What does Exodus 23:25 mean?
ESV: You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you.
NIV: Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you,
NASB: And you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water; and I will remove sickness from your midst.
CSB: Serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water. I will remove illnesses from you.
NLT: You must serve only the Lord your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness.
KJV: And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
NKJV: “So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.
Verse Commentary:
Please see our chapter commentary on Exodus 23; verse-level content coming soon!
Verse Context:
Exodus 23:20–33 both warns and reassures Israel about their entry into the Promised Land. This includes references to an angel; this may imply a pre-incarnate form of Jesus Christ. God calls the people to obedience and warns them not to follow the evil practices of the Canaanite nations (Exodus 3:8). Obedience will result in protection and blessings as the Israelites gradually take over an expansive territory (Genesis 15:18–21; Deuteronomy 11:24).
Chapter Summary:
These laws mandate fair judgment, with no bias given for or against the rich, the poor, or foreign travelers. God commands Israel not to follow popular sentiment when it is unjust. Other rules require letting fields grow wild every seven years for the benefit of the land, the poor, and wild animals. The Lord then warns Israel about obedience. If they follow His will, an angel will guide them as they conquer the entire Promised Land (Genesis 15:18–21; Deuteronomy 11:24).
Chapter Context:
After receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3–17), Israel learns other laws from the Lord. Chapters 21 and 22 covered topics such as servants' rights, homicide, negligence, theft, and social justice. This chapter mandates certain yearly festivals and forbids bias in judgments. It also instructs Israel regarding their upcoming conquest of the Promised Land. Chapter 24 describes a ritual confirmation of the Mosaic covenant. Most chapters after that involve details of the tabernacle.
Book Summary:
The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.
Accessed 6/18/2025 12:10:55 PM
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