But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.
Read it in contextInstructions for Entering the Land and Avoiding Idolatry
Start reading at Deuteronomy 7:1 (Deuteronomy 7:1 to Deuteronomy 7:26).
The passage begins a section of specific commands regarding Israel's conduct upon entering Canaan, emphasizing the destruction of idolatry and separation from the inhabitants.
7:1When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;
7:2And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:
7:3Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.
7:4For 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.
7:5But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.
7:6For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
7:7The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
7:8But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
7:9Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
7:10And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.
7:11Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.
7:12Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:
7:13And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
7:14Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.
7:15And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.
7:16And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.
7:17If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them?
7:18Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;
7:19The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out: so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid.
7:20Moreover the LORD thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed.
7:21Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.
7:22And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.
7:23But the LORD thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed.
7:24And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand, and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them.
7:25The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.
7:26Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.
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Who
Who wrote the book? Moses is the principal speaker and is expressly credited with writing the law. The account of his death was supplied by a later hand; identifying that final writer as Joshua is traditional, not certain. Biblical references: Deuteronomy 31:9; Deuteronomy 31:24; Deuteronomy 34:5. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). stated in the text
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Deuteronomy 5:1–11:32): Moses addresses Israel about covenant loyalty, recalling Horeb, the wilderness, and God's provisions. Fathers and children are included in the community commanded to learn and obey. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israel assembled in Moab before entering Canaan, and their children and later generations who were to hear the law read. Biblical references: Deuteronomy 1:1; Deuteronomy 29:10; Deuteronomy 31:12. stated in the text
What
What is the main event or theme? The main theme is the command from the LORD to the Israelites to utterly destroy the altars, images, groves, and graven images of the nations in the land they are about to possess, as a means of preventing idolatry among Israel.
What is God revealing? God is revealing His absolute demand for exclusive worship and His command for Israel to eradicate all forms of idolatry from the land of Canaan, lest Israel be turned away from following Him to serve other gods.
What is the literary style? The literary style is a direct command, delivered as part of Moses' hortatory discourse and covenant renewal instructions to Israel.
When
When was it written? The book of Deuteronomy was written around 1400 B.C.
When does the event take place? The commands were given around 1400 B.C., at the end of the wilderness years, to be carried out by Israel when they entered and possessed the land of Canaan.
Where
Where did it happen? The actions commanded in this verse were to take place in the land of Canaan, which the Israelites were preparing to enter.
Where was the author located? Moses was located on the Plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, when he delivered these instructions.
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Instructions for Entering the Land and Avoiding Idolatry (Deuteronomy 7:1 to Deuteronomy 7:26).
Start reading at Deuteronomy 7:1. The passage begins a section of specific commands regarding Israel's conduct upon entering Canaan, emphasizing the destruction of idolatry and separation from the inhabitants.
How
How does it fit the broader context? This command is integral to the covenant renewal in Deuteronomy, underscoring Israel's distinct identity as a holy people chosen by the LORD. It emphasizes the necessity of eradicating all forms of idolatry to prevent spiritual corruption and maintain their covenant relationship with God as they enter the promised land. interpretation
How does it point to Christ? This passage points to Christ by illustrating God's unwavering demand for exclusive worship and the complete removal of anything that would draw His people away from Him. This zeal for God's purity and singular devotion is ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who calls His followers to worship God in spirit and in truth, free from all spiritual idolatry. interpretation
How do I apply it today? Believers today are called to apply this principle by identifying and removing any 'altars,' 'images,' or 'groves' in their lives—anything that competes with the LORD for their ultimate devotion and worship—and to maintain a life of exclusive devotion to the one God. interpretation
Early traditionJewish tradition (Baba Bathra 14b) and the early church name Moses.
What is debatedChapter 34 records the death of Moses, so even conservative scholars hold that a later hand, often identified as Joshua, added the closing account. Critical scholars date the book much later, to the seventh century B.C.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Deuteronomy 7
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Moses addresses Israel in Moab before the people cross the Jordan. The speeches recall the wilderness, expound covenant obligations, and confront the next generation with choices and consequences. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The covenant commands and appeals join exclusive devotion to the LORD with hearing, remembering, teaching, and obeying His words.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The covenant commands and appeals join exclusive devotion to the LORD with hearing, remembering, teaching, and obeying His words.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Deuteronomy
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Moses addresses Israel in Moab before the people cross the Jordan. The speeches recall the wilderness, expound covenant obligations, and confront the next generation with choices and consequences.
Connection to the wholeThe covenant commands and appeals join exclusive devotion to the LORD with hearing, remembering, teaching, and obeying His words.
Connection to the wholeDetailed commands apply covenant faithfulness to public worship, leadership, households, work, and the care of vulnerable people.
Connection to the wholeThe speeches set out covenant consequences and call Israel to choose life through love and obedience rather than presume upon privilege.