: N-cs) -- Way, road, distance, journey, manner. From darak; a road; figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb.">along the way</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: wə·la·hă·ḇî·’ă·ḵā (Conj-w, Prep-l:: V-Hifil-Inf:: 2ms) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">and to bring you</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/4725.htm" title="4725: ham·mā·qō·wm (Art:: N-ms) -- Or maqom; also mqowmah; or mqomah; from quwm; properly, a standing, i.e. A spot; but used widely of a locality; also of a condition.">the place</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."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3559.htm" title="3559: hă·ḵi·nō·ṯî (V-Hifil-Perf-1cs) -- A primitive root; properly, to be erect; hence to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal, or figurative.">I have prepared.</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>Pay attention to him and listen to his voice; do not defy him, for he will not forgive rebellion, since My Name is in him.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/63-9.htm">Isaiah 63:9</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/3-1.htm">Malachi 3:1</a></span><br />“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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/5-13.htm">Joshua 5:13-15</a></span><br />Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua approached Him and asked, “Are You for us or for our enemies?” / “Neither,” He replied. “I have now come as Commander of the LORD’s army.” Then Joshua fell facedown in reverence and asked Him, “What does my Lord have to say to His servant?” / The Commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/2-1.htm">Judges 2:1-4</a></span><br />Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I had promised to your fathers, and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you, / 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? / 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.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/20-16.htm">Numbers 20:16</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/91-11.htm">Psalm 91:11</a></span><br />For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/24-7.htm">Genesis 24:7</a></span><br />The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me from my father’s house and my native land, who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you so that you can take a wife for my son from there.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/42-16.htm">Isaiah 42:16</a></span><br />I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/4-11.htm">Matthew 4:11</a></span><br />Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/1-14.htm">Hebrews 1:14</a></span><br />Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-30.htm">Acts 7:30-38</a></span><br />After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. / When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came to him: / ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/18-10.htm">Matthew 18:10</a></span><br />See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/1-19.htm">Luke 1:19</a></span><br />“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/1-1.htm">Revelation 1:1</a></span><br />This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-51.htm">John 1:51</a></span><br />Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Behold, I send an Angel before you, to keep you in the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.</p><p class="hdg">angel</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/3-2.htm">Exodus 3:2-6</a></b></br> And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush <i>was</i> not consumed… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/14-19.htm">Exodus 14:19</a></b></br> And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/32-34.htm">Exodus 32:34</a></b></br> Therefore now go, lead the people unto <i>the place</i> of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.</p><p class="hdg">prepared</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/15-18.htm">Genesis 15:18</a></b></br> In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/25-34.htm">Matthew 25:34</a></b></br> Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/14-3.htm">John 14:3</a></b></br> And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, <i>there</i> ye may be also.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/17-5.htm">Ahead</a> <a href="/exodus/14-19.htm">Angel</a> <a href="/exodus/23-13.htm">Guard</a> <a href="/exodus/15-13.htm">Guide</a> <a href="/genesis/50-16.htm">Messenger</a> <a href="/exodus/19-15.htm">Prepared</a> <a href="/exodus/19-15.htm">Ready</a> <a href="/exodus/9-14.htm">Sending</a> <a href="/exodus/23-4.htm">Way</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/23-27.htm">Ahead</a> <a href="/exodus/23-23.htm">Angel</a> <a href="/exodus/23-21.htm">Guard</a> <a href="/numbers/27-17.htm">Guide</a> <a href="/exodus/23-23.htm">Messenger</a> <a href="/exodus/34-2.htm">Prepared</a> <a href="/exodus/34-2.htm">Ready</a> <a href="/exodus/32-14.htm">Sending</a> <a href="/exodus/23-28.htm">Way</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 23</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/23-1.htm">Of slander, false witness, and partiality</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/23-4.htm">Of charitableness</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/23-6.htm">Of justice in judgment</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/23-8.htm">Of taking bribes</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/23-9.htm">Of oppressing a stranger</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/23-10.htm">Of the year of rest</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/23-12.htm">Of the Sabbath</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/23-13.htm">Of idolatry</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/23-14.htm">Of the three feasts</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/23-18.htm">Of the blood and the fat of the sacrifice</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/23-20.htm">An angel is promised, with a blessing, if they obey him</a></span><br></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><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <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> <br /><br /> </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/exodus/23.