I will not drive them out before you in a single year; otherwise the land would become desolate and wild animals would multiply against you.
Parallel translations
- WEB I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate, and the animals of the field multiply against you.
- KJV I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.
- NKJV I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.
- NASB I will not drive them out from you in a single year, so that the land will not become desolate and the animals of the field become too numerous for you.
- NLT But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply and threaten you.
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
God would not expel the nations all at once, lest the land grow wild and overrun by beasts. His timing is wise and measured for His people's good.
Overview
A sudden, total conquest would leave the land untended and dangerous, so God paces the displacement to match Israel's ability to settle it. This reveals divine wisdom and patience in fulfilling His promises. God's care includes the practical welfare of His people, not only their spiritual standing. It reminds believers that God's slower providences often serve purposes we cannot immediately see.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Deut 7:22The LORD your God will drive out these nations before you little by little. You will not be enabled to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals would multiply around you.
- Judg 3:1–4These are the nations that the LORD left to test all the Israelites who had not known any of the wars in Canaan,
- Josh 17:12–13But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land.
- Josh 15:63But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the descendants of Judah.
- Josh 16:10But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day, but they are forced laborers.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 23:29 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.