They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sinne against me: for if thou serue their gods, it will surely be a snare vnto thee. Exodus 23:33 (KJV)
Exodus 23:33 belongs to the larger legal section of the Book of Exodus in which God gives the Israelites instructions as they journey through the wilderness toward the land He is about to give them. The verses that precede it (Exodus 23:28‑32) describe how God will send an angel—or, in the earlier wording, hornets—to drive out the Canaanite peoples, including the Hivite, Amorite, Hittite, Perizzite, Jebusite and others. The text explains that this removal will not occur in a single year, so that the land will not become desolate and overrun by wild animals; rather, the nations will be displaced gradually until the Israelites become numerous enough to possess the territory.
In verse 33 God gives a clear command concerning the peoples who remain in the land. He instructs the Israelites not to permit those nations to dwell among them, because their presence would tempt the people to serve foreign gods. The verse warns that such idolatry would become a snare, leading Israel away from the covenant relationship with the true God. The emphasis is on both preventing co‑habitation and, where necessary, utterly destroying the remaining nations so that the land becomes desolate and the peoples are rooted out.
The spiritual danger highlighted here is the ease with which the worship of false gods can corrupt a faithful community. By ordering the removal—or, when required, the complete eradication—of the Canaanite peoples, God seeks to protect Israel from the influence of pagan worship that was strictly forbidden under the covenant.
The passage therefore underscores the importance of separation: the Israelites are called to maintain a distinct identity, devoted solely to Yahweh, and to avoid any practices that could compromise their devotion. For contemporary believers the verse serves as a reminder to guard the heart against cultural and religious influences that draw one away from God, and to remain steadfast in keeping God’s commandments.