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/exodus/23.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Behold, I am sending an angel before you</b><br>This phrase introduces the divine initiative and guidance provided by God. The "angel" here is often interpreted as a theophany, a manifestation of God Himself, or a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, known as a Christophany. This aligns with other instances in the Old Testament where the "Angel of the Lord" speaks as God (e.g., <a href="/genesis/16-7.htm">Genesis 16:7-13</a>, <a href="/exodus/3-2.htm">Exodus 3:2-6</a>). The angel's role is to lead and protect, emphasizing God's active involvement in the journey of the Israelites. The use of "Behold" serves as a call to attention, underscoring the importance of the message.<p><b>to protect you along the way</b><br>Protection is a central theme in the wilderness journey of the Israelites. This divine protection is not merely physical but also spiritual, safeguarding the Israelites from external threats and internal rebellion. The journey through the wilderness was fraught with danger, including hostile nations and harsh environmental conditions. This promise of protection reassures the Israelites of God's constant presence and care, similar to the protective pillar of cloud and fire (<a href="/exodus/13-21.htm">Exodus 13:21-22</a>).<p><b>and to bring you to the place I have prepared</b><br>The "place" refers to the Promised Land, Canaan, which God had promised to Abraham and his descendants (<a href="/genesis/12-7.htm">Genesis 12:7</a>). This promise is a continuation of the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. The preparation of the land signifies God's sovereignty and foreknowledge, ensuring that the land is ready for the Israelites' arrival. This also foreshadows the New Testament promise of Jesus preparing a place for believers (<a href="/john/14-2.htm">John 14:2-3</a>), drawing a parallel between the physical journey to Canaan and the spiritual journey to eternal life.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/a/angel.htm">Angel</a></b><br>A divine messenger sent by God to guide and protect the Israelites. The Hebrew word for "angel" is (mal'akh), which means "messenger."<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The chosen people of God, who are being led from Egypt to the Promised Land.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_way.htm">The Way</a></b><br>The journey or path the Israelites are taking from Egypt to Canaan, the land promised to them by God.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_place.htm">The Place</a></b><br>Refers to the Promised Land, Canaan, which God has prepared for the Israelites.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The sovereign Lord who orchestrates the journey and provides guidance and protection through His angel.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/d/divine_guidance.htm">Divine Guidance</a></b><br>Just as God sent an angel to guide the Israelites, He provides guidance for us today through His Word and the Holy Spirit.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/protection_on_our_journey.htm">Protection on Our Journey</a></b><br>We can trust in God's protection as we navigate the challenges of life, knowing He has prepared a path for us.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/prepared_places.htm">Prepared Places</a></b><br>God has a specific plan and purpose for each of us, and He prepares the way for us to fulfill it.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_leading.htm">Obedience to God's Leading</a></b><br>The Israelites were called to follow the angel's guidance. Similarly, we must be attentive and obedient to God's direction in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_god's_promises.htm">Faith in God's Promises</a></b><br>The promise of a prepared place encourages us to have faith in God's promises, even when the journey seems uncertain.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/23.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>THE PROMISES OF GOD TO ISRAEL, IF THE COVENANT IS KEPT.</span><p>(20-33) The Book of the Covenant terminates, very appropriately, with a series of promises. God is "the rewarder of them that diligently seek him." He chooses to "reward men after their works," and to set before them "the recompense of the reward." He "knows whereof we are made," and by what motives we are influenced. Self-interest, the desire of our own good, is one of the strongest of them. If Israel will keep His covenant, they will enjoy the following blessings :--(1) The guidance and protection of His angel till Canaan is reached; (2) God's help against their adversaries, who will, little by little, be driven out; (3) the ultimate possession of the entire country between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea on the one hand, the Desert and the Euphrates on the other; (4) a blessing upon their flocks and herds, which shall neither be barren nor cast their young; and (5) a blessing upon themselves, whereby they will escape sickness and enjoy a long term of life. All these advantages, however, are conditional upon obedience, and may be forfeited.