Exodus 13:5

Authorized King James Version

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And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.

Original Language Analysis

וְהָיָ֣ה H1961
וְהָיָ֣ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 1 of 26
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כִֽי H3588
כִֽי
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 2 of 26
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יְבִֽיאֲךָ֣ shall bring H935
יְבִֽיאֲךָ֣ shall bring
Strong's: H935
Word #: 3 of 26
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
יְהוָ֡ה And it shall be when the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֡ה And it shall be when the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 4 of 26
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 5 of 26
near, with or among; often in general, to
אֶ֛רֶץ thee a land H776
אֶ֛רֶץ thee a land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 6 of 26
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
הַֽ֠כְּנַעֲנִי of the Canaanites H3669
הַֽ֠כְּנַעֲנִי of the Canaanites
Strong's: H3669
Word #: 7 of 26
a kenaanite or inhabitant of kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the canaanites standing for their neighbors the ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile c
וְהַֽחִתִּ֨י and the Hittites H2850
וְהַֽחִתִּ֨י and the Hittites
Strong's: H2850
Word #: 8 of 26
a chittite, or descendant of cheth
וְהָֽאֱמֹרִ֜י and the Amorites H567
וְהָֽאֱמֹרִ֜י and the Amorites
Strong's: H567
Word #: 9 of 26
an emorite, one of the canaanitish tribes
וְהַֽחִוִּ֣י and the Hivites H2340
וְהַֽחִוִּ֣י and the Hivites
Strong's: H2340
Word #: 10 of 26
a chivvite, one of the indigenous tribes of palestine
וְהַיְבוּסִ֗י and the Jebusites H2983
וְהַיְבוּסִ֗י and the Jebusites
Strong's: H2983
Word #: 11 of 26
a jebusite or inhabitant of jebus
אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 12 of 26
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נִשְׁבַּ֤ע which he sware H7650
נִשְׁבַּ֤ע which he sware
Strong's: H7650
Word #: 13 of 26
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
לַֽאֲבֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ unto thy fathers H1
לַֽאֲבֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ unto thy fathers
Strong's: H1
Word #: 14 of 26
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
לָ֣תֶת to give H5414
לָ֣תֶת to give
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 15 of 26
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לָ֔ךְ H0
לָ֔ךְ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 16 of 26
אֶ֛רֶץ thee a land H776
אֶ֛רֶץ thee a land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 17 of 26
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
זָבַ֥ת flowing H2100
זָבַ֥ת flowing
Strong's: H2100
Word #: 18 of 26
to flow freely (as water), i.e., (specifically) to have a (sexual) flux; figuratively, to waste away; also to overflow
חָלָ֖ב with milk H2461
חָלָ֖ב with milk
Strong's: H2461
Word #: 19 of 26
milk (as the richness of kine)
וּדְבָ֑שׁ and honey H1706
וּדְבָ֑שׁ and honey
Strong's: H1706
Word #: 20 of 26
honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup
וְעָֽבַדְתָּ֛ that thou shalt keep H5647
וְעָֽבַדְתָּ֛ that thou shalt keep
Strong's: H5647
Word #: 21 of 26
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 22 of 26
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָֽעֲבֹדָ֥ה this service H5656
הָֽעֲבֹדָ֥ה this service
Strong's: H5656
Word #: 23 of 26
work of any kind
הַזֹּ֖את H2063
הַזֹּ֖את
Strong's: H2063
Word #: 24 of 26
this (often used adverb)
בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ in this month H2320
בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ in this month
Strong's: H2320
Word #: 25 of 26
the new moon; by implication, a month
הַזֶּֽה׃ H2088
הַזֶּֽה׃
Strong's: H2088
Word #: 26 of 26
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

Analysis & Commentary

The forward-looking promise 'when the LORD shall bring thee into the land' expresses confidence despite wilderness obstacles ahead. Naming the nations—Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, Jebusites—specifies the concrete goal. The description 'land flowing with milk and honey' pictures abundant provision. The command to observe this service 'in this month' ensures perpetual memorial connects future generations to the exodus.

Historical Context

This promise sustained Israel during forty wilderness years. The 'land flowing with milk and honey' became Israel's proverbial description of Canaan, emphasizing God's generous provision.

Questions for Reflection

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