That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.
Parallel translations
- WEB that they not teach you to follow all their abominations, which they have done to their gods; so would you sin against Yahweh your God.
- BSB 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.
- NKJV lest they teach you to do according to all their abominations which they have done for their gods, and you sin against the Lord your God.
- NASB so that they will not teach you to do all the same detestable practices of theirs which they have done for their gods, by which you would sin against the Lord your God.
- NLT This will prevent the people of the land from teaching you to imitate their detestable customs in the worship of their gods, which would cause you to sin deeply against the Lord your God.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The purpose was to prevent the Canaanites from teaching Israel their abominable idolatry and sin. God acted to protect His people's faithfulness.
Overview
God explains the reason for the command: so that Israel would not be drawn into the detestable practices of the nations and sin against Him. The danger of corruption and idolatry was real and grave. This reveals God's jealous love for His people's holiness and the seriousness with which He guards them from spiritual ruin.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Deut 12:30–31Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
- Exod 23:33They 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.
- Eph 5:11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
- Deut 7:4–5For 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.
- Josh 23:13Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
- 2 Th 3:14And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
- Ps 106:34–40They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
- 2 Cor 6:17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
- 1 Cor 15:33Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
- Exod 34:16And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.
- Deut 18:19And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
- Judg 2:3Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
- 2 Tim 2:17–18And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
- 1 Tim 6:5Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
- Rev 18:3–5For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 20:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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