<p>(20) <span class= "bld">I send an Angel before thee.</span>--Kalisch considers Moses to have been the "angel" or "messenger;" others understand one of the created angelic host. But most commentators see in the promise the first mention of the "Angel of the Covenant," who is reasonably identified with the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, the Eternal Son and Word of God. When the promise is retracted on account of the sin of the golden calf, it is in the words, "<span class= "ital">I </span>will not go up with thee" (<a href="/exodus/33-3.htm" title="To a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the middle of you; for you are a stiff necked people: lest I consume you in the way.">Exodus 33:3</a>).<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/23.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 20-31.</span> - THE REWARDS OF OBEDIENCE. God always places before men" the recompense of the reward." He does not require of them that they should serve him for nought. The "Book of the Covenant" appropriately ends with a number of promises, which God undertakes to perform, if Israel keeps the terms of the covenant. The promises are: - <p><span class="Text_Heading">1.</span> That he will send an angel before them to be their guide, director, and helper (vers. 20 - 23). <p><span class="Text_Heading">2.</span> That he will be the enemy of their enemies (ver. 22), striking terror into them miraculously (ver. 27), and subjecting them to other scourges also (ver. 28). <p><span class="Text_Heading">3.</span> That he will drive out their enemies "by little and little" (ver. 30), not ceasing until he has destroyed them (ver. 23). . . . <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/23-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Behold,</span><br /><span class="heb">הִנֵּ֨ה</span> <span class="translit">(hin·nêh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interjection<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2009.htm">Strong's 2009: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo! behold!</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I</span><br /><span class="heb">אָנֹכִ֜י</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·nō·ḵî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_595.htm">Strong's 595: </a> </span><span class="str2">I</span><br /><br /><span class="word">am sending</span><br /><span class="heb">שֹׁלֵ֤חַ</span> <span class="translit">(šō·lê·aḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7971.htm">Strong's 7971: </a> </span><span class="str2">To send away, for, out</span><br /><br /><span class="word">an angel</span><br /><span class="heb">מַלְאָךְ֙</span> <span class="translit">(mal·’āḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4397.htm">Strong's 4397: </a> </span><span class="str2">A messenger, of God, an angel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">before you</span><br /><span class="heb">לְפָנֶ֔יךָ</span> <span class="translit">(lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to protect you</span><br /><span class="heb">לִשְׁמָרְךָ֖</span> <span class="translit">(liš·mā·rə·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8104.htm">Strong's 8104: </a> </span><span class="str2">To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">along the way</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(bad·dā·reḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1870.htm">Strong's 1870: </a> </span><span class="str2">A road, a course of life, mode of action</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and to bring you</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלַהֲבִ֣יאֲךָ֔</span> <span class="translit">(wə·la·hă·ḇî·’ă·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the place</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמָּק֖וֹם</span> <span class="translit">(ham·mā·qō·wm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4725.htm">Strong's 4725: </a> </span><span class="str2">A standing, a spot, a condition</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I have prepared.</span><br /><span class="heb">הֲכִנֹֽתִי׃</span> <span class="translit">(hă·ḵi·nō·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3559.htm">Strong's 3559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be erect</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/23-20.htm">Exodus 23:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/23-20.htm">Exodus 23:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/23-20.htm">Exodus 23:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/23-20.htm">Exodus 23:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/23-20.htm">Exodus 23:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/23-20.htm">Exodus 23:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/23-20.htm">Exodus 23:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/23-20.htm">Exodus 23:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/23-20.htm">Exodus 23:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/23-20.htm">Exodus 23:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/23-20.htm">OT Law: Exodus 23:20 Behold I send an angel before you (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/23-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 23:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 23:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/23-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 23:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 23:21" /></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>