Deuteronomy 7:1

Authorized King James Version

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When 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;

Original Language Analysis

כִּ֤י H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 1 of 27
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בָא shall bring H935
בָא shall bring
Strong's: H935
Word #: 2 of 27
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
יְהוָ֣ה When the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֣ה When the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 3 of 27
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ thy God H430
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ thy God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 4 of 27
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 5 of 27
near, with or among; often in general, to
הָאָ֕רֶץ thee into the land H776
הָאָ֕רֶץ thee into the land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 6 of 27
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
אֲשֶׁר H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 7 of 27
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
אַתָּ֥ה H859
אַתָּ֥ה
Strong's: H859
Word #: 8 of 27
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
בָא shall bring H935
בָא shall bring
Strong's: H935
Word #: 9 of 27
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
שָׁ֖מָּה H8033
שָׁ֖מָּה
Strong's: H8033
Word #: 10 of 27
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
לְרִשְׁתָּ֑הּ to possess H3423
לְרִשְׁתָּ֑הּ to possess
Strong's: H3423
Word #: 11 of 27
to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish
וְנָשַׁ֣ל it and hath cast out H5394
וְנָשַׁ֣ל it and hath cast out
Strong's: H5394
Word #: 12 of 27
to pluck off, i.e., divest, eject or drop
גוֹיִ֔ם nations H1471
גוֹיִ֔ם nations
Strong's: H1471
Word #: 13 of 27
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
רַבִּ֥ים greater H7227
רַבִּ֥ים greater
Strong's: H7227
Word #: 14 of 27
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
מִפָּנֶ֡יךָ before H6440
מִפָּנֶ֡יךָ before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 15 of 27
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
הַֽחִתִּי֩ thee the Hittites H2850
הַֽחִתִּי֩ thee the Hittites
Strong's: H2850
Word #: 16 of 27
a chittite, or descendant of cheth
וְהַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֨י and the Girgashites H1622
וְהַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֨י and the Girgashites
Strong's: H1622
Word #: 17 of 27
a girgashite, one of the native tribes of canaan
וְהָֽאֱמֹרִ֜י and the Amorites H567
וְהָֽאֱמֹרִ֜י and the Amorites
Strong's: H567
Word #: 18 of 27
an emorite, one of the canaanitish tribes
וְהַכְּנַֽעֲנִ֣י and the Canaanites H3669
וְהַכְּנַֽעֲנִ֣י and the Canaanites
Strong's: H3669
Word #: 19 of 27
a kenaanite or inhabitant of kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the canaanites standing for their neighbors the ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile c
וְהַפְּרִזִּ֗י and the Perizzites H6522
וְהַפְּרִזִּ֗י and the Perizzites
Strong's: H6522
Word #: 20 of 27
a perizzite, one of the canaanitish tribes
וְהַֽחִוִּי֙ and the Hivites H2340
וְהַֽחִוִּי֙ and the Hivites
Strong's: H2340
Word #: 21 of 27
a chivvite, one of the indigenous tribes of palestine
וְהַיְבוּסִ֔י and the Jebusites H2983
וְהַיְבוּסִ֔י and the Jebusites
Strong's: H2983
Word #: 22 of 27
a jebusite or inhabitant of jebus
שִׁבְעָ֣ה seven H7651
שִׁבְעָ֣ה seven
Strong's: H7651
Word #: 23 of 27
seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number
גוֹיִ֔ם nations H1471
גוֹיִ֔ם nations
Strong's: H1471
Word #: 24 of 27
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
רַבִּ֥ים greater H7227
רַבִּ֥ים greater
Strong's: H7227
Word #: 25 of 27
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
וַֽעֲצוּמִ֖ים and mightier H6099
וַֽעֲצוּמִ֖ים and mightier
Strong's: H6099
Word #: 26 of 27
powerful (specifically, a paw); by implication, numerous
מִמֶּֽךָּ׃ H4480
מִמֶּֽךָּ׃
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 27 of 27
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

Cross References

Acts 13:19And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.Deuteronomy 4:38To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day.Deuteronomy 31:3The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.Deuteronomy 20:1When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.Deuteronomy 9:1Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven,Exodus 33:2And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:Deuteronomy 9:4Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.Psalms 78:55He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.Exodus 15:7And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.Exodus 6:8And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.

Analysis & Commentary

God's command to conquer Canaan establishes His sovereignty over nations and judgment upon wickedness. The seven nations—Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—represent complete and comprehensive opposition to God's holy purposes. The phrase 'greater and mightier than thou' emphasizes that victory depends on God's power, not Israel's strength. The Hebrew herem (devoted destruction) reflects God's holy judgment against idolatrous cultures whose iniquity had reached fullness (Genesis 15:16). This foreshadows Christ's ultimate victory over spiritual enemies 'greater and mightier' than we are—sin, death, and Satan—accomplished not by our strength but by divine grace.

Historical Context

The seven Canaanite nations had occupied the land for centuries, developing sophisticated urban cultures with formidable military technology (chariots, fortified cities). Archaeological evidence from Jericho, Hazor, and other sites confirms the military superiority these nations possessed. Their religious practices included child sacrifice, temple prostitution, and other abominations that had filled up the measure of divine judgment (Leviticus 18:24-28). God's command to dispossess them demonstrates His role as Judge of all nations, executing temporal judgment on societies that had become irredeemably corrupt.

Questions for Reflection

